Career in podiatry: what podiatrists do and how to become one

What does a podiatrist do?

A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) who diagnoses and treats problems of the foot, ankle and the structures of the lower leg that connect to them. Podiatrists see patients of all ages, from children with flat feet to athletes with sprains to older adults with arthritis, nerve problems and diabetes.

Podiatrists commonly treat:

• heel pain and plantar fasciitis
• bunions, hammertoes and other toe deformities
• ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, warts, corns and calluses
• sprains, fractures and sports injuries
• Achilles tendon and other tendon problems
• flat feet and high arches
• arthritis of the foot and ankle
• nerve pain and neuropathy
• diabetic foot problems, wounds and ulcers

Their day-to-day work includes:

• taking a history, examining feet and watching how patients walk
• ordering and reading X-rays, and ordering ultrasound, MRI, blood tests and nerve tests
• prescribing medicines, such as antibiotics, antifungals and anti-inflammatories
• giving injections, fitting braces and casts, and prescribing custom orthotics
• in-office procedures, such as ingrown toenail removal, wart treatment and wound care
• foot and ankle surgery, in a surgery center or hospital
• teaching patients how to care for their feet, especially people with diabetes

Podiatrists often work alongside primary care doctors, physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons and wound care teams. For a look at how their role compares with orthopedic surgeons, see our guide to podiatrists vs orthopedic doctors. Our overview of common foot problems shows the range of conditions podiatrists see.

A typical day

No two days are the same, but many podiatrists split their week between clinic days and surgery days.

• Clinic days are a mix of new patients and follow-ups: a runner with heel pain, a teenager with an ingrown toenail, a person with diabetes in for a foot exam, a patient back for a check after surgery. There are X-rays to read, injections and small procedures to do, and orthotics to prescribe.
• Surgery days are spent at a surgery center or hospital, correcting problems such as bunions, hammertoes, tendon injuries or fractures.
• Around the edges come notes and records, calls with other doctors, and, for some, hospital visits to see patients with foot infections or wounds.

Most podiatrists work full time. Office hours are fairly predictable compared with some medical specialties, but some podiatrists work evenings or weekends or take turns on call for hospital emergencies.

Specialties within podiatry

All podiatrists train in both medicine and surgery of the foot and ankle, and many general podiatrists treat a mix of everything. Others build their practice around one area, sometimes after a fellowship:

• Foot and ankle surgery, from bunions and hammertoes to rearfoot and ankle reconstruction, such as flat foot correction and ankle fusion. See reconstructive surgery.
• Sports medicine, treating and preventing injuries in athletes and active people. See sports medicine.
• Diabetic foot care and wound care, often called limb salvage, preventing and treating ulcers and infections that can lead to amputation. See wound care.
• Children’s foot care, including flat feet, in-toeing, toe walking and heel pain in growing children.
• Biomechanics and orthotics, studying how people walk and designing orthotics and bracing.
• Care for older adults, including nail and skin care, arthritis, balance and fall prevention.

How to become a podiatrist

1. College and prerequisites

Nearly all podiatry students have a bachelor’s degree. Your major can be anything, but you’ll need the lab science courses that medical schools expect, usually biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, along with English. Shadowing a podiatrist is one of the best ways to find out whether the work suits you, and schools look for it.

2. The MCAT and applying

Most podiatric medical schools ask for MCAT scores, the same test used for MD and DO schools, along with letters of recommendation. Applications go through a central application service for the colleges of podiatric medicine. Check each school’s current requirements, as some details vary.

3. Podiatric medical school

The Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program takes 4 years. The first 2 years focus on the basic medical sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and pathology, with extra depth in the lower limb. The last 2 years are clinical, with rotations in podiatry clinics and hospitals. Students take national board exams in stages during school.

4. Residency

After graduating, every new podiatrist completes a 3-year podiatric medicine and surgery residency. Residents work in hospitals and clinics, treating patients and performing surgery under supervision, with rotations in areas such as general surgery, internal medicine, emergency medicine, infectious disease, anesthesia and imaging.

5. Licensure

Every state requires podiatrists to be licensed. That means passing all parts of the national board exams, meeting the state’s training requirements and keeping up with continuing education. Exactly what a podiatrist may treat, especially surgery on the ankle, is set by each state’s law.

6. Fellowship (optional)

Some podiatrists complete a fellowship after residency, usually 1 year, to build advanced skills in an area such as reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, sports medicine or diabetic limb salvage.

7. Board certification

Board certification is voluntary but common. The two main boards are the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, which certifies podiatric surgeons, and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, which certifies non-surgical podiatric care. The process includes written exams and, for surgery, a review of the surgeon’s own cases, so it often takes a few years after residency. A podiatrist who has finished training and passed the first exams but is still completing the process is often described as board qualified.

How long does it take to become a podiatrist?

In total, about 11 years after high school: 4 years of college, 4 years of podiatric medical school and 3 years of residency. A fellowship adds about a year.

Podiatrist salary and job outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for podiatrists was $160,300 in May 2025. Pay varies widely with location, experience, practice setting and whether a podiatrist owns a practice.

It’s a small profession, with about 10,000 podiatrist jobs in the US. The bureau projects employment to grow about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all jobs, with around 200 openings a year, mostly to replace podiatrists who retire or leave the field. An aging population and the number of people living with diabetes keep foot care in steady demand.

Is podiatry a good career?

It depends on what you want from medicine. Podiatrists often mention these as the best parts of the job:

• A focused field where you become expert in one part of the body.
• A mix of medicine and surgery, from quick office visits to complex operations.
• Seeing results. Many patients walk out with less pain after one visit, or walk again comfortably after surgery.
• Patients of all ages, from children to athletes to older adults.
• A range of settings, from private practice to hospitals, wound care centers and teaching.

And these as the challenges:

• Long training, about 11 years after high school, and the cost of medical school.
• A small profession that some patients don’t fully understand, so explaining what you do is part of the job.
• Insurance paperwork and business decisions, especially for podiatrists who own a practice.
• Scope rules that differ from state to state.

Talking with podiatrists and spending time in their clinics and operating rooms is the best way to find out whether it’s the right fit.

Podiatry at Evolve Health

Evolve Health podiatrists care for patients with a wide range of foot and ankle conditions at clinics throughout Florida and Texas, from nail and skin problems to sports injuries, diabetic foot care and surgery. If you’re a podiatrist interested in joining the team, visit our Join as a Provider page.

If you’re looking for a podiatrist for yourself or your family, you can find a podiatrist near you and book online.