Every day, orthotic and prosthetic technicians use their hands, technical knowledge, and creativity to help people move through the world. They build the braces that support limbs and the artificial limbs that replace them, combining materials, manufacturing techniques and an understanding of human anatomy to create devices that meet individual needs.
At Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC), students can begin preparing for this specialized healthcare career with the Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology program. The program offers hands-on training for students interested in healthcare, manufacturing and design, without requiring them to commit to several years of education before entering the workforce.
For program director Ambrose Cavegn, that combination of practical skills and career opportunity is part of what makes the program so valuable.
“This is a low cost, low barrier door into the healthcare world and business,” Cavegn says.
Learning by Making
Orthotics and prosthetics serve different purposes, but the techniques used to manufacture them have much in common. Orthotic devices support or align parts of the body that are not functioning properly. Prosthetic devices replace missing body parts.
Both require technicians to understand how materials behave, how devices are constructed and how to translate a patient's needs into a functional product. At SFCC, students learn to fabricate devices for the lower extremities, upper extremities, and spine, developing skills they can apply in a variety of workplace settings.
Hands-on learning is central to the program. After an initial period focused on lab safety and foundational instruction, students begin working on fabrication projects, progressing through assignments at their own pace with guidance from faculty.
How often do students get to work on projects in the lab? “Every day,” Cavegn says.
The curriculum combines individual learning with practical instruction. Students can review course materials through Canvas before coming to the lab to apply what they have learned. The goal is to make the classroom environment reflect the work environment they will encounter after graduation, where technicians spend much of their time building, modifying, and refining devices.
Students enter with different levels of experience. Some have spent years working in hands-on industries, while others are learning to use basic tools for the first time. The program starts with foundational skills and builds from there, giving students an opportunity to develop their technical abilities regardless of their background.
Preparing for a Changing Industry
Orthotic and prosthetic technology is evolving alongside advances in digital design and manufacturing. Traditional fabrication methods often involve creating a physical cast of a patient's limb, using plaster and other materials to develop a shape from which a device can be made.
Digital tools offer another approach. Technicians can scan a limb, modify its digital model using specialized software, and produce a shape with computer-controlled carving equipment or a 3D printer.
These methods can reduce the time and materials required for parts of the fabrication process. They also create new opportunities for technicians to work with computer-aided design, digital modeling, and additive manufacturing.
Cavegn is working to bring more of these technologies into the SFCC program. At a recent national industry conference, he saw how quickly digital services have become a focus for companies in the field.
For students, familiarity with emerging tools could open doors to new types of work and future career opportunities. Cavegn points to technicians who have combined their fabrication knowledge with early experience in additive manufacturing to build businesses of their own.
Cavegn wants students to graduate with a foundation in traditional fabrication as well as an understanding of where the industry is headed. He sees that combination as important to keeping the profession relevant as technology changes.
A Direct Path to Employment
The program is designed to help students move from the classroom into the workforce. At the end of the first year, students complete a technical internship at an orthotic and prosthetic facility. They can choose a placement in Spokane or explore opportunities elsewhere in the country.
Graduates may work in hospital-based clinics, independent orthotic and prosthetic practices, or centralized fabrication facilities. Some technicians work alongside clinicians who meet with patients, while others focus primarily on manufacturing devices that are sent to clinics for fitting and use.
Cavegn says employers regularly contact the program looking for trained technicians. He believes graduates who want to enter the field can find employment, although opportunities vary by location.
The program also offers options for students who want to continue their education. After completing the initial certificate, students can take additional courses in areas such as pedorthics, orthotic fitting, and digital fabrication. These options allow students to build on their initial training over time, whether they want to expand their technical skills, pursue additional credentials or explore further education.
A Career With a Human Impact
For Cavegn, the value of orthotic and prosthetic technology extends beyond the technical work itself. Technicians collaborate with healthcare professionals to create devices that help people function in their daily lives, making the work both practical and personally meaningful.
His own experience illustrates the range of opportunities the field can offer. After graduating from SFCC in 2009, Cavegn went directly to work for the U.S. Department of Defense, where he encountered advanced clinical and fabrication environments he had not imagined while attending community college.
He hopes students will recognize that their education can lead in many directions, from working in a fabrication lab to pursuing additional credentials or eventually starting a business.
“You're building stuff all day, working with really cool materials,” Cavegn says. “To me, this program offers all of that.”
For people drawn to hands-on problem-solving and interested in making a difference in healthcare, SFCC’s Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology program offers a way to turn those interests into practical skills and a career.