Prosthetist Orthotist
Ideal Attributes
rosthetists and orthotists are clinical practitioners who evaluate and treat people who have physical impairments such as limb loss or paralysis. These specialized health professionals create solutions for each patient’s unique needs. The prosthetist assesses the needs of persons with limb loss, such as an arm amputation due to electrical burns, or a leg amputation due to diabetes or vascular disease. These creative professionals design prostheses (artificial limbs) as part of a treatment plan. The orthotist assesses the needs of persons with weakness or deformities of the limbs, spine or skull. They design treatments such as a Halo for life threatening neck injuries, spinal orthoses for scoliosis, ankle/foot orthoses for children with cerebral palsy and knee orthoses to allow athletes to return to sports. Prosthetists and orthotists are capable of finding solutions for each patient's unique physical challenge by applying problem-solving skills to create a plan of care that meets the patient’s lifestyle and goals. Developing the plan of care involves a combination of materials, specialized component parts, hand skills and specialized techniques, computer aided design and construction using lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, titanium and thermoplastics. The profession is a hidden gem in rehabilitation medicine because the prosthetist and orthotist uses a unique set of hand skills and modern technology to make a difference in the lives of each person they treat.
• creative • excellent hand-eye coordination • problem-solving skills • work independently • good communication skills
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Work Environment Government agencies Hospitals Privately-owned facilities Rehabilitation centers Research and design laboratories Self-employed Universities Veteran’s Affairs medical centers
Academic Requirements A bachelor’s degree including prerequisite courses in math, statistics, physics, chemistry, general psychology, abnormal psychology, human anatomy and human physiology are required to gain admission into a graduate program offering the entry-level master’s degree in prosthetics and orthotics.
Licensure, Certification, and Registration Licensure is required through the Georgia Composite Medical Board. To attain licensure, the individual must have successfully completed one year of experience under a board certified practitioner, and a test to become certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics. This organization grants certifications for Certified Orthotist (CO), Certified Prosthetist (CP), and Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO).
Starting Salary $58,500 or $28.13/hour
Professional Organizations American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (202) 380-3663 www.oandp.org www.opcareers.org American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (703) 836-7114 www.abcop.org National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (703) 836-7114 www.ncope.org
Educational Programs Master’s Degree Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Statewide AHEC Network
www.mcg.edu/ahec 97