What does an orthotist/prosthetist do?
An orthotist/prosthetist is a health professional trained in the assessment and treatment of functional and physical limitations resulting from disabilities and sickness. Orthotists and prosthetists specialize in prescribing and fitting the appropriate orthoses and prostheses for their patients and then fitting and monitoring the patient. They also offer therapy and educate patients on the proper use and care of the prosthesis and orthosis. Orthotists and prosthetists deal with children with congenital limb deficiencies, amputees, patients with muscular weakness, and the elderly.
Orthotist/prosthetist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real orthotist/prosthetist resumes:
- Research products to ensure cost efficient materials are used for the most cost effective products build and make for patients.
- Provide comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic services.
- Educate and advocate for prosthetic patients post-amputation and pre-prosthetic care.
- Consult with physicians and therapists to evaluate patients, identify needs and establish specifications for prosthetic/orthotic devices.
- Assist inpatient, outpatient and pediatric physical therapists in determining proper orthotic devices.
- Specialize in care of both idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis.
Orthotist/prosthetist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 29% of Orthotist/Prosthetists are proficient in Customer Service, Rehabilitation, and ABC. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Detail oriented, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Orthotist/Prosthetists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 29%
Provided direct patient care and established excellent patient relations by providing extraordinary customer service.
- Rehabilitation, 21%
Attended a Children's Rehabilitation Services clinic and provided evaluation and prescription recommendations and Orthotic services.
- ABC, 17%
Maintained Continuing Education Credits to renew ABC credentials every five years.
- Prosthetics, 16%
Provided comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic services.
- Orthotics, 14%
Lectured on Orthotics to Rehab Engineering students of SU.
- Patients Needs, 2%
design the device to match the patients needs Fabricate the device and fit the patient.
Common skills that an orthotist/prosthetist uses to do their job include "customer service," "rehabilitation," and "abc." You can find details on the most important orthotist/prosthetist responsibilities below.
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an orthotist/prosthetist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "orthotists and prosthetists must be able to communicate effectively with the technicians who often fabricate the medical devices." Orthotist/prosthetists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "measured, fabricated, and fitted patients devices, followed up with regular communications, monitoring client comfort and satisfaction. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform orthotist/prosthetist duties is detail oriented. Orthotist/prosthetists responsibilities require that "orthotists and prosthetists must be precise when recording measurements to ensure that devices are fabricated and fit properly." Orthotist/prosthetists also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provide detail patient management to patient of proper use of custom and/or off-the-shelf orthotics as were prescribed. "
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of orthotist/prosthetists is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday orthotist/prosthetist duties, as "orthotists and prosthetists should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as working with shop equipment and hand tools." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "presented orthotics and prosthetics devices to doctors, nurses, physical therapists, departments heads and hospital administrators. "
Problem-solving skills. orthotist/prosthetist responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "orthotists and prosthetists must evaluate their patients’ situations and often look for creative solutions to their rehabilitation needs." This resume example shows what orthotist/prosthetists do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "designed around patent material, discussed design flaws and solutions, fabricated functional prototype. "
The three companies that hire the most orthotist/prosthetists are:
- Hanger120 orthotist/prosthetists jobs
- Select Medical2 orthotist/prosthetists jobs
- Sanford Health2 orthotist/prosthetists jobs
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Compare different orthotist/prosthetists
Orthotist/prosthetist vs. Licensed certified orthotist
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, orthotist/prosthetist responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "rehabilitation," "abc," and "prosthetics." Meanwhile a typical licensed certified orthotist has skills in areas such as "certification #," "patient care," "endorsements," and "cpr." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Licensed certified orthotists tend to reach similar levels of education than orthotist/prosthetists. In fact, licensed certified orthotists are 4.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.9% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Orthotist/prosthetist vs. Pedorthist
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that orthotist/prosthetist responsibilities requires skills like "rehabilitation," "abc," "american board," and "cpo." But a pedorthist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patient care," "community services," "medical professionals," and "custom orthotics."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Pedorthists tend to reach similar levels of education than orthotist/prosthetists. In fact, they're 2.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for orthotist/prosthetists in the next 3-5 years?
Chris Robinson
Clinical Resource Director, NCOPE
Orthotist/prosthetist vs. Certified orthotic fitter
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from orthotist/prosthetist resumes include skills like "customer service," "rehabilitation," "cpo," and "patients needs," whereas a certified orthotic fitter is more likely to list skills in "patients," "product selection," "insurance benefits," and "insurance verification. "
Certified orthotic fitters typically earn similar educational levels compared to orthotist/prosthetists. Specifically, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Orthotist/prosthetist vs. Certified prosthetist, certified pedorthist
Updated January 8, 2025
