Prepodiatry Information

• Links
• FAQs
• General Information
• Admission Requirements
• Prerequisite Classes
• Podiatry Schools

Helpful Links

• American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
• American Podiatric Medical Student Association
• American Podiatric Medicine Association
• American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service

Podiatry FAQs

What is Podiatry?

• Podiatric medicine is a branch of the medical sciences devoted to the study of human movement, with the medical care of the foot and ankle as its primary focus. A doctor of podiatric medicine is to the foot what a dentist is to the mouth or what an ophthalmologist is to the eye.

What is the workweek like? What are the working conditions?

• Podiatrists work anywhere from 30-50 hours/week.

What is the average salary?

• The average salary of podiatrists is around $135,000/year.

What are the admission requirements?

• A combination of science and non-science classes.
• MCAT, DAT, or GRE score (depending on school).
• GPA range 3.2-3.6.
• Shadowing experience.
• Well-rounded students.

What should I major in?

• Whatever you'd like to! No particular major is required; do something you like and that you can do well in and then make sure you complete the required classes for podiatry school in addition to the major you choose.

How long is the schooling to become a podiatrist?

• Four years (after a bachelor's degree)

Where can I find more information?

• Professional Advisement Center
• 3328 WSC
• 422-3044
• http://ccc.byu.edu/healthpro
• Email: health_professions@byu.edu

General Information

Podiatric medicine is a branch of the medical sciences devoted to the study of human movement, with the medical care for the foot and ankle as its primary focus. A doctor of podiatric medicine is a specialist who has undergone lengthy, thorough study to become uniquely well-qualified to treat a specific part of the body.

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders, diseases, and injuries. A DPM makes independent judgments and performs or orders all necessary diagnostic tests. They perform surgery; administer medication, including DEA-restricted medications; and prescribe physical therapy regimens.

DPMs often detect serious health problems that may otherwise go unnoticed, because a number of diseases manifest first through symptoms of the lower extremities (i.e. diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or kidney disease). Podiatric physicians are educated in state-of-the-art techniques involving surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, physical medicine, and rehabilitation.

Podiatrists make an average of $134,000/year. In general, they have flexible hours and it is therefore comfortable for individuals who want time for family, friends, and other involvements that characterize a balanced lifestyle. The work hours of a podiatric physician can vary from 30 to 60 hours each week. Podiatrists in private practice can set their own hours.

Admission Requirements

Potential podiatric medical students may be evaluated on the basis of their GPA; their performance on the MCAT, DAT or GRE-Science; their extra-curricular and community activities; their work or volunteering in a healthcare setting or in shadowing a podiatrist; personal interviews; and professional potential. Admission criteria may vary slightly by institution; therefore, contact the colleges you choose to apply to in order to obtain a copy of their catalog for specific requirements.

Prerequisite Classes

To enter a college of podiatric medicine, one must first complete at least three years or ninety semester hours of college credit at an accredited institution. Over 95% of the students who enter a college of podiatric medicine have a bachelor's degree.

Actual minimum semester credit hour requirements for all of the colleges of podiatric medicine include the following prerequisites: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and English. For the specific hours needed in each subject see each school's page.

More information can be obtained from the Preprofessional Advisement Center in 3328 WSC. If you would like to talk to Rishann Nielson or one of the student advisors, please feel free to come and talk to us.

Podiatry Schools

Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences

California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College

College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (Des Moines, Iowa)

New York College of Podiatric Medicine

Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine

Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Temple University School of Podiatric medicine

Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program