Prosthetists and orthotists

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Dietary technicians

• Assist dietitians or nutritionists to plan and supervise food service operations

• Plan menus and diet for individuals or groups under the direction of a dietitian or nutritionist

• Assist in the supervision of personnel who prepare and serve food

• Help patients select menu items

• Assist dietitians with research in food, nutrition and food service systems.

• Ocularists

• Design, fabricate and fit ocular prostheses and conformers, and may design and fabricate implants

• Paint the iris and pupil of artificial eyes

• Clean and restore ocular prostheses

• Advise patients concerning the loss of depth perception and the care and use of ocular prostheses

• Repair and maintain fabrication and laboratory equipment

• Consult with ophthalmologists concerning insertion of ocular prostheses.

• Prosthetists and orthotists

• Design, fabricate and fit prosthetic and orthotic appliances such as artificial limbs, braces or supports

• Interpret physicians' specifications and examine and measure patients to develop working sketches of appliances

• Make and modify plaster casts of areas to receive prostheses or orthoses

• Fit, adjust and repair appliances

• Advise patients in the use and care of prostheses and orthoses

• Supervise and direct the activities of prosthetic and orthotic technicians.

• Prosthetic and orthotic technicians

• Assemble or build prosthetic and orthotic appliances according to drawings, measurements and plaster casts using a variety of materials such as metals, plastics and leathers

• Repair, rebuild and modify prosthetic and orthotic appliances or orthopaedic footwear

• May take the body or limb measurements of patients.

• Dietary technicians require completion of a two- to three-year college program in dietary technology and supervised practical training.

• Ocularists require completion of the education program of the American Society of Ocularists and supervised practical training or a five-year supervised practical training program under a certified ocularist.

• Certification by the National Examining Board of Ocularists is usually required.

• Prosthetic and orthotic technicians may become certified prosthetists or orthotists with an additional two years of experience as a registered prosthetic or orthotic technician and completion of certification examinations by the Canadian Board of Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists.