The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects shortages across the health care professions, including podiatrists. The profession is expected to grow by 23% over the next ten years, much faster than the average for other professions and due in large part to the needs of an aging population
Podiatrists, also known as doctors of podiatric medicine, diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot and lower leg to keep this part of the body working properly. Podiatrists may prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures and perform surgery as a routine part of their practice. Most podiatrists are in general practice; some specialize in surgery, orthopedics, primary care or public health.
Podiatry school takes approximately four years of additional study and training after four years of college. At the end, students earn the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree.
There are only nine accredited schools of podiatry in the United States, and it is very competitive to get accepted for one of the very few open seats. Students should work with the Pre-Podiatry advisor starting in freshman year to ensure that they are completing the right milestones to make themselves an attractive applicant to podiatry school. It is important to understand which classes podiatry schools expect students to take during college and what types of work experience podiatry schools expect students to have before leaving college.
Read our Pre-Podiatry fact sheet at the right to learn more about classes, extracurricular activities, and majors related to our Pre-Podiatry program. Pre-Podiatry is not a major, and students must still choose a major. Since most of the pre-requisites necessary for application to podiatry school are in the sciences, many students choose a science major, though it is not required. Our specialized pre-podiatry advisor works with students to ensure they understand all of the milestones that must be met in college in order to be a competitive applicant to podiatry school. We recommend students begin meeting with this advisor as soon as freshman year in order to plan all needed activities into your college career.