Occupation · SOC 29-2091
Orthotists and Prosthetists
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
Median wage
$78,310
$46,220–$118,730
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
9,930
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
10 mapped
Core skills
WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationTime ManagementOperations AnalysisLearning StrategiesInstructingQuality Control AnalysisPersuasionOperations MonitoringMathematicsTechnology DesignSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisScienceNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionTroubleshootingRepairingManagement of Material ResourcesEquipment MaintenanceManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingDesignEnglish LanguagePsychologyMechanicalEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingAdministration and ManagementEngineering and TechnologyPhysicsComputers and ElectronicsAdministrativeBiologyMathematicsSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingPersonnel and Human ResourcesPublic Safety and SecurityChemistryTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaLaw and GovernmentBuilding and ConstructionSociology and AnthropologyForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyTransportationGeographyHistory and ArcheologyFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
Alibre DesignAmerican Orthotic and Prosthetic Association CodingProArtsco OrthoPro CompleteAutodesk AutoCADComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareComputer graphics softwareEmail softwareFutura International O.P.S.Gait analysis softwareGez Bowman THE O&P HUBHealthcare common procedure coding system HCPCSInfinity CAD Systems AutoSculptIntuit QuickBooksMedEvolve eCenoMedePresenceMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOPIE Practice Management SuiteOhio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer SystemPatient management softwarePolhemus FastSCANSeattle Systems ShapemakerVorum Research Corporation CANFIT-PLUSWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Documenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsAssisting and Caring for OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesWorking with ComputersProcessing InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkGetting InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeThinking CreativelyInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationScheduling Work and ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleHandling and Moving ObjectsAnalyzing Data or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentSelling or Influencing OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient measurements and anatomical landmarks — collect and document under direct clinical supervision during initial patient intake evaluations.Orthotic and prosthetic device components — identify and differentiate by function and material type within a supervised clinical laboratory setting.Patient records — maintain and update accurately in medical software systems following established documentation protocols under preceptor oversight.Physician prescriptions and clinical notes — read and interpret to identify appliance requirements under guidance from a licensed orthotist or prosthetist.Basic hand tools and fabrication equipment — operate safely to assist in constructing orthopedic appliances under direct supervision in a prosthetics fabrication lab.Standard material and component options — select from pre-approved lists based on device design criteria with supervisor confirmation in a clinical training environment.Preliminary device fit sessions — assist and observe while a credentialed clinician fits and tests orthoses or prostheses on patients in an outpatient clinic.Patient use-and-care instructions — deliver scripted introductory education to patients under direct observation by a supervising practitioner.CAD software for orthotic and prosthetic design — navigate basic functions and input patient measurement data under structured instructional supervision.Clinical examination findings — record and organize into structured patient intake forms following facility protocols in a supervised healthcare setting.
developing
Patient examinations and measurements — conduct independently to assess appliance needs and identify fit-affecting anatomical factors in an outpatient O&P clinic.Custom orthotic and prosthetic devices — design based on physician prescriptions and patient evaluation data using CAD software with minimal supervisory review.Device fit and function — test and evaluate on patients during follow-up appointments, making routine adjustments to optimize comfort and mobility outcomes.Prosthetic and orthopedic appliances — repair, rebuild, and modify using standard fabrication techniques in response to patient-reported functional issues.Material and component selection — apply working knowledge of mechanical properties and patient biomechanics to choose appropriate materials for routine device fabrication.Patient instruction programs — deliver comprehensive use-and-care education for newly fitted orthoses and prostheses, adapting communication style to individual patient needs.CAM software and digital fabrication tools — operate to produce device components from approved designs in a clinical or hospital-based fabrication environment.Appliance construction workflows — supervise certified technicians and assistants engaged in routine fabrication tasks in a structured O&P laboratory.Problem-solving for common fit complications — apply clinical reasoning to diagnose and resolve pressure-point, alignment, and functional issues across familiar case types.Patient progress documentation — maintain complete and timely records in electronic health record systems, ensuring compliance with clinical and payer requirements.
proficient
Complex patient evaluations — conduct autonomously across diverse diagnostic populations, integrating interview findings, physical measurements, and comorbidity data to determine optimal appliance specifications.Advanced orthotic and prosthetic device designs — develop for non-routine cases including high-activity amputees, pediatric patients, and neurological conditions using biomechanical analysis and CAD tools.Comprehensive device fitting and functional assessment — perform across the full scope of O&P practice, resolving non-standard alignment, suspension, and interface challenges without external consultation.Specialized material and component selection — make evidence-based decisions for microprocessor-controlled, dynamic-response, and custom-fabricated systems in a tertiary care or specialty clinic environment.Prosthetic and orthopedic appliance repair and modification — execute at an advanced technical level, diagnosing structural failures and redesigning components to restore or enhance performance.Patient education for complex device systems — design and deliver individualized training protocols for high-tech prostheses including myoelectric and osseointegrated devices in a rehabilitation setting.Interprofessional care coordination — lead case discussions with physicians, physical therapists, and rehabilitation engineers to integrate O&P interventions into comprehensive patient care plans.Fabrication quality assurance — evaluate finished appliances against prescription criteria and biomechanical standards, approving or rejecting outputs in a high-volume clinical manufacturing environment.Clinical outcomes monitoring — systematically track functional and patient-reported outcomes across a caseload, applying data to refine device designs and treatment protocols.Emerging O&P technologies — evaluate and integrate new CAD/CAM systems, additive manufacturing methods, and sensor-based diagnostic tools into routine clinical practice.
advanced
Organizational O&P practice standards — develop and implement evidence-based clinical protocols, quality benchmarks, and patient safety policies across a multi-site healthcare system.Residency and fellowship programs — design curriculum, mentor residents, and evaluate clinical competency development for the next generation of orthotists and prosthetists.Strategic technology adoption — lead organizational assessment, procurement, and deployment of advanced CAD/CAM, microprocessor-controlled devices, and digital fabrication systems at an enterprise level.Research and innovation initiatives — direct clinical studies, publish findings, and translate emerging biomechanical and materials science evidence into improved O&P device designs and care pathways.Interprofessional leadership — represent O&P expertise on hospital executive committees, rehabilitation service lines, and health system strategic planning bodies to elevate the profession's role in patient care.Complex case consultation — serve as the definitive clinical authority for high-acuity, multi-pathology, and post-oncologic patients referred from across a regional or national healthcare network.Workforce development and practice management — oversee hiring, credentialing, continuing education, and performance management for clinical and technical staff in a large O&P organization.Regulatory and accreditation compliance — lead organizational preparation for ABC, BOC, and Joint Commission accreditation reviews, ensuring all documentation, fabrication, and clinical standards are met.Advocacy and professional governance — shape national O&P policy, reimbursement standards, and scope-of-practice regulations through leadership in professional associations and legislative engagement.Financial and operational strategy — direct budget planning, payer contracting, and practice growth initiatives across a department or enterprise, aligning clinical excellence with sustainable financial performance.
Also known as
28 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
American Board Certified Orthotist (ABC Orthotist)Artificial Limb FitterBoard OrthotistBoard ProsthetistCertified Orthotic FitterCertified Orthotist (CO)Certified PedorthistCertified Prosthetist (CP)Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO)Licensed OrthotistLicensed ProsthetistLPO (Licensed Prosthetist Orthotist)Orthopedic AssistantOrthopedic MechanicOrthotic and Prosthetic Technician (Orthotic and Prosthetic Tech)Orthotic ClinicianOrthotic FitterOrthotic PractitionerOrthotic Technician (Orthotic Tech)Orthotics AssistantOrthotistOrthotist and ProsthetistOrthotist ClinicianPedorthistProsthetic ClinicianProsthetic PractitionerProsthetics AssistantProsthetist