Prosthetists and orthotists design, fit and adjust artificial limbs (prostheses) and supports such as braces, splints and insoles (orthoses). They help people walk again after an amputation, manage conditions that affect their joints and muscles, and get back to work, school and daily life. It is a registered health profession, and the National Careers Service puts the starting salary at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience, for a typical week of 37 to 40 hours.
If you want to start a prosthetics and orthotics degree in 2027, now is the time to act. The UCAS deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027, about nine weeks from today. Course pages ask for English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C) or an equivalent. If you do not have those grades, this guide explains where Functional Skills Level 2 is accepted, where to check first, the extra funding you can claim, and how to get qualified in time to apply.
What does a prosthetist or orthotist do?
The National Careers Service lists tasks such as:
- ✓ discussing patients’ needs and explaining treatment options
- ✓ taking measurements and carrying out scans for fittings
- ✓ designing and making personalised artificial limbs and devices, using design software and traditional methods
- ✓ checking that devices are comfortable and working properly
- ✓ adjusting devices as the patient’s body changes
- ✓ working with technicians, physiotherapists and surgeons
- ✓ keeping up with new technology and treatments
You could work in a health centre, an NHS or private hospital, or visit patients at home. Degrees must be approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO).
Three ways to become a prosthetist or orthotist
A prosthetics and orthotics degree
Most people qualify through a three year full time BSc. It is a small profession with only a handful of places to study. BAPO lists the University of Salford and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow for the BSc. Scottish entry requirements and student funding work differently, so if you live in England, Salford is the main undergraduate option.
A prosthetics and orthotics degree apprenticeship
The Prosthetist and Orthotist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship lets you qualify while you work in a prosthetic or orthotic department. BAPO lists the University of Derby as the provider. You need an employer to take you on and support you. The National Careers Service says the apprenticeship takes around four years, while Derby lists its programme as three years.
A pre-registration master’s degree
If you already have a degree in another subject, Keele University offers a pre-registration MSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics, two years full time, starting in January.
There is also a Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, which the National Careers Service says can lead to further training to qualify as a prosthetist or orthotist. It typically asks for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, or equivalent, including English and maths.
Does the prosthetics and orthotics apprenticeship accept Functional Skills Level 2?
Yes. The University of Derby’s apprenticeship page names Functional Skills clearly:
- ✓ English: a Level 2 English qualification, such as GCSE grade 4 to 9 (or A to C), Level 2 Functional Skills English, Key Skills Level 2 Communication, or equivalent.
- ✓ Maths: a Level 2 maths qualification, such as GCSE grade 4 to 9 (or A to C), Level 2 Functional Skills Maths, Key Skills Level 2 Application of Number, or equivalent.
- ✓ Level 3: 120 UCAS tariff points from relevant Level 3 qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education Diploma, A levels, a T Level or a BTEC, or a Level 3 qualification in a health and social care subject.
- ✓ Other checks: health or care experience, an occupational health assessment and an Enhanced DBS check.
You must be employed in a prosthetic or orthotic department, and your manager must confirm they support you. You can be a new or existing employee. Derby lists September or January starts and blended learning designed to fit around your work.
If you already work as a support worker or technician in an NHS prosthetics or orthotics service, ask your manager whether your trust supports apprentices. Employers can set their own requirements on top of the university’s, so check the job advert too.
What does the University of Salford ask for?
The University of Salford’s BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics page for September 2027 entry asks for:
- ✓ a minimum of three GCSEs at grade 4/C including English language, maths and a science, “or equivalent”
- ✓ 120 UCAS points, including a grade B or above in maths, a science or engineering subject at A level
- ✓ or an Access to HE Diploma worth 120 UCAS points in a science related subject, alongside the GCSE requirements
The page says “or equivalent” but does not name Functional Skills, so check before you rely on it. Email the admissions team and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Prosthetics and Orthotics?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 goes into more detail, and our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 English or a GCSE equivalency test explains how to choose when a course lists both.
Extra funding for prosthetics and orthotics students
In England, orthotics and prosthetics is one of the allied health courses covered by the NHS Learning Support Fund, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. Eligible students can receive a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, which does not need to be paid back, and Parental Support of £2,000 per academic year if they have parental responsibility for a child and meet the rules.
Prosthetics and orthotics is also on the short list of courses that qualify for the Specialist Subject Payment of £1,000 per academic year, alongside podiatry, radiography and orthoptics. Check the NHSBSA guidance for full eligibility. If you are comparing health careers, our guides to Functional Skills Level 2 for podiatry and Functional Skills Level 2 for radiography cover two more courses on that list.
Why the Ofqual regulated part matters
Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. When a university or employer asks for a Level 2 qualification “or equivalent”, it means a qualification like Functional Skills Level 2, not a short course certificate.
At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.
How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?
That depends on where you are starting from.
- ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
- ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
- ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.
Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.
Your nine week plan to the UCAS deadline
Here is a realistic timeline from Monday 9th November:
- This week: decide between the Salford degree and the Derby apprenticeship, note exactly what each asks for in English and maths, and take the free pass quiz. If you are thinking about Salford, email admissions about Functional Skills.
- By the end of November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps.
- Early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
- Mid to late December: receive your certificate, finish your personal statement and add your qualification to your UCAS application.
- By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.
Apprenticeship applicants do not apply through this UCAS deadline. You apply to the employer first, so having your Level 2 certificate ready means you can apply as soon as a vacancy appears.
How much will it cost?
At Functify Learning:
- ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
- ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
- ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
- ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
- ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35
For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are weighing up other health careers, see Functional Skills Level 2 for physiotherapy or Functional Skills Level 2 for operating department practitioners.
Functional Skills Level 2 for prosthetics and orthotics: frequently asked questions
Can I become a prosthetist or orthotist with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?
On the apprenticeship route, yes. The University of Derby names Level 2 Functional Skills English and maths for its prosthetics and orthotics degree apprenticeship. You will still need Level 3 qualifications worth 120 UCAS points, or a Level 3 health and social care qualification.
Does the University of Salford accept Functional Skills Level 2?
Salford asks for GCSE English language, maths and a science at grade 4/C “or equivalent” but does not name Functional Skills on its course page. Email admissions to check before you apply.
How many universities offer prosthetics and orthotics?
BAPO lists four: Salford and Strathclyde for the BSc, Derby for the degree apprenticeship and the Level 3 technician apprenticeship, and Keele for a pre-registration MSc.
How long does it take to qualify?
A full time degree takes three years. The University of Derby lists its degree apprenticeship as three years, while the National Careers Service says around four years. Keele’s pre-registration MSc takes two years full time.
When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 courses?
UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.
Is there funding for prosthetics and orthotics students?
Yes. In England, eligible students can claim the NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, the £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment, and £2,000 Parental Support if eligible.
Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?
Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.
Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline
Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your prosthetics and orthotics application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.
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