I really want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me all the
awesome advice! Here’s a list of the responses I received:
1. Hi Riley, where are you located? Why do you think you’d like to be a
technician? Why do you think you’d be good at it?
Jobs are out there. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, you may
have to relocate to find the right opportunity.
First let me say, I’m a certified Orthotic Technician. I’ve been a tech
for over twenty-five years and make very good money for only having a high
school diploma. However, I am not a tech. for the money. Tech jobs are not
known to pay great unless you have some mad skills. At this point in my
career, I am as much a consultant for practitioners as I am a tech. I
started my career by answering an ad in a newspaper because I wanted a job
working with my hands. I also enjoy the idea of improving someone’s life
with something I made. That’s where I get my satisfaction. Aside from
having to wake up in the morning, I don’t see my job as work. I enjoy it
too much to call it work. That being said, my situation is unique. There
are four techs where I work and only one went through a program. The rest
of us were hired with no experience. There are a lot of companies who will
hire the right person and train them. That “right person” will enjoy
working with their hands. They will have knowledge of hand and power tools.
They will take initiative and learn things on their own because they want
to know why things happen and how to make or stop things from happening. I
have trained and educated dozens of college graduates, technicians,
assistants, and practitioners. And I didn’t even get into this field until
I was 24 years old. I think, if you can afford getting into a tech. program
then more power to you. Some people will learn better in a structured
classroom setting. Others, such as my self, excel in a hands-on
environment. I have hired both as technicians and both worked out well.
However, I passed on several of both backgrounds until I found the “right
person”. The tech. program made little difference to me in the interview.
Bottom line is, a good candidate can talk themselves into the job
regardless of education. Employers want someone that’s dependable,
trainable, a good listener, self motivated, has trouble shooting skills and
hand skills.
Here’s what I would recommend. Do an internet search on orthotics and
prosthetics. Familiarize yourself with some terminology of anatomy and
devices. You can do orthotics or prosthetics. You don’t have to do both.
There is a ton of information available for free. Contact an O&P company
near you that has in-house fabrication. Heck, contact every facility within
driving distance. Tell them you are considering a career in O&P and ask
them if you could shadow someone for a day or half day. We do that all the
time. If you get the opportunity, go there, ask questions, throw out some
terminology, compare and discuss what you see to something similar you’ve
done. Subtly let them know you have the capacity and desire to do that job.
Wait about a month and send the company a resume stating you were impressed
with their company and would love the opportunity to work there in any
capacity. Highlight what skills you have. Whether it’s working on cars,
carpentry or woodworking, machining, home improvement, drafting or art, all
those things have skill set similarities with O&P. If you have no
experience in any of those things then I’m afraid a tech job is probably
not in your future. That’s just a reality unless you’re still very young.
But I don’t mean to discourage you.
Just for example, as a ten year old child, I built the ramps other kids
rode their bikes over. As a teenager, I took apart mini-bikes and fixed
them. As a young adult I bought books on auto repair and did all my own
repairs. I also had four years of wood shop in high school. My first boss
in this field said he hired me because of the pride I showed in some of my
woodworking projects we discussed at my interview. He could tell I had the
desire to do quality work. There is a lot of problem solving and detail
work involved in O&P. I once gave a potential hire a “find the differences”
picture at an interview. That showed me their capacity to know good work
from sloppy work. He did not do well and was not hired.
This is all basically “inside” information. I just spent 45 minutes giving
advise to a total stranger. How much time will you spend on yourself to get
a job and career you want?
2. The field is not worth it. It serves the handicapped; “PC” physically
challenged but the government does not give a hoot. UNLESS you get a job
in a well insulated university your job is at risk. Being a very small
minority profession things are not going to change. O&P is not a concern of
BIG MONEY, we are just an expense center. Get into a larger pond. The
other problem is the working conditions. Unless your in a very clean and
environmentally safe lab your going to be exposed to many hazardous
chemicals, fine dust, etc.. Riley there are exceptions to everything but I
don’t want to sugar coat things for you. Prosthetics leaving the office
are at risk of being reviewed up to 3 years (perhaps more). All this will
have an effect on your job security. Ask yourself how many offices are
located where you live? This will determine your destiny. Its a different
world out there.
3. Hi Riley,
I want to make sure you have explored opcareers.org as a resource for your
research into becoming an O&P technician. The pages specifically devoted to
technicians are
http://www.opcareers.org/professionals/technicians/ and
http://www.opcareers.org/education/technician_programs/
Where are you from? I might also be able to direct you to someone who can
help you at the nearest program.
Don’t hesitate to write back with additional questions.
4. If you don’t already subscribe to O&P Edge magazine, get yourself on
their mailing list. It is free. Each issue posts job listings. Take a look
at what the employers are looking for in potential candidates.
I just spoke with a colleague and we agree that going to school and
pursuing ABC certification would increase your chances of getting employed.
Education and certification proves to employers that you have the basic
necessary skills to be successful at a facility.
If you decide to enroll in a HOPE Careers Consortium program (
http://www.opcareers.org/education/hope/), these programs have career
counselors through a federal grant. This could be a factor in choosing a
program. You can also call one of these schools and ask to speak to the
career counselor. They may have additional advice.
Another factor is that the facilities in your area may not be hiring. You
may have to relocate for a good job. Definitely take a look at O&P Edge
magazine and see what employers are saying.
5. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT waste your money on school. U should be able to
find a nice enough person to train u. Far as the pay, once u have
experience your looking at around $15/hr +-
6. Hey Riley-
My name is Brad Mattear and I am Vice President of OPTA (Orthotic
Prosthetic Technalogical Association) along with many other Technician
related positions in our field. I would be more than happy to answer any
questions you might have on becoming a Certified Technician. Feel free to
send any questions to my work email [email protected]
Cheers
7. Fair enough Riley.
The tech programs not worth the time or money.
What is your resume of hand skills building skills. Work on that. I have
had great techs from the building trades ( framing, roofing, cabinetry)
from automotive bodywork and from boat manufacturing.
Find a growing practice. Volunteer if you have to. Clean up the place and
start learning.
Once you are working in the field and getting paid there are tech
continuing education programs and manufacturers courses where you can learn
a lot quick.
A big tip just getting exposure to different practices can make you look
smart. The way it always happens here may be news somewhere else.
Hope this helps.
And publish the collection you get.
8. Riley-
Go volunteer at a local shop if you have skills they maybe able to use you
or help find a place that could use someone with promise. School isn’t a
bad idea though they will train anybody who gets in, though that doesn’t
mean that they are/ will be any good. You’ll have plenty of options that
school isn’t worth it, and the reason is pretty much you can’t teach good
hand skills to people with out good hands to start with. A positive
attitude and the willingness to work hard and keep at it till things are
right is a huge first step. If you don’t have any hobbies that you use
your hands for get some asap, weather it’s tying flys, sewing, wood
working, sculpting, blacksmithing, pottery ect. This field dosn’t need
more smart people with out any hand skills, we need people with hand skills
that we can make smart.
9. Hi Riley I’ve been at o+ p for 45 years I’m 64 now. My father was an
orthotist. In his time 1940s he was a brace maker. I still consider myself
a limb and brace maker. Even though I was the 3rd formally educated
prosthetist – orthotist in nj . My degree is a BS from NYU. New York my CPO
# is 627 . I’m going to tell you the truth. This industry is finished, as
far as money goes. It is very difficult to operate a business in today’s
climate. As an owner for 40 years it has become almost impossible to be
profitable and productive. Insurances and Medicare now dictate our way of
practicing our profession ! Doctors will become poorly paid mechanics , and
we will Be Poorly paid also almost like auto body shops. Turn it out
fast. Quality is already gone. This type of work is not well suited for
mass production. Well my advice is get into something else that you like.
The future is electricity , computers. Custom work is not rally it. Stay
out of. P+O. Good luck. I’m going to retire this year not because I really
want to but , because I can’t take watching what is going on with my
patients and Dr.
10. Tech program is a waste of time.
Just show your eagerness and interest to learn.
More to come,
Riley Mcnamara
