How to become an orthotist or prosthetist

Why become an orthotist or prosthetist?

Orthotists and prosthetists design and make supportive medical devices. They also fit these devices and work with patients as they adjust to using them. One example of their work is creating a prosthetic arm for a person who lost a limb in an accident.

Orthotists or prosthetists derive satisfaction from helping patients become more independent, and their work can make an immediate and profound difference in patients’ lives. They also get to keep regular office hours. This is unique, because many jobs in the healthcare profession require shift work, including weekends and holidays.

Where do orthotists and prosthetists work?

Orthotists and prosthetists work in a variety of settings, such as:

• ambulatory healthcare services, 27%
• medical supplies and equipment manufacturing, 25%
• health and personal care retail stores, 19%
• hospitals, 10%
• federal government, 9%

*Ambulatory healthcare services refers to outpatient settings, including primary care clinics and physical therapy offices.

What is the difference between an orthotist and a prosthetist?

Although patients and medical professionals often use the terms orthotist and prosthetist interchangeably, the 2 roles serve different functions in the same field.

Orthotists create devices that assist, rather than replace, a part of the body. They typically work with patients who have musculoskeletal or neurological problems, which prevent the normal functioning of one or more body parts. For example, a patient with extreme limb weakness due to a stroke can benefit from leg braces made and fitted by an orthotist. Orthotists typically use the title CO, which stands for Certified Orthotist.

Prosthetists design devices for patients who have lost an arm, leg, hand, or foot. They are typically part of a patient’s medical team prior to amputation surgery. The goal of a prosthetist is to fit the patient with the replacement body part and work with them to regain as much mobility as possible. Prosthetists use the designation CP, or certified prosthetist, to describe their credentials. A medical professional credentialed as an orthotist and a prosthetist is a CPO.

Orthotists and prosthetists follow the same general educational path, they both require a master’s degree and a 1-year residency in their chosen field. Students who wish to become certified in both specialties complete an 18-month residency. Some states require orthotists and prosthetists to become licensed. Most choose to become certified through the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE).

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How hard is it to become an orthotist or prosthetist?

NCOPE issued new guidelines in 2012 that changed the entry-level requirement for orthotists and prosthetists from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s. The master’s takes 2 years to complete, and students also need to participate a 1-year or 18-month residency, depending on their career preferences. Some states also require orthotists and prosthetists to become licensed and pass a certification exam.

How long does it take to become an orthotist or prosthetist?

Students can expect to devote approximately 6 years to full-time study, and 1 year to completing a residency. Some schools offer flexible programs for students who have other responsibilities. In that case, the time it takes to complete the degree depends on how many courses students take each semester.

Step 1 —Study relevant subjects in high school

High school students who know they want to go into this line of work can focus on courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. High marks in math and English can also help.

Since the field is small, local clinics and manufacturers may allow a high school student to shadow an orthotist, prosthetist, or technician. Students can speak to one of their science instructors about arranging this.

High school students can also take an entry-level part-time job in a clinic or manufacturing plant to gain industry exposure. They may not be qualified to work directly with patients, but can answer phones, process mail, or perform other simple tasks.

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Step 2 – Get an undergraduate degree

Although an undergraduate degree is required, this needn’t be in orthotics and prosthetics. Common undergraduate degrees that students complete before applying for a master’s program include science, engineering, business, and psychology.

Pre-requisites for a master’s degree program in orthotics and prosthetics can vary between programs. Students are encouraged to enquire about the specific admission requirements with their chosen school. Typical courses that students complete before enrolling in a graduate program include advanced math and science.

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What jobs can I get with a bachelor’s degree?

A master’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for entry-level work as an orthotist or prosthetist. Other positions that require fewer credentials include:

Step 3 — Apply for a master’s degree

The most common degree is the Master’s in Prosthetics and Orthotics (MSOP), which takes 21 to 30 months to complete. This is currently the highest degree available in the field, although students can go on to study related disciplines at doctorate level, such as rehabilitation science.

Students are advised to make sure the program is accredited before committing. The NCOPE, American Board for Certification (ABC), and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), currently accredit orthotics and prosthetics programs in the United States.

Orthotics and prosthetics students also need to consider how well the program prepares them for their 1-year residency after graduation.

Step 4— Get your master’s degree

A master’s in orthotics and prosthetics takes an average of 2 years to complete. Some schools offer a hybrid format that allows students to take classes online, but most instruction takes place in person due to the hands-on nature of the work. Typically, students learn about both disciplines – orthotics and prosthetics – rather than just one.

Some students choose to focus on a specific area of the body. For example, one practitioner might treat injuries or diseases of the legs, while their partner works with patients who have injuries or diseases of the arms.

Examples of graduate-level coursework include:

• human anatomy – Students learn about internal organs, muscles, and cells, including their location, and normal and abnormal functioning.
• neuroscience – Students study the function of the human nervous system and brain, including how each develops prenatally, and their unique functions.
• human movement – Teaches students how to apply the law of mechanics to human movement to understand normal and abnormal functioning.
• clinical research – Instructors present topics such as motion analysis. Students are required to study the topic and report and defend their findings.

Students need to submit a thesis or research paper prior to graduation. Topics are related to the intended field, such as how to fit a double amputee with new prosthetic legs.

Completing an internship or practicum is also a requirement. These are usually full-time and last for at least a semester.

Step 5 — Complete a residency

Students who want to work in orthotics or prosthetics are typically required to complete a residency that lasts 12 months. For those who choose to work in both disciplines, the residency period is 18 months.

A residency provides hands-on experience and aims to prepare participants for their future careers in a highly practical way.

Some schools offer supervised clinical experience in addition to a residency. During this clinical practice, students learn to:

• assess patients
• implement a treatment plan
• follow-up with patients
• document patient progress
• communicate with patients, caregivers, and other medical providers
• learn business and front-office functions

Both the residency and supervised clinical experience offer valuable opportunities that students cannot receive anywhere else.

Step 6 — Get licensed and certified

As of early 2022, 15 states require orthotists and prosthetists to obtain a license before they can practice. Only North Dakota and Idaho require certification, but most students opt to become certified to demonstrate they have achieved mastery in the field.

The American Board of Certification oversees the certification process for orthotists and prosthetists. Students who have earned a master’s degree from an accredited school and completed their residency are eligible to take the exam.

The ABC certification exam is multiple choice, and combines questions on orthotics and prosthetics. Students apply to take the test online and pay a non-refundable fee of $250. The exam can be taken 6 times per year, application deadlines are every other month starting in February.

Orthotists and prosthetists are required to pay a fee each year to remain certified. They also need to complete continuing education on a 5-year cycle. Examples of continuing education coursework include custom fitting documentation and post-injury surgical complications.

Step 7 — Find a job as an orthotist or prosthetist

The high demand for skilled orthotists and prosthetists means they may have an easier time landing their first job than those in other fields. Residency and supervised clinical experience is an ideal opportunity for students to build a network that can help them find employment. Some organizations even offer jobs to candidates during residency.

Orthotist and prosthetist salary and demand

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 18% increase in the demand for orthotists and prosthetists between now and 2030. This breaks down to approximately 1,000 job openings each year. The main cause is an aging baby boomer population, which is predicted to require more orthotist and prosthetist services.

Financial aid opportunities

The free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) is the first place to turn to when seeking funding. Federal loans, grants, and work-study programs are available at all degree levels. There are also scholarships, some of which are specifically for healthcare students.