What You'll Do

  • Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
  • Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort.
  • Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses.
  • Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
  • Maintain patients' records.
  • Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process.
  • Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
  • Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices.
  • Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
  • Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Active Listening 4.0/5
Writing 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Active Learning 3.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Service Orientation 3.75/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.38/5
Coordination 3.25/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Dependability, Integrity, Attention to Detail, Concern for Others, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Written Expression 3.88/5

Technologies & Tools

Alibre Design American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association CodingPro Artsco OrthoPro Complete Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided manufacturing CAM software Computer graphics software Email software Futura International O.P.S. Gait analysis software Gez Bowman THE O&P HUB Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS Infinity CAD Systems AutoSculpt Intuit QuickBooks MedePresence MedEvolve eCeno Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.71/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.67/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.62/5)
  • Concern for Others (High importance: 4.52/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.48/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

American Board Certified Orthotist (ABC Orthotist) Artificial Limb Fitter Board Orthotist Board Prosthetist Certified Orthotic Fitter Certified Orthotist (CO) Certified Pedorthist Certified Prosthetist (CP) Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) Licensed Orthotist Licensed Prosthetist LPO (Licensed Prosthetist Orthotist) Orthopedic Assistant Orthopedic Mechanic Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (Orthotic and Prosthetic Tech) Orthotic Clinician Orthotic Fitter Orthotic Practitioner Orthotic Technician (Orthotic Tech) Orthotics Assistant Orthotist Orthotist and Prosthetist Orthotist Clinician Pedorthist Prosthetic Clinician Prosthetic Practitioner Prosthetics Assistant Prosthetist