Medical Appliance Technicians : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Medical appliance technicians construct, fit, maintain, and repair braces, artificial limbs, arch supports, and other medical and surgical appliances.

Quick Facts: Medical Appliance Technicians
2010 Median Pay	$35,670 per year $17.15 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Long-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	14,200
Job Outlook, 2010-20	4% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	500

What Medical Appliance Technicians Do

Medical appliance technicians construct, fit, and repair medical supportive devices, including prosthetic limbs, arch supports, facial parts, and foot and leg braces.

Work Environment

In 2010, most medical appliance technicians worked in manufacturing laboratories. Others worked in health and personal care stores.

How to Become a Medical Appliance Technician

There are no postsecondary education requirements for becoming a medical appliance technician. Many technicians learn through on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage of medical appliance technicians was $35,670 in May 2010.

Employment is expected to grow 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. An aging baby-boomer population will create a need for technicians because diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the two leading causes of loss of limbs, are more likely to occur in older people.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of medical appliance technicians with similar occupations.

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What Medical Appliance Technicians Do About this section

Technicians take prescriptions from orthotists, prosthetists, and other medical professionals to create medical appliances.

Medical appliance technicians construct, fit, and repair medical supportive devices, including prosthetic limbs, arch supports, facial parts, and foot and leg braces.

Duties

Medical appliance technicians typically do the following:

Read work orders or specifications from a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist, or other healthcare professional
Decide which materials and tools will be needed
Create a pattern for the unmolded or unshaped plastic and metal
Bend, form, and shape fabric or material
Use hand or power tools to polish and shape the devices
Repair or change medical supportive devices as directed by a healthcare professional

Medical appliance technicians use many different types of materials, such as metal, plastic, and leather, to create a variety of medical devices for patients who need them because of a birth defect, an accident, disease, amputation, or the effects of aging. For example, some medical appliance technicians make hearing aids.

Orthotic and prosthetic technicians are medical appliance technicians who create orthoses (braces, supports, and other devices) and prostheses (replacement limbs and facial parts).

Work Environment About this section

Technicians work in laboratories and may work with complex machinery and materials, such as plastics, to create their appliances.

Medical appliance technicians held about 14,200 jobs in 2010.

In 2010, most medical appliance technicians worked in manufacturing laboratories. Others worked in health and personal care stores. Technicians may be exposed to health and safety hazards when they handle certain materials, but there is little risk if they follow proper procedures, such as wearing goggles, gloves, or masks.

How to Become a Medical Appliance Technician About this section

Medical appliance technicians may create braces to help patients correct their movement and limit pain in joints or limbs.

There are no postsecondary education requirements for becoming a medical appliance technician. Many technicians learn through on-the-job training.

Training

Most medical appliance technicians learn their duties through on-the-job training. Experienced technicians teach new employees how to create and repair orthotic and prosthetic devices or equipment. The amount of training varies. For example, a new technician may be trained for a year or more before independently creating an orthotic or prosthetic device.

Education

There are no postsecondary education requirements for becoming a medical laboratory technician. Most technicians have at least a high school diploma. Some community colleges and technical or vocational schools have formal education programs, but such programs are not common.

High school students interested becoming a technician should take courses in mathematics, science, metal and wood shop, and computers.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Because medical appliance technicians must construct medical appliances with accuracy and precision, they need to have an in-depth knowledge of how different tools and materials work.

Interpersonal skills. Medical appliance technicians need to be able to get along with others because they may be part of a team of technicians working on a single project. In addition, they need good communication to ensure safety when they work with hazardous materials.

Technical skills. When creating medical devices, medical appliance technicians set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to make adjustments to equipment.

Certification

Medical appliance technicians are not required to be certified. However, employers prefer to hire certified technicians. The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) offers certification for technicians after they pass an exam. Technicians are eligible for the exam after completing an accredited program or if they have 2 years of experience as a technician under the direct supervision of a certified technician.

Advancement

Medical appliance technicians can advance to become orthotists or prosthetists after completing additional formal education. These practitioners work with patients who need braces, prostheses, or related devices. For more information, see the profile on orthotists and prosthetists.

Pay About this section

Medical Appliance Technicians

Median annual wages, May 2010

Medical Appliance Technicians: $35,670
Total, All Occupations: $33,840
Other Production Occupations: $28,740

The median annual wage of medical appliance technicians was $35,670 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,450, and the top 10 percent earned more than $58,060.

Job Outlook About this section

Medical Appliance Technicians

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Total, All Occupations: 14%
Medical Appliance Technicians: 4%
Other Production Occupations: 4%

Employment is expected to grow 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.

An aging baby-boomer population will create a need for technicians because diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the two leading causes of loss of limbs, are more likely to occur in older people. The demand for orthotic devices, such as braces and orthopedic footwear, will increase because older people tend to need these supportive devices.

Although advances in technology may spur demand for prostheses that allow for more natural movement, increased productivity in manufacturing due to automation will slow growth for technicians.

Employment projections data for medical appliance technicians, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Medical Appliance Technicians	51-9082	14,200	14,700	4	500	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of medical appliance technicians.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Orthotists and Prosthetists	Orthotists and prosthetists, also called O&P professionals, design medical support devices and measure and fit patients for them. These devices include artificial limbs (arms, hands, legs, and feet), braces, and other medical or surgical devices.	Master’s degree	$65,060
Dental Laboratory Technicians	Dental laboratory technicians use impressions, or molds, of a patient’s teeth to create crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental appliances. They work closely with dentists but have limited contact with patients.	High school diploma or equivalent	$35,140
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians	Ophthalmic laboratory technicians make prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They are also commonly known as manufacturing opticians, optical mechanics, or optical goods workers.	High school diploma or equivalent	$27,970
Medical Equipment Repairers	Medical equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair patient care equipment.	Associate’s degree	$44,490