What does an orthotist do?

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted expert

Chris Robinson

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Orthotist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real orthotist resumes:

Provide detail patient management to patient of proper use of custom and/or off-the-shelf orthotics as were prescribe.
Designate as department's long-term EMR 'super user' for inpatient and outpatient services.
Research products to ensure cost efficient materials are used for the most cost effective products build and make for patients.
Experience with microprocessor knees, body power and myoelectric upper extremity prosthetics.
Work as a certify breast prosthetic fitter.
Fabricate orthotic devices, including development of designs, selection of materials, and structural evaluation and modification.
Work closely with PTs, OTs and SLPs.

Orthotist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 51% of Orthotists are proficient in Patients, Orthotics, and Prosthetics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Physical stamina, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Orthotists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Patients, 51%
Saw patients and did adjustments and replacements of components as needed through wear and tear through K levels.
Orthotics, 14%
needed for the production of orthotic devices.
Prosthetics, 8%
Worked as a certified breast prosthetic fitter.
Patients Needs, 7%
design the device to match the patients needs Fabricate the device and fit the patient.
Treatment Plan, 6%
Formulated and implemented treatment plans to enhance patient function.
Health Professionals, 4%
Market orthopaedic surgeons and MD's as well as other health professionals for bracing and artificial limb services.

"patients," "orthotics," and "prosthetics" are among the most common skills that orthotists use at work. You can find even more orthotist responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an orthotist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "orthotists and prosthetists must be able to communicate effectively with the technicians who often fabricate the medical devices." Additionally, an orthotist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "measured, fabricated, and fitted patients devices, followed up with regular communications, monitoring client comfort and satisfaction. "

Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling orthotist duties is physical stamina. The role rewards competence in this skill because "orthotists and prosthetists should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as working with shop equipment and hand tools." According to an orthotist resume, here's how orthotists can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "interacted with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, patients and their families. "

Detail oriented. This is an important skill for orthotists to perform their duties. For an example of how orthotist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "orthotists and prosthetists must be precise when recording measurements to ensure that devices are fabricated and fit properly." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an orthotist: "provide detail patient management to patient of proper use of custom and/or off-the-shelf orthotics as were prescribed. ".

Most common orthotist skills

The three companies that hire the most orthotists are:

Cranial Technologies42 orthotists jobs
Geisinger Medical Center1 orthotists jobs
University of Rochester1 orthotists jobs

Choose from 10+ customizable orthotist resume templates

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Compare different orthotists

Orthotist vs. Certified prosthetist, certified pedorthist

If we compare the average orthotist annual salary with that of a certified prosthetist, certified pedorthist, we find that certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist typically earn a $1,889 higher salary than orthotists make annually.Even though orthotists and certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require orthotics, prosthetics, and custom orthotics in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, orthotist responsibilities require skills like "patients," "patient management," "patients needs," and "treatment plan." Meanwhile a typical certified prosthetist, certified pedorthist has skills in areas such as "cnc," "patient care," "durable medical equipment," and "foot care." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

The education levels that certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist earn slightly differ from orthotists. In particular, certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist are 16.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an orthotist. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Orthotist vs. Orthotic/prosthetic practitioner

On average, orthotic/prosthetic practitioners earn a $164,399 higher salary than orthotists a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Orthotists and orthotic/prosthetic practitioners both require similar skills like "orthotics," "prosthetics," and "direct patient care" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real orthotist resumes. While orthotist responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "patient management," "patients needs," and "treatment plan," orthotic/prosthetic practitioners use skills like "american board," "abc," "patient demographics," and "hippa."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Orthotic/prosthetic practitioners tend to reach similar levels of education than orthotists. In fact, they're 5.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for orthotists in the next 3-5 years?

Chris Robinson

Clinical Resource Director, NCOPE

I am of the mindset that technology isn’t a separate concept, but something becoming deeply interwoven into our day-to-day lives. On the business side, I feel access to real-time data will become the relative norm, enabling employees at all levels to not only have access to critical data, but have it presented in a meaningful way. The term “data” brings with it a certain stigma, and to some, reflections of giant spreadsheets of data. A giant spreadsheet may contain critical data, but it must be visualized in a way that allows a person to quickly draw an appropriate conclusion. From a physical goods standpoint, additive manufacturing is no longer something exclusive to the prototyping and enthusiast community, but something accessible across professions. I would not be surprised if 3D printers were integrated into retailers the same way 1-hour photo labs are.

Orthotist vs. Certified prosthetist/orthotist

An average certified prosthetist/orthotist eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of orthotists. The difference in salaries amounts to certified prosthetist/orthotists earning a $446 lower average salary than orthotists.Using the responsibilities included on orthotists and certified prosthetist/orthotists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "orthotics," "prosthetics," and "medical professionals.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, orthotists are more likely to have skills like "patients," "patient management," "patients needs," and "treatment plan." But a certified prosthetist/orthotist is more likely to have skills like "cpo," "abc," "clinical care," and "patient satisfaction."

Most certified prosthetist/orthotists achieve a similar degree level compared to orthotists. For example, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Orthotist vs. Certified orthotist/pedorthist

Certified orthotist/pedorthists typically earn lower pay than orthotists. On average, certified orthotist/pedorthists earn a $508 lower salary per year.While both orthotists and certified orthotist/pedorthists complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like orthotics, direct patient care, and boc, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. An orthotist uses "patients," "prosthetics," "patient management," and "patients needs." Certified orthotist/pedorthists are more likely to have duties that require skills in "abc," "dme," "exam," and "customer accounts. "In general, certified orthotist/pedorthists hold lower degree levels compared to orthotists. Certified orthotist/pedorthists are 16.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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What Does An Orthotist Do

Updated January 8, 2025

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