If you are interested in working as a podiatrist, or a physician who prevents and treats health issues in the feet and ankles, you will need to get a degree in podiatry. While the exact procedure for getting a degree in podiatry varies by country, in the US you must first complete specific undergraduate coursework and take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Next, you must enroll in an accredited podiatric medicine program. While enrolled in this program, you must complete a number of classes as well as clinical rotations. Once you have earned a degree in podiatry, you will likely need to become licensed and complete a residency before you can begin working.
The process of getting a degree in podiatry actually begins during your undergraduate years, as all accredited podiatric medicine programs in the US admit only students who have completed a number of specified undergraduate classes. Required classes include several scientific subjects, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as English. In addition to achieving satisfactory grades in these classes, podiatric school hopefuls must also earn a competitive score on the MCAT.
As you near completion of your undergraduate studies, you will need to begin applying to podiatric schools. Along with filling out application paperwork, you will need to submit undergraduate transcripts as well as your MCAT results. You will likely also need to include letters of recommendation from two or more of your undergraduate instructors, and, in some cases, a letter of support from a working podiatrist. Further, you may need to be interviewed by the admissions committees of prospective schools.
Once you have been accepted by a podiatric school, you can begin work on your degree in podiatry. Most podiatric medicine programs require four years of rigorous full-time study. During the first two years of your program, you will take classes in many areas of science and medicine, such as pharmacology, anatomy, surgical practice, and podiatric conditions and treatments. The final two years of your program will primarily be spent gaining hands-on experience by completing rotations in a variety of clinical settings.
After you have successfully fulfilled your course requirements, you will be granted a degree in podiatry. Note, however, that you generally will not yet be fully qualified to work as a podiatrist at this stage. Before you can begin your professional career, you will need to pass a licensing exam, and depending on your desired area of specialization, you may also need to complete a residency of one or more years.
