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- Diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems
- You'll need customer care, organisational and business skills
- You could progress and move into research, teaching or setting up your own business
As a podiatrist, you could work in a private clinic, sports club or high street store. You could treat anyone from athletes with sports injuries to elderly people with arthritis.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Diagnose and treat sports injuries
- Talk to patients about foot health
- Give talks to groups
- Share information with other health professionals like GPs
- Discuss treatment options with patients
- Carry out treatments and minor surgery using scalpels, chemicals and local anaesthetics
- Screen children for foot problems
- Keep patient records
- Supervise assistants
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could also treat patients in their own homes or in residential and nursing homes. Some jobs may include visiting schools or attending sporting events.
You'll need
To be a podiatrist, you'll need knowledge of medicine and dentistry, customer service skills, thinking and reasoning skills, the ability to read English, good initiative, thoroughness and attention to detail, excellent verbal communication skills, and sensitivity and understanding.
You'll need a degree in podiatry approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). If you have a degree in a healthcare or a science related subject, you can apply for an accelerated degree in podiatry.
You could do a degree apprenticeship in podiatry.
You may be able to get NHS funding to pay for your course fees and help with your living expenses.
You could work as a podiatry assistant and study part time for a degree to qualify as a podiatrist.
Paid or voluntary experience in the health or care sector would be beneficial before applying for courses.
You'll need to pass enhanced background checks and register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You could focus on a specialist area like surgery or orthotics, designing and fitting appliances like braces and in-shoe correction aids. You could join a professional body to get access to training in areas like nail surgery, diabetes and wound care.
You could also set up your own practice. Some people combine this with part-time working in the NHS. You could study for a Master's (MSc) or PhD and move into research or teaching.