Orthotists and Prosthetists
On the Job
Orthotists and Prosthetists design, measure, and fit medical devices like orthopedic braces or artificial limbs.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
- Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
- Present medical research reports.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Design medical devices or appliances.
- Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
- Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
- Instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working with a group or team.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
