Onboarding plan
Orthotist and Prosthetist Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new orthotist and prosthetist from first day to full productivity.
Orthotist and Prosthetist onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO), Certified Orthotist (CO) (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: 3D scanners; CAD software; casting materials; fabrication tools
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Orthotist and Prosthetist training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Check skin for pressure injuries
- Use PPE in fabrication
- Guard patients during gait training
- Follow tool safety
- Shadow an experienced orthotist and prosthetist through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: fit a check socket
- Supervised practice: align a prosthetic leg
- Supervised practice: teach device care
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Evaluate patients’ needs: independently
- Take casts, measurements and scans: independently
- Design orthoses and prostheses: independently
- Fit and adjust devices: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO))
- Discuss the career path: O&P Resident → Certified Practitioner → Clinical Director
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit a Check Socket | |||
| Align a Prosthetic Leg | |||
| Teach Device Care | |||
| Biomechanics | |||
| Casting and scanning | |||
| Device design | |||
| Gait analysis |
How to measure onboarding success
- Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
- Competency sign-offs completed on time
- Documentation or charting error rate
- 90-day retention
How Orthotist and Prosthetist training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Orthotist and Prosthetist Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Orthotist and Prosthetist Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Orthotist and Prosthetist Career
- Final Knowledge Check