An Orthopedic Technician is a healthcare professional who assists orthopedic surgeons and doctors in treating injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments. Their primary duties include applying and removing casts, fitting braces and splints, setting up and maintaining traction equipment, and assisting with wound care. They also educate patients on how to care for their injuries and orthopedic devices, and may help with diagnostic procedures such as X-rays. Orthopedic technicians play a vital role in ensuring proper healing and recovery for patients with fractures, dislocations, and other orthopedic issues.
This Orthopedic Technology/Technician program offers students the ability to learn critical skills, such as patient assessment, casting and splinting techniques, use of orthopedic appliances, radiographic interpretation (x-rays), traction, and wound care. These practices are all supervised by trained physicians throughout the program. This is a great way to break into the field of healthcare.The ELL pathway is a one-year program that starts this summer on Thursday, June 20 with Medical Terminology. An embedded ESL instructor will be in every class to provide additional support for ELL students. At the conclusion of the program, students will enroll in an internship class to gain industry experience. The orthopedic classes will have Industry professionals guiding you every step of the way.
Suggested Course Sequence | Summer 2025-2026
| Course | Title | Units | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTCH 5 | Basic Medical Terminology | 3 units | MTH | Online Synchronous TW | Cilker 109 |
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM |
| Course | Title | Units | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTCH 4 | Structure and Function of the Human Body This class is a HYBRID modality with an emphasis in the ELL pathway that meets weekly ONLINE in the SYNCHRONOUS learning modality. This class meets ONLINE in the SYNCHRONOUS modality. The class uses CANVAS, and students attend via video conference on SATURDAYS, 8/31,9/14,9/28,10/12,10/26,11/9,11/23, 8:00 AM – 11:50 AM. Link to Canvas from the top of the WVC homepage.
This class is a HYBRID modality with an emphasis in the ELL pathway that meets weekly IN-PERSON learning modality. This class meets in the IN PERSON modality on SATURDAYS, 8/24,9/7,9/21,10/5,10/19,11/2,11/16, 8:00 AM – 11:50AM. |
3 units | Saturday | 8:00 AM – 11:50 AM |
| HTCH 55 | Vital Signs and Assisting with Medical Examinations This class is a IN PERSON class with an emphasis in the ELL pathway that meets weekly. Class meeting time is for the lecture and lab. Lab portion meets Tuesday from 5:50 PM – 9:00 PM. |
2 units | Tuesday | 4:50 PM – 9:00 PM |
| HTCH 57 | Sterile Techniques This class is a IN PERSON class with an emphasis in the ELL pathway that meets weekly. Class meeting time is for the lecture and lab. Lab portion meets TH from 6:15 PM – 8:40 PM. |
2.5 units | Thursday | 5:00 PM – 8:40 PM |
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HTCH 6 | Advanced Medical Terminology | 3 units |
| HTCH 44 | Electronic Medical Records | 2 units |
| HTCH 64 | ECG and Orthopedic Technology | 2.5 units |
| Internship |
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Internship (Continued) |
Interest Form
Program Contacts
Mark Manrose
School of Continuing Education
Director
(408) 741-2469
[email protected]
Fox 206
Patty Lopez
Continuing Education
Transition Specialist
(408) 741-2156
[email protected]
Instructors
Kris Gaiero
Health Care Technologies
Health Care Technologies Instructor and Department Chair
(408) 741-4019
[email protected]
Paul Starks
Kinesiology Department
Kinesiology Instructor
(408) 741-4005
[email protected]
Physical Education
ESL Support
Rebecca Eagleson
Continuing Education
ESL and Citizenship Instructor
[email protected]
Claudio Sanchez
Continuing Education
ESL and Citizenship Instructor
[email protected]