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Podiatrist

Podiatry is an exciting and varied career. It offers you the chance to make a difference, a high degree of flexibility and excellent employment prospects. You’ll work with patients every day to help improve their care and their lives.

Training and qualifications required

To practice as a podiatrist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In order to register with the HCPC, you need to study for an approved degree level qualification in podiatry. Degree courses take three or four years, either full time or part time. If you have a relevant first degree, you can apply for a 2-year Masters programme in podiatry. A degree standard apprenticeship in podiatry has also been approved.

Expected working hours and salary range

Most podiatrists in the NHS work standard hours, which are likely to be around 37.5 a week. They may work some evenings. Your starting salary will be band 5 of the Agenda for Change pay rates. Some podiatrists have to travel between client appointments.

Desirable skills and values

Skills needed include being happy to handle other people’s feet, being good listeners, understanding good manual (hand) skills and organisation skills

Prospects

You may choose to specialise in a particular area of practice such as sports injuries, diabetes, forensic podiatry or working with children. Other options include teaching or research. You could also move into management, either within podiatry services or general management. As head of a local podiatry service you would be responsible both for a team of staff and for managing a budget. Some podiatrists do further training to become podiatric surgeons. Others may decide to set up their own clinics, on their own or with other professionals.