Designing and manufacturing custom made devices to meet specification such as artificial limbs and spinal bracing
Apprentices learn to design and manufacture custom-made prosthetic and orthotic devices to a clinical prescription, working with materials including plastics, composites and metals alongside computer-aided design tools. The training covers human anatomy and musculoskeletal function, the conditions that lead to device use such as diabetes, cerebral palsy and stroke, and the manufacturing processes behind artificial limbs, orthotic bracing and diabetic footwear. Quality control, record keeping, equipment maintenance, safeguarding, consent, and communication with patients of varying ages and abilities are all part of the standard.
Working from a prescription issued by a qualified prosthetist or orthotist, the apprentice plans, builds, finishes and tests bespoke devices, each made to specific measurements and moulds. Week to week this involves operating and maintaining workshop machinery, using CAD software for certain fabrication stages, carrying out repairs and modifications, and supporting the fitting process alongside the clinician. Apprentices also interact directly with patients and carers when devices need mechanical repairs, and keep accurate manufacturing records in line with departmental or company policy.
Completing this apprenticeship leads naturally to a qualified Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician role. From there, experienced technicians can progress to senior or lead technician positions, take on supervisory responsibilities, or move into specialist manufacturing roles focused on particular device types or patient groups. Employers include NHS prosthetics and orthotics departments based in hospitals, independent companies contracted to supply NHS services, and private clinical providers. The work spans adult and paediatric services, giving technicians exposure to a wide range of clinical conditions and device complexity over the course of a career.
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Completers typically move into a qualified Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician post, working within an NHS prosthetics and orthotics department or a specialist independent provider contracted to the NHS. Day-to-day responsibilities include manufacturing custom limb prostheses and orthotic devices, carrying out fittings and repairs, and providing technical support to registered Prosthetists and Orthotists. Some move directly into roles with a specialism in either prosthetics or orthotics depending on where they trained.
With a few years of experience, technicians often advance to Senior Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician, taking on greater responsibility for quality assurance, mentoring junior staff, and managing more complex manufacturing cases. From there, two broad tracks emerge. A technical specialist route leads toward Advanced Technician or Workshop Manager positions, focusing on CAD/CAM manufacture and process oversight. Alternatively, some technicians go on to train as qualified Prosthetists or Orthotists through a degree-level programme, moving into full clinical practice.
Most posts are within NHS orthotics and prosthetics services, either in hospital-based departments or off-site manufacturing units. Independent providers contracted to deliver NHS services also employ technicians directly, as do private rehabilitation clinics and specialist manufacturers supplying devices to clinical teams. Charities supporting military veterans and civilians with limb loss represent a smaller but consistent source of employment. Roles exist across the UK, with a greater concentration of posts in larger urban centres.
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place on the job, meaning the apprentice gains practical competence in manufacturing prosthetic and orthotic devices while employed in a real clinical or production setting. Before final assessment, a readiness check, commonly called the gateway, confirms that the apprentice has met the required standard across the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the specification. These cover areas such as device manufacture, quality assurance, working with patients, and applying safe and ethical practice. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can perform the role to the required level. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Apprentices should record evidence of their practical work throughout the programme rather than trying to compile it at the end. This means keeping clear records of devices manufactured, problems solved, and patient interactions handled, building a picture of competence across all areas of the role over time. Working closely with both the employer and training provider is important, as they will advise on readiness for the gateway and any gaps that need addressing. Good record-keeping habits established early make the final stages considerably more straightforward.
Provider profiles on FATP show achievement rates, employer satisfaction and learner satisfaction scores. For this standard, an achievement rate above 65% is a reasonable baseline given the bespoke, technically demanding nature of the work. Look beyond the headline figure and check whether the provider has direct links to prosthetics and orthotics departments or manufacturers, not just general healthcare training. Ask to see evidence that training covers CAD/CAM technology alongside manual fabrication techniques, since K6 and S1 explicitly require both. Providers should also demonstrate clinical context knowledge, including the conditions listed in the standard, rather than generic health and safety content.
Be cautious if a provider cannot describe how apprentices gain hands-on fabrication experience with realistic materials and equipment. Generic health science providers who have bolted this standard onto a broader clinical portfolio, without dedicated workshop or lab facilities, are a concern. Similarly, vague answers about how CAD/CAM tools are taught suggest the curriculum may be outdated or thin. Low or declining achievement rates paired with large cohort numbers can indicate the provider is taking on apprentices without the specialist support structure this technically specific occupation requires.
Applicants must be employed in a relevant role for the duration of the apprenticeship. There are no nationally fixed entry requirements set within the standard, so employers and training providers set their own criteria. In practice, most employers look for a good standard of secondary education, including passes in English and maths, as the work involves precise measurement, technical reading, and written record keeping. Apprentices need to be able to work in a clinical or manufacturing environment from day one.
The typical duration is around 18 months, though the exact minimum and the proportion of time spent on off-the-job learning are subject to ongoing policy changes under Skills England reforms. Check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page for this standard on gov.uk. Throughout, the apprentice remains employed and applies learning directly in the workplace, whether in a hospital department or a manufacturing unit producing prosthetic and orthotic devices.
Before taking the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, at which point the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all the knowledge, skills, and behaviour requirements in the standard. Assessment models for many standards are being updated, so the current end-point assessment approach should be confirmed via the gov.uk page for standard ST0370. The assessment will require the apprentice to demonstrate practical manufacturing competence, clinical knowledge, and appropriate professional behaviours.
The funding band for this standard is £6,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from government funds. Levy-paying employers use their digital apprenticeship service account to fund the cost. Smaller employers who do not pay the levy contribute 5% of the training cost, with the government covering the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government covers the full cost. Costs are paid to the training provider, not as a salary supplement.
The role centres on manufacturing custom-made artificial limbs and orthotic devices, such as spinal braces or diabetic footwear, to a prescription written by a qualified Prosthetist or Orthotist. Day-to-day tasks include taking measurements, working with moulds and materials, using both hand tools and computer-aided design technology, carrying out quality checks, and finishing devices to specification. The technician also repairs and modifies existing devices, assists during patient fittings, and interacts with patients, carers, and clinical colleagues.
Completing this apprenticeship leads to a recognised Level 3 qualification and positions the individual as a skilled technician within the prosthetics and orthotics sector. From there, progression routes include senior technician roles, supervision of junior staff, and specialist manufacturing responsibilities. Some technicians go on to study for higher-level qualifications or move into related clinical or technical fields. Both NHS departments and independent providers contracted to the NHS offer clear progression structures for experienced technicians.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 370.
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