Podiatrist Training | Becoming a Podiatrist

Podiatrist Training | Becoming a Podiatrist | Our TOP Recommendations
Request FREE information today. There is NO OBLIGATION to enroll.

Podiatrists, also referred to as doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs), diagnose and treat diseases, disorders, and injuries of the lower leg and foot. The human foot is a complicated appendage. The foot contains 26 bones in addition to nerves, muscles, ligaments, and blood vessels—and is structured to provide balance and mobility.

• Nature of the Work - Podiatrists treat bunions, corns, heel spurs, calluses, ingrown toenails, and arch problems; ankle and foot injuries, deformities, and infections; and foot complaints related to diabetes and other illnesses. To treat these ailments, podiatrists set fractures, prescribe drugs and physical therapy, and perform surgery. They also fit corrective shoe inserts called orthotics, produce plaster casts to fix deformities, and make custom-made shoes.
• Podiatrist Training - Education - In 2007, there were seven colleges of podiatric medicine that were accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. Colleges of podiatric medicine provide a 4-year program whose central curriculum is like that in other schools of medicine.
• Certification - There are a variety of certifying boards for the podiatric specialties of primary medicine, orthopedics, and surgery. Certification contains requirements that extend further than licensure. Each board requires advanced training, completing written and oral exams, and hands-on experience as a practicing podiatrist. Many managed-care organizations would rather hire board-certified podiatrists.
  
  

Podiatrist Training | Becoming a Podiatrist

Requirements for admission to a college of podiatric medicine include completing at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work, a good grade point average, and adequate scores on the Medical College Admission Test. (Many colleges also accept the Dental Admission Test or the Graduate Record Exam.)

Admission to podiatric colleges typically requires at least 8 semester hours each of organic chemistry, biology, inorganic chemistry, and physics and at least 6 hours of English. The science courses should be those aimed for premedical students. Personal interviews, extracurricular and community activities, and letters of recommendation are also significant. Approximately 95 percent of podiatric students hold at least a bachelor’s degree.

The first 2 years of study, students are instructed in basic sciences, including pathology, anatomy, chemistry, and pharmacology. Third-year and fourth-year students do clinical rotations in hospitals, private practices, and clinics. During these rotations, they learn how to record general and podiatric histories, conduct routine physical exams, assess tests and findings, develop diagnoses, and conducts therapeutic procedures. Graduates will earn the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM).

Several graduates finish a hospital-based residency program after earning a DPM. Residency programs range from 2 to 4 years. Residents acquire advanced training in podiatric medicine and surgery and complete clinical rotations in radiology, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, internal medicine, pathology, and orthopedic and general surgery. Residencies that last beyond 1 year offer more extensive training in specialty fields.


Podiatrist Training - Graduate - Job Outlook

In 2006, podiatrists held about 12,000 jobs. Approximately 24 percent of podiatrists were self-employed. Many podiatrists were solo practitioners, though more are joining group practices with other podiatrists or other health care professionals. Solo practitioners mainly were unincorporated self-employed workers, though a number were also incorporated wage and salary personnel in other doctor’s offices. Other podiatrists worked for long-term care facilities, hospitals, the Federal Government, and municipal health departments.

Employment is expected to rise about as fast as average due to increasing consumer need for podiatric services. Employment prospects should be good. Employment of podiatrists is projected to rise 9 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the average for all careers. More people will need podiatrists for foot care due to the increasing number of injuries suffered by a more active and increasingly senior population.

Though the occupation is small and many podiatrists still practice until retirement, employment opportunities should be good for recent graduates of accredited podiatric medicine programs. Employment growth and replacement demands should generate enough positions for the supply of new podiatric medicine professionals.

Podiatrist Training - Graduates - Earnings Statistics

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Podiatrists earn very high wages. Average annual incomes of salaried podiatrists were $108,220 in 2006. Also, a survey by Podiatry Management Magazine reported average net wages of $114,000 in 2006. Podiatrists in partnerships are likely to earn higher net incomes than those in solo practice. A salaried podiatrist usually receives heath insurance and retirement benefits from their employer, but the self-employed must provide for their own health insurance and savings for retirement. In addition, solo practitioners must face the costs of running their own practices.

Related Occupations: Other people who use medical knowledge to prevent, diagnose, and treat muscle and bone disorders and injuries are chiropractors, athletic trainers, massage therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physicians and surgeons. Workers who work designing orthopedic braces, shoe inserts, and prosthetic limbs are orthotists and prosthetists.


Podiatrist Training | Becoming a Podiatrist - Courses - Schools

There are an excellent number of choices for obtaining Podiatrist Training. Online schools and colleges now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for Podiatrist Training.


Go from Podiatrist Training to Healthcare Degrees Online