Other medical technologists and technicians
Career Overview
This group includes medical technologists and technicians, such as dietary technicians, ocularists, prosthetists, orthotists, prosthetic technicians and orthotic technicians.
Dietary technicians:
- Work in health-care and commercial food service establishments such as hospitals, extended care facilities, nursing homes, schools, cafeterias and fast food outlets
Ocularists:
- Work in custom ocular prosthetic laboratories
- May be self-employed
Prosthetists, orthotists, prosthetic technicians and orthotic technicians:
- Work in hospitals, clinics, prosthetics and orthotics laboratories, and prosthetic device manufacturing companies
- May be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Dietary technicians:
- Help dietitians or nutritionists plan and supervise food service operations
- Plan menus and diet for individuals or groups under the direction of a dietitian or nutritionist
- Help supervise workers who prepare and serve food
- Help patients select menu items
- Help dietitians research food, nutrition and food service systems
Ocularists:
- Design, make 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
- Give patients information about the loss of depth perception and the care and use of ocular prostheses
- Repair and maintain fabrication and laboratory equipment
- Speak with ophthalmologists about insertion of eye prostheses
Prosthetists and orthotists:
- Design, make and fit prosthetic and orthotic appliances such as artificial limbs, braces and 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
- Tell patients about the use and care of prostheses and orthoses
- Supervise and direct the activities of prosthetic and orthotic technicians
Prosthetic and orthotic technicians:
- Put together 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
- Take the body or limb measurements of patients
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
400% Employed Full Time
59%Key aspects of the work in this group:
- Work is carried out in an indoor medical environment
- Workers use equipment, instruments, machinery, power tools and hand tools that may pose a risk of accident or injury
Career Pathways
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.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Dietary technicians require completion of a two- to three-year college program in dietary technology and supervised practical training
- Ocularists require completion of the ocularist training 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
- Prosthetists and orthotists require a two-year college program in prosthetics and orthotics technology and three years of supervised practical training
- Certification by the Canadian Board of Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists (CBCPO) may be required
- Prosthetic and orthotic technicians usually require a two- to three- year college program in prosthetics and orthotics and one to two years of supervised practical training
or
Completion of secondary school and up to four years of supervised practical training under a certified prosthetist or orthotist - Registration with the Canadian Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (CAPO) may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Labour Market Statistics
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Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
400Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 2.5% |
| Kootenay | 15 | 3.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 250 | 61.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 17.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 14.8% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
160Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 110 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | 1.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 20 | 0.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 110 |
| Manufacturing | 30 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 10 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.