The Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics is a specialised allied health degree that prepares students to assess, design, fabricate, and fit prosthetic and orthotic devices for people living with physical disabilities, musculoskeletal conditions, and limb loss. Prosthetists and orthotists work with people who have amputations, musculoskeletal weaknesses, or neurological conditions throughout the varied process of treatment, including client assessment and care, intervention prescription, treatment planning, the design and manufacture of devices, and modifying devices for optimal outcomes. Students study the same core subjects as other allied health professions — anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pathology — along with profession-specific studies in biomechanics, materials science, and orthotic and prosthetic prescription, design, and fabrication. An Australian Qualification Framework Level 7 Bachelor Degree is the only pathway to practise as an orthotist/prosthetist in Australia, making this a highly defined and purposeful qualification.

Graduates are employed across a wide range of settings including public and private hospital settings, community-based organisations, aged care facilities, and the private health sector. Services spanning the entire age spectrum — from infants with congenital limb deficiency to elderly patients with vascular-related amputations — mean graduates encounter extraordinary breadth in clinical practice. Employers include large health networks, state-based hospital and health services, NDIS-registered service providers, private prosthetic and orthotic clinics, rehabilitation centres, and assistive technology companies. Graduates are also eligible to pursue research, academic, and international careers, as both Australian degrees are recognised by the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), enabling graduates to work as a prosthetist/orthotist around the world.

Entry into a Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics typically requires successful completion of Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) with a competitive ATAR. Preferred prerequisite subjects generally include Biology and one of Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics, though specific prerequisites vary by institution. Applicants may also be considered on the basis of VET pathway courses, mature-age entry, or prior tertiary study, with credit transfer available where relevant. Some institutions offer special entry schemes for applicants from regional, rural, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as Indigenous Direct Entry pathways.

Before commencing clinical placements — which are a mandatory component of the degree — students must meet a range of non-academic requirements. These include holding a valid Working with Children Check (or state equivalent such as a Blue Card in Queensland), completing a National Police Record Check, providing evidence of up-to-date vaccinations in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook (including Vaccination Preventable Disease requirements), and completing an NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to placement commencement. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency, typically via an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 or higher (with no band below 6.0), or an equivalent test such as TOEFL or PTE Academic.

Core Participation Requirements (also known as Inherent Requirements) describe the physical, cognitive, and professional attributes necessary to safely and effectively undertake all learning activities and clinical placements in the program. These are not formal entry requirements but prospective students are strongly encouraged to review them before applying to ensure the course is suitable for them. Students who may require adjustments are supported through disability and accessibility services at their institution.