
Podiatrists must complete the following education and training requirements:
- 4-year bachelor’s degree
- 4-year Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree
- 3-year residency training
- national board certification
- state license to practice
What degree do I need to be a podiatrist?
To become a podiatrist, you'll first need to complete a bachelor's degree program, which should include courses in chemistry, physics and biology. Once you've graduated from your undergraduate program, you'll need to attend graduate school to complete a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program. This will take you about four years.
What education is required to be a podiatrist?
Podiatrists Requirements
- Focus on Science Classes in High School. If you are thinking about becoming a Podiatrist, you need to focus on your science classes in high school.
- Earn a Bachelor’s Degree. You will go to college and earn a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the Sciences. ...
- Earn Your DPM. ...
- Attend a Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program. ...
Is a podiatrist a real medical doctor?
Yes, podiatrists are medical doctors. But the doubts about them being actual doctors arise from the fact that they do not attend the traditional medical school. Podiatrists go to their own school and have their own professional associations. Instead of MD, podiatrists use DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine) along with their name.
Can a podiatrist be considered a doctor?
You might hear them called a podiatric physician or doctor of podiatric medicine. Are They Doctors? Podiatrists are doctors, but they don't go to traditional medical school.

Is a podiatrist a real medical doctor?
A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), known also as a podiatric physician or surgeon, qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg.
What education is required for a podiatrist?
Doctoral or professional degreePodiatrist / Entry level education
Do podiatrists go through med school?
Podiatrists are doctors, but they don't go to traditional medical school. They have their own schools and professional associations. They also have "DPM" (doctor of podiatric medicine) after their names instead of "MD" (medical doctor).
What is a DPM in the medical field?
DPMs, also called podiatrists, diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. They can specialize in areas such as sports medicine, surgery, biomechanics, and diabetic foot care, among others. About 2,000 podiatric medical doctors practice in California.
What is the easiest Doctor to become?
A general practice doctor is probably the easiest doctor to become. Even though students must complete four years of medical school and one or two years of a residency, this is the minimum amount of education required for medical doctors.
Do podiatrists take the MCAT?
Most Podiatric medical schools require the MCAT (Medical Colleges Admission Test).
Is podiatry school harder than medical school?
Harder or easier when compared to Undergrad?- definitely harder. I mean it is a medical school so you are taking classes during the first two years (for the most part) that any other MD/DO students are taking, granted the examinations might differ.
Is an MD better than a DPM?
Medical Doctors (MDs) Have a Broader, Less Focused Education With over 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the human foot alone, podiatrists have a much better idea of what might be wrong with their patients with foot and ankle problems.
Is podiatry easier than medical school?
Podiatrist. The level of difficulty is the same. In fact, at many of the programs, basic science courses are taken with the MD/DO students. This all culminates in part one of the board exams which are very similar to the USMLE step one.
What is the difference between a DPM and an orthopedic surgeon?
The main difference lies in the body systems they treat. Orthopedic surgeons are concerned with bones, muscles, ligaments and joints throughout the body. They are bone and joint doctors and surgeons. Podiatrists are foot and ankle doctors and surgeons.
What is DO vs MD?
In general, an MD and a DO fulfill the same roles. An MD and a DO complete similar residencies, prescribe medications, and can practice in all 50 states. The main difference in DO versus MD is that DOs complete additional hands on training in a technique termed osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
What is difference between podiatrist and chiropodist?
There is no difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist. The term chiropody has been traditionally used in the UK, but the term podiatry is recognised and used more internationally.
Is becoming a podiatrist hard?
Podiatry programs are typically selective, though not quite as hard to get into as the most prestigious M.D. programs, Trepal says. "Admission to a college of Podiatric Medicine is indeed competitive, although not at the level of an Ivy League or top-tier Allopathic Medical School," he wrote.
What MCAT score do I need for podiatry school?
The national MCAT average for applicants accepted to podiatry school fluctuates minimally from year to year. Recently reported has been 20-21 (23-27th percentile). A total score will be calculated, ranging from 472 to 528 (midpoint 500-53%ile).
How do you become a podiatrist in the US?
Academic Requirements If you wish to become a podiatrist, you must first get a bachelor's degree and then apply to an accredited podiatric medical college. Your graduate school course of study will take four years, after which you will receive a degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.).
Which podiatry school is best?
The Best Podiatry Schools in the USNew York College of Podiatric Medicine (New York, NY)Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Dr. ... Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)Western University College of Podiatric Medicine (Pomona, CA)More items...•
What Education Do I Need to Become A Podiatrist?
- To become a podiatrist, you'll first need to complete a bachelor's degree program, which should include courses in chemistry, physics and biology. Once you've graduated from your undergraduate program, you'll need to attend graduate school to complete a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program. This will take you about four years. Then, you'll ne...
Where Can I Study?
- In 2019, there were only nine podiatry colleges accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. Most schools offered a 4-year program, which includes pre-clinical and clinical training. Some podiatry colleges also offer dual degree or accelerated programs. Because this is a medical field, you may need to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prior to admiss…
What Will I Study?
- Podiatry colleges are medical schools, so your first two years of school will be similar to the education programs that physicians and other medical professionals complete. This typically includes classes in anatomy and physiology, patient care instruction, essentials of clinical practice and podiatric medical practice. The following two years likely will consist of both cours…
Do I Need A License Or Certification?
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), you'll need a license to practice podiatry anywhere in the U.S.; however, licensure requirements vary by state. In general, you'll need to pass a state licensure exam or a certification exam from a national organization, such as the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine. To maintain licen…