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Reviewed: 7/5/24
Have you ever considered podiatry as a career? Follow along to learn how to become a podiatrist in this step-by-step guide.
Podiatrists are valuable members of the healthcare system who focus mainly on the diagnosis and treatment of ailments pertaining to the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
If you’re interested in podiatry as a specialty, there are a few things you should know before you get started. For starters, did you know podiatrists do not take all the typical MD steps during their education?
Here we’ll go over all the steps you’ll need to take to pursue a career as a podiatrist. We’ve included educational requirements, salary, job prospects, and more.
Let’s get started!
Below are all the educational steps you’ll need to complete in order to become a podiatrist. All of the steps listed here are necessary unless otherwise specified.
Before you can start looking at podiatry schools, you’ll have to complete a bachelor’s degree. Much like medical school, podiatry schools require a bachelor’s degree in order to be considered for admission into their programs.
During your bachelor’s degree, you should make sure to take all of the necessary prerequisite courses. Each school has individual requirements, so make sure to take a look at your target school's admissions criteria when planning your final year of courses in your bachelor’s degree.
Although each school’s requirements vary, some common podiatry prerequisites are:
Your major during your bachelor’s degree will not typically have an effect on your chances of admission into a podiatry program. Just make sure whichever major you choose allows you to take the necessary prerequisite courses.
Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree, you can start getting ready to apply to a podiatry school. You should analyze the individual requirements of each one of your target programs before applying, as well as the school’s history, mission, and values. Most podiatry schools require the following:
The MCAT, necessary for most podiatric medical schools, is available from January and March through September. Be sure to register for the MCAT well in advance.
Beyond the mandatory requirements, you should also consider building up your CV with volunteer work, shadowing, internships, and any other experiences that could help you become a highly qualified candidate.
If you are currently applying for podiatry school and need help with any area of your application, consider reaching out to an experienced admissions advisor for end-to-end assistance.
Once you’ve gotten into podiatry school, you can begin to focus on your specialty. Podiatry schools are very similar to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. A degree in podiatry typically takes four years to complete, begins with general science courses, and ends with clinical rotations. However, there are also some key differences.
In the second half of podiatry school, your education will shift primarily to the lower leg region of the body. Everything you learn, especially in your clinical rotations, will begin preparing you to become a well-rounded podiatrist. Once you’ve graduated, you can begin applying to residency programs.
Much like MD and DO students, podiatry school graduates must complete a residency program before they can begin practicing independently. Podiatry residency programs typically take at least two years to complete, although the length can vary.
Whichever residency program you choose should be accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
In order to practice podiatry after residency, you’ll have to obtain state licensure. Podiatry licenses are issued by individual states and, therefore have varying requirements. Depending on the state, you may have already been required to obtain licensure (training or full) for residency training.
For up-to-date information on state licensure requirements and how to apply, you must contact the individual state licensing board. You should consider obtaining licensure for each state you may want to practice in if you intend to travel to avoid hiccups later on.
Congratulations! Once you’ve completed all the necessary educational steps and obtained licensure, you can start looking for a job as a podiatrist in a clinic or hospital.
Choosing between podiatry school and medical school can be challenging. Podiatry school (DPM) focuses on the lower body right from the start, with specialized courses on the foot and ankle.
Medical school (MD/DO) covers the entire human body. The first two years are mostly classroom learning, and the last two years involve clinical rotations in various specialties.
DPM training includes four years of school followed by a three-year residency focused on foot and ankle care. For MD/DO, after four years of school, you enter a residency lasting three to seven years, depending on your specialty, and sometimes additional fellowship training.
DPMs specialize in foot and ankle conditions with specific board exams and licensing. MDs and DOs can specialize in many different medical fields with their own board exams and licenses. There are 11 podiatry schools in the US, compared to over 150 MD programs and around 40 DO programs, making both paths competitive with rigorous academic standards.
Podiatrists receive detailed education, specifically on foot and ankle conditions, while MDs and DOs get a broad medical education with opportunities to specialize later. Podiatrists often have high job satisfaction and strong job security, especially given the needs of an aging population.
Both paths offer rewarding careers: podiatry focuses on foot and ankle health, while medical school offers a wider range of specialties. Your choice should depend on your career goals and interests.
If you’re unsure about which path to take, try our "Which Medical Specialty is Right For You?" quiz. It’s a quick and easy way to find the best match for your interests and strengths.
A doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) is a type of physician who works on the foot, ankle, and connective areas of the lower leg. According to the Florida Orthopedic Institute, some of the common ailments that podiatrists diagnose and treat are the following:
Podiatrists are considered doctors even though they do not attend typical allopathic or osteopathic medical schools. Podiatrists attend podiatry schools, which are similar to traditional medical schools in most ways aside from the specific focus on podiatry.
Podiatrists in the United States make an average annual salary of $229,459. This number can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including location, experience, individual institution, and more. Generally speaking, podiatry salary ranges between $189,616 and $303,785 annually.
Source: Salary.com
Podiatrist salaries have been on the rise since 2020. US News ranks podiatry as a career 10th among the best-paying jobs.
Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about how to become a podiatrist.
Yes, it’s difficult to become a podiatrist. The educational path is very similar to that of a traditional physician. Podiatry school simply allows you to begin specializing in one area of medicine early on.
Podiatry school is very similar to med school. You’ll have to take the MCAT, attend a four-year program after your bachelor’s degree, focus heavily on sciences, and do clinical rotations. You’ll also have to take most, if not all, of the same prerequisites before podiatry school.
Podiatrists also have to complete at least two years of medical residency. The main difference is the focus on podiatric medicine and the lower-leg region.
The average podiatry salary is $229,459 per year.
Yes, most podiatry schools require the MCAT. We recommend taking the MCAT even when applying for podiatry schools that do not require the test just to ensure you are prepared for your next steps.
Yes, podiatrists are doctors even though they attend podiatry schools rather than traditional allopathic or osteopathic medical schools. They are referred to as Doctors of Podiatric Medicine or DPM.
It takes 11 years to become a podiatrist in the U.S.
If you want to become a podiatrist, you should prepare yourself as if you were gearing up for traditional medical school. Make sure to take all the necessary prerequisite courses during your bachelor’s degree, take the MCAT, and build up your premed CV with volunteer, shadowing, and/or relevant work experience.
Podiatric schools are challenging and can be competitive, just like traditional allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. You should only follow this educational path if you are 100% certain that you want to specialize in podiatry early on.
Good luck!
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