Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an Orthotist and Prosthetist Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation. Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation. Some states require these workers to be licensed.
Education
To enter the occupation, orthotists and prosthetists typically need a master's degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a program accredited by a professional organization. Master's degree programs, which typically require a bachelor’s degree to enter, take about 2 years to complete. Master's degree programs include academic coursework and supervised clinical experience. Applicants to these programs may need to have completed undergraduate coursework in sciences, mathematics, and other subjects. Graduate-level coursework includes topics such as patient assessment, spinal orthotics, and limb prosthetics. In clinical
Training
, students gain experience by working in settings such as hospitals or orthotics and prosthetics clinics. Training Following graduation from a master's degree program, candidates typically complete a residency that has been accredited by a professional organization. Residency programs in either orthotics or prosthetics typically last about 1 year, although they may take longer for candidates who want to specialize in both disciplines.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some states require orthotists and prosthetists to be licensed. Requirements vary; contact your state's licensing board for more information. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Employers usually prefer to hire candidates with certification that indicates their competency in the occupation. Certification typically requires that candidates meet education requirements to sit for exams and complete continuing education requirements to maintain it. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of orthotists and prosthetists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 700 openings for orthotists and prosthetists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Demand for orthotists and prosthetists is projected to rise due to the aging population, the growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and the continued occurrence of trauma events. The growing size of the older population and the consequent rise in age-related health issues, such as osteoarthritis and injuries from falls, will increase the need for devices that help improve bodily function and relieve pain. In addition, rising obesity rates will place greater demand on orthoses to alleviate foot and heel pain, and prosthetic care will be needed to address amputations and other complications from diabetes. Trauma event survivors, such as those who have experienced industrial or car accidents, will need orthotic and prosthetic care to regain or improve mobility. Orthotists and Prosthetists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Orthotists and prosthetists 13% Health technologists and technicians 7% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Orthotists and Prosthetists Do
Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt musculoskeletal devices for patients who have disabling conditions. These devices include artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
Duties
Orthotists and prosthetists typically do the following:
- Evaluate and interview patients to determine their needs
- Take measurements or impressions, as needed, for fitting the patient with a brace or artificial limb
- Select materials to be used for the device
- Design and fabricate medical supportive devices based on physicians' prescriptions
- Instruct patients and their families in the use and care of patients' devices
- Adjust, repair, or replace patients' devices
- Document care and interactions with patients
These workers may specialize in either orthotics or prosthetics, or they may do both. Orthotists work with patients who need medical devices, such as braces and splints, that provide support to a body part. Prosthetists work with patients who need artificial limbs or other body parts.
Orthotists and prosthetists customize the fit of their patients' medical devices to support individual needs. For example, an orthotist addressing a knee injury may measure the joint's circumference and design a stabilizing brace made of materials such as metal, elastic, and carbon fiber. A prosthetist might take a mold of a patient's arm at the point of amputation to design and fit an artificial limb out of durable plastic and other materials.
Some orthotists and prosthetists construct the devices they design for their patients. Other orthotists and prosthetists supervise the construction of the orthotic or prosthetic devices by medical appliance technicians.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Orthotists and prosthetists held about 9,500 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of orthotists and prosthetists were as follows:
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 35% |
| Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing | 25 |
| Health and personal care retailers | 12 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 10 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 10 |
Orthotists and prosthetists work both in healthcare settings and in laboratories. In healthcare offices, they interact with patients during assessment and fitting of a device. In the lab, they may work with tools, such as drills and sanders, to construct or adjust devices. Orthotists and prosthetists collaborate with other healthcare workers, including physicians and surgeons, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
Injuries and Illnesses
Orthotists and prosthetists may be exposed to safety hazards when working with certain tools or materials. To minimize risks, they take precautions such as wearing eye protection, gloves, and masks.
Work Schedules
Most orthotists and prosthetists work full time.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Compassion. Orthotists and prosthetists work with patients who may have experienced injury or illness. They must be understanding and sympathetic in their interactions with these patients. Communication skills. Orthotists and prosthetists must be able to explain to patients how to use and care for their medical devices. They also must communicate details about the devices with other healthcare workers, including physicians and surgeons, physical therapists, and medical appliance technicians. Detail oriented. Orthotists and prosthetists must be precise when taking and recording measurements to ensure that devices fit properly. Dexterity. Orthotists and prosthetists must be adept at working with their hands to fit, construct, and adapt devices that have intricate mechanical parts. Interpersonal skills. Orthotists and prosthetists meet with patients and their families. They also collaborate on patient care with other members of the healthcare team. Physical stamina. Orthotists and prosthetists may spend a lot of time bending or crouching to examine or measure patients. Problem-solving skills. Orthotists and prosthetists evaluate their patients' needs to find creative solutions for rehabilitation.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about orthotists and prosthetists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.