Orthotist and Prosthetist Residency

Home Training Programs Orthotist and Prosthetist Residency

Developing Future Orthotists and Prosthetists

We’re committed to training orthotist and prosthetist professionals by building their skills and developing their focus on patients. Our goal is to help residents produce functional products that enable patients to live their lives to the fullest. Through on-site fabrication and collaboration with technicians, our residency program makes this possible.

The orthotic and prosthetic role includes patient assessment, treatment plan formulation and implementation, follow-up, and practice management. The orthotist and prosthetists program is designed to restore physiological function and improve appearance in accordance with EQUIP’s mission, vision and goals.

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Clinical Practice

During the program, our residents will have clinical practice 40 hours a week for 18-24 months. Clinical practice includes:

  • Assisting in comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic care under the direction of a physician’s prescription
  • Performing patient assessments
  • Formulating and implementing treatment plans
  • Conducting follow-up care and practice management

Residents must be registered with the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) before starting the program.

Leadership and Service

Residents will:

  • Build out and facilitate support groups for patients
  • Develop professional skills that make them an asset to their community

Research and Implementation

Our research criteria will empower residents to:

  • Research and problem solve to find creative ways to restore independency and comfort for patients
  • Build confidence in their skills by learning cutting edge practices and implementing them
  • Collaborate with other practitioners, technicians and assistants to provide a comprehensive approach for optimal results
  • Utilize a learning environment with a variety of on-site resources, including technicians, fitters, osteoarthritis specialists, certified pedorthist, certified orthotists and certified prosthetists for comprehensive training
  • Attend clinics with physicians to experience and learn in a clinic setting
  • Evaluate and fit patients in the hospital setting
  • Provide care in partnership with physicians, physical therapists and other hospital staff 
  • Offer on-site central fabrication, which allows residents to modify and be part of the fabrication process

Residency Path Opportunity

Students who have completed some clinical experience and certain classes have the qualifications needed to sit for the orthotic assistant exam. With this certification, students can secure a job in orthotics and prosthetics as an assistant while finishing their education toward becoming a certified orthotist or prosthetist.

At this level, most education is online with some in-person classes. Because of this, Sanford Health offers the opportunity to get hired as a certified orthotic assistant. We offer flexibility for the weeks you need to attend in-person classes and give you the opportunity to learn valuable skills that will help you transition into a residency with us. It is a way to earn some money while propelling your career forward.

Program Outcomes

Sanford Health’s orthotics and prosthetics team strives for perfection in our work because we know our patients deserve nothing less. The goal for this residency program is to produce orthotics and prosthetics professionals who are equipped to gainfully enter the workforce after their residency ends.

After completing the program, residents will have:

  • Proven skills in research, patient care and treatment plan implementation
  • Seen patients of all ages with a wide variety of needs
  • Learned the skills needed to perform their job well, returning patients to their lives without pain and with the most independence possible