Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians

A secondary education or certification is not required to become an orthotic and prosthetic technician, however, certification is highly recommended to become a competitive applicant. Currently, there are about 10 schools in the country that provide either a certification program or an associate's degree for those wishing to be orthotic and prosthetic technicians.

To be a successful orthotic and prosthetic technician, you need good eye-hand coordination, ability to operate small hand tools, an artistic perception, good communication skills, ability to adapt to changing situations, working knowledge of measurements, basic math, and human anatomy. A technician must be able to take direction and communicate well with the orthotist or prosthetist.

To be a successful orthotic or prosthetic technician, you will need to enjoy working with your hands and have excellent eye-hand coordination. You must also be patient and detail oriented because this work involves precise measurements and working on a piece until it is an exact fit. Technicians should be committed to lifelong learning, as new technologies, materials, and processes are continuously being developed. A good sense of color will also be helpful because your responsibilities may include matching the color of a device to a patient's skin tone.