Orthotist and Prosthetist Series, 0667

Individual Occupational Requirements

Experience And Education/Training Requirements

Qualifying experience and training may have been acquired in automotive, electronic, furniture, garment, or woodworking shops or factories, in a hospital or clinical setting, or in the Armed Forces as a medic or mechanic. All applicants must have the ability to:

• Deal with patients' orthotic or prosthetic needs while recognizing their emotional and mental outlook and attitudes;
• Accept responsibility as participating members of the health care team, be aware of the ethical considerations present and the need to adhere to medical ethical practices in all their relationships; and
• Work with professionals and nonprofessionals, and recognize the contribution of each in attaining the objectives of the treatment plan prescribed by a physician or developed by a clinical team.

Experience

For GS-3: Applicants must have 1 year of experience that provided (1) knowledge of or skill in the use of hand or power tools, or of wood, plastics, metal, leather, or other materials used in orthotic or prosthetic devices; or (2) a practical knowledge of the medical environment and procedures related to the care of patients through work such as a nursing assistant, therapy assistant, or medical aid.

For GS-4: Applicants must have 1 year of experience that provided familiarity with orthotic or prosthetic work, or skill and knowledge in the use of hand and power tools in working with materials used in orthotic or prosthetic devices.

For GS-5 and above: Applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that provided a solid background of:

• The theories and principles of orthotics or prosthetics;
• The use of hand and power tools for the development or fabrication of orthotic or prosthetic devices and appliances;
• The technology of materials commonly used in orthotic or prosthetic appliances; and
• The measurement of patients, the fabrication and fitting of orthoses or prostheses from prescriptions according to recognized and accepted techniques.

OR

Education/Training

For GS-3: Successful completion of 1 academic year of post-high school study that included a course appropriate to the work such as orthotics, prosthetics, anatomy, psychology, nursing, biology, medical terminology, handicrafts, physical education, or industrial arts education.

For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study that included courses as described above for GS-3.

Successful completion of apprenticeship training in such trades and crafts as plastics and sheet metal work, machinist, patternmaker, or similar trades and crafts that provided knowledge of the practices, procedures, techniques, and use of the equipment and tools meets the educational requirements on a year-for-year basis up through GS-4.

For GS-5: A full 4-year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in prosthetics and orthotics.

For GS-6: A full 4-year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in prosthetics and orthotics, and subsequent successful completion of the clinical affiliation training prescribed by the school to assure professional competence to practice the occupation.

A successfully completed Orthotist-Prosthetist apprenticeship in a facility approved by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. meets in full the requirements for grade GS-6 positions.

Test Requirements

Refer to Section V of this Manual for information about test requirements.