Podiatrist

Podiatrists diagnose, treat and manage problems to do with the foot and lower leg. They treat painful symptoms, manage longer-term problems, inspect feet to notice problems as early as possible, and provide education and advice on keeping feet healthy.

Also known as:

Chiropodist

Work activities

Podiatrists can treat people of any age, although a lot of their work tends to be with older adults and children. To make a diagnosis, the podiatrist examines the patient, talks to them about their symptoms, and looks at any notes or reports, for example, from a GP.

Treatment includes:

Using scalpels to remove corns.
Using chemicals to treat verrucas.
Surgery on ingrowing toenails, using local anaesthetic.
Applying dressings to treat ulcers.
Using insoles (orthotics) to manage or prevent problems.

The aim is not only to cure the problem but to prevent it happening again. With some patients, it is sometimes not possible to cure problems, so the work can be more about managing the condition. This means keeping the patient as mobile and pain-free as possible. During treatment, and in activities such as greeting patients and setting up equipment, podiatrists might have the help of a podiatry assistant. Podiatrists can go on to specialise in several areas:

Sports injuries.
Podopaediatrics (children).
Biomechanics – using the mechanics of anatomy to assess, diagnose and treat problems.
High risk management of conditions such as diabetes that increase the risk of foot problems.
In general, podiatric care, podiatrists can do nail and minor soft tissue surgery. They can also train as podiatric surgeons, managing bone and joint disorders with surgery. This is only after surgical training over a number of years.

Podiatrists usually ask laboratory technicians to make up insoles (orthoses), although some make these themselves or specialise in this area. In some cases, podiatrists work as part of a multi-disciplinary team which includes other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and doctors.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a podiatrist, you’ll need:

To enjoy working with people.
The ability to calm and reassure people.
Communication skills to listen to clients and explain things clearly to them.
Patience and tact to work with people who are in pain or who feel embarrassed.
A careful, methodical approach to your work.
The ability to plan and organise treatment.
Hand skills. You will need to be precise and accurate when giving treatment.
To be comfortable handling patients’ feet.

Pay and opportunities

Podiatrists working in the NHS start on NHS Agenda for Change band 5, at £28,407 per year (November 2023).

Podiatrists in the NHS usually work 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

Podiatrists work in hospitals, health centres, private clinics, schools, sports and leisure centres, industry (such as podiatry equipment manufacturers), residential care homes and mobile clinics. Some work in health education, health management and research. Opportunities for podiatrists occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

There are opportunities for podiatrists to become self-employed in independent practice.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, in local/national newspapers and professional journals, and on job boards.

Entry routes and training

To practise as a podiatrist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The route to achieve this is through a BSc (Hons) degree course in podiatry. Courses are usually three years full-time (four in Scotland). A few universities offer part-time degrees in podiatry, over four-and-a-half years. Courses are modular, so you study each part of the course in small sections (modules). There are modules based on both theory and clinical practice. Clinical practice starts in the first year on most degree courses. You may be able to follow an extra “Health Professions Foundation Year” if you don’t have the usual qualifications to get on to a relevant degree course. You can find a list of recognised degree courses on the websites of the HCPC and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

Podiatrists can go on to specialise in areas such as surgery, biomechanics, high risk management or working with children. You could become self-employed in independent practice. NHS podiatrists can move into management posts.

A level 6 (degree) apprenticeship is available in the role of podiatrist. By following this route, you will gain the relevant professional qualifications in more workplace setting, with time taken out for classroom learning on block or day release.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To enter a degree course in podiatry, the usual minimum requirement is:

Two to three A-levels, including at least one science subject. Some universities specify biology.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
A further two to three GCSEs (9-4), including English and maths.

Equivalent qualifications, such as Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, might be acceptable for entry – please check prospectuses carefully.

To undertake a degree apprenticeship, you will need two A-levels in relevant subjects. Biology would be a good choice.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

A few universities offer part-time degrees in podiatry, over four-and-a-half years. If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter a degree in podiatry, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, such as Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider. You may be able to follow an extra “Health Professions Foundation Year” if you don’t have the usual qualifications to get on to a relevant degree course. If you successfully complete the year, you can progress on to the podiatry degree.

Many students apply for either a student loan or receive additional financial support from the Learning Support Fund. Candidates can also apply for funding from relevant charities.

Related careers

Nail technician
Physiotherapist
Podiatry assistant
Reflexologist
Surgeon