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What does a prosthetist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
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Prosthetist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real prosthetist resumes:

  • Gain extensive knowledge of hospital orthotics.
  • Obtain insurance authorizations when necessary and bill insurance companies using emr software.
  • Design and application of cosmetic prosthetic devices.
  • Work closely with PTs, OTs and SLPs.

Prosthetist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 74% of Prosthetists are proficient in Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Treatment Plan. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Physical stamina, and Problem-solving skills.

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

  • Prosthetics, 74%

    Observed patient consultations, examinations, prosthetic production and fabrication, and patient fitting and trial.

  • Orthotics, 19%

    Cast and fit an assortment of orthotic devices.

  • Treatment Plan, 7%

    Consulted and helped determine treatment plan for trauma victims, cancer survivors, and patients with congenital birth defects Accomplishments.

Most prosthetists use their skills in "prosthetics," "orthotics," and "treatment plan" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential prosthetist responsibilities here:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a prosthetist 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, a prosthetist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "developed a system of staff communication that ensured proper implementation of treatment plans and comprehensive patient care. "

Physical stamina. Another essential skill to perform prosthetist duties is physical stamina. Prosthetists responsibilities require that "orthotists and prosthetists should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as working with shop equipment and hand tools." Prosthetists also use physical stamina in their role according to a real resume snippet: "help patients use prosthetics while coordinating with physical therapists. "

Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for prosthetists to perform their duties. For an example of how prosthetist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "orthotists and prosthetists must evaluate their patients’ situations and often look for creative solutions to their rehabilitation needs." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a prosthetist: "designed around patent material, discussed design flaws and solutions, fabricated functional prototype. ".

All prosthetist skills

The three companies that hire the most prosthetists are:

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Compare different prosthetists

Prosthetist vs. Certified orthotic fitter

We looked at the average prosthetist salary and compared it with the wages of a certified orthotic fitter. Generally speaking, certified orthotic fitters are paid $876 lower than prosthetists per year.Even though prosthetists and certified orthotic fitters are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require prosthetics, orthotics, and treatment plan in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, prosthetist responsibilities require skills like "optimize patient care," "gait training," "cad cam," and "patient evaluations." Meanwhile a typical certified orthotic fitter has skills in areas such as "patients," "abc," "product selection," and "insurance benefits." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Certified orthotic fitters tend to reach lower levels of education than prosthetists. In fact, certified orthotic fitters are 9.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.4% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Prosthetist vs. Certified orthotist/pedorthist

Certified orthotist/pedorthist positions earn lower pay than prosthetist roles. They earn a $122 lower salary than prosthetists per year.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real prosthetist resumes. While prosthetist responsibilities can utilize skills like "prosthetics," "optimize patient care," "treatment plan," and "gait training," certified orthotist/pedorthists use skills like "abc," "boc," "dme," and "exam."

Certified orthotist/pedorthists earn lower levels of education than prosthetists in general. They're 13.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Prosthetist vs. Licensed certified orthotist

On average scale, licensed certified orthotists bring in lower salaries than prosthetists. In fact, they earn a $16 lower salary per year.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a prosthetist is likely to be skilled in "prosthetics," "optimize patient care," "treatment plan," and "gait training," while a typical licensed certified orthotist is skilled in "r," "certification #," "endorsements," and "cpr."

Most licensed certified orthotists achieve a lower degree level compared to prosthetists. For example, they're 6.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 3.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Prosthetist vs. Certified prosthetist, certified pedorthist

Certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist tend to earn a higher pay than prosthetists by an average of $2,275 per year.While both prosthetists and certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like prosthetics, orthotics, and cad cam, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between prosthetists and certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a prosthetist might have more use for skills like "optimize patient care," "treatment plan," "gait training," and "patient evaluations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist require skills like "custom orthotics," "cnc," "foot care," and "patient logs. "

The average resume of certified prosthetists, certified pedorthist showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to prosthetists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 13.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 3.4%.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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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