Skills
Orthotist and Prosthetist Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in orthotist and prosthetists, and how to build and show them.
What skills do orthotist and prosthetists need?
Orthotist and Prosthetists need technical skills such as biomechanics, casting and scanning, and device design, plus people skills like empathy and problem solving. They also use tools such as 3D scanners and CAD software.
Technical (hard) skills
- Biomechanics
- Casting and scanning
- Device design
- Gait analysis
- Fabrication basics
- Patient training
People (soft) skills
- Empathy
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Patience
Tools, equipment and technology
- 3D scanners
- CAD software
- Casting materials
- Fabrication tools
- Alignment tools
- Gait analysis systems
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how orthotist and prosthetists put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Biomechanics” and “Casting and scanning.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “empathy,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our orthotist and prosthetist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Orthotist and Prosthetist training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.