Podiatry is a specialized medical field that requires advanced or graduate training to earn a degree such as a PhD, DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine), or Pod (podiatry doctorate). Though this profession is focused on the medical treatment of ailments affecting the feet, ankles, and anything below the knee, it is not the same as earning an MD degree. Most medical specialists have been trained in a step-by-step process to provide the most basic medical care to the most advanced in their field. Because podiatrists are not medical doctors in the traditional sense, they would be unable to open a general practitioner practice if they so desired. This is important to know because it may influence a student’s decision to attend podiatry school instead of medical school, or to attend medical school and then specialize as an orthopedist, who is also trained to treat foot disorders.
One of the difficulties in selecting a podiatry school is that there aren’t many. There are currently only nine in countries such as the United States. Choosing the best podiatry school in the United States may come down to geography. Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania all have schools. New schools are added on a regular basis. Although there are some podiatric schools in the Caribbean, those interested in practicing in the United States should enroll in a school that is accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education.
In all cases, podiatry school will last four years and will consist of two years of intensive study, roughly equivalent to medical school, followed by two years of practice, externship, and internship. The practical details of where to go can really depend on which schools are closest, which schools the applicant most admires, and which schools accept the applicant. Because there are so few, it can be difficult to get in.
Another option for people who want to work as a foot specialist is to attend medical school and then specialize in orthopedics. This is obviously a longer route, but there are a lot more medical schools and orthopedic residencies to choose from. Orthopedics, on the other hand, is not limited to foot care. Licensed doctors may have the option of applying to podiatry school instead of pursuing an orthopedics specialty. Although some podiatry schools waive the first year of study if medical school studies were recent, this will still take about the same amount of time as medical school and specialty.