Michael BoveeA pediatrician is a doctor specializing in the foot.
They are usually members of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and will be licensed to practice podiatric medicine. In most states, podiatrician assistants are also allowed to work under the supervision of a pediatrician.
Podiatric surgeons attend podiatric college and generally complete an extensive fellowship before graduating. Because podiatric doctors are not full-fledged physicians (MDs), they are not required to hold a medical degree from a podiatric school. Though podiatric surgeons and pediatric doctors both can treat foot problems, the podiatric foot doctor is typically qualified to treat a much more advanced level of medical conditions.
Most podiatric foot doctors are board certified by APMA. If you are interested in becoming a podiatric physician, you should know that it takes a specific amount of education and training to qualify for admission. You must take a nationally recognized course that covers the physiology, anatomy and management of foot and lower body disorders. After you have completed the course, you must pass a national exam before you are licensed.
Podiatric schools differ dramatically in the length of time they take to complete their programs.
Most programs take between two and five years to complete. At some schools, you must also have hands-on clinical experience, while others do not require any such experience. The curriculum will also vary widely depending on the level of study and specialty in which you wish to pursue your degree.
You may have already been thinking about becoming a pediatric doctor if you suffer from foot problems, but if not, now is a good time to consider attending one of the several accredited podiatric schools that are available. While these programs don’t require a four-year bachelor’s degree, you must have at least a high school diploma to begin. The curriculum will include a broad spectrum of topics, so that you can learn to identify and treat common foot problems, as well as the different types of foot ailments that can be difficult to diagnose.
A two-year program in podiatric medicine or osteopathy is recommended for those who want to become podiatric doctors or podiatric surgeons. The programs are more focused on a theoretical approach to the subject matter than they are on a hands-on approach to treating foot conditions.
Some programs offer a certificate program that will allow you to perform basic diagnostic procedures for podiatric practitioners and podiatric students without a four-year degree. The certificate programs are very helpful for those who are looking to get into a podiatric position without investing a lot of money and who want to start out working in an outpatient basis.
You can earn your associates or bachelors of science degree by completing the program without a full commitment to a degree program, and many will give you the option to finish your degree online after completing the coursework.
If you are interested in pursuing a Podiatric Doctorate, you may be able to enroll in the program right away, especially if you already have some degree credits from another institution. If not, you will have to wait until after you have completed your undergraduate degree to complete your coursework.
There are a number of schools that offer podiatric medicine programs, and you can find them online through most colleges and universities as well as through private and online institutions. It is important to check with local educational agencies to see what kind of degree programs are offered at the schools closest to where you live, as you will need to meet certain minimum standards in order to complete your residency program.
Those who intend to pursue careers in podiatry may be wondering what they should look for in their programs to ensure that they can earn a high school diploma and then go on to complete a successful career in podiatry. Earning the degree from an accredited institution will be essential, and you will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on clinical experience.
Once you have completed a podiatric medicine programs, you will be ready to take the certification exam that is required of all Podiatrists in the United States. You will need to pass this exam in order to become licensed. In addition to passing the certification exam, you will have to be proficient in basic mathematics and anatomy before taking the exam. Passing the certification exam will ensure that you can practice medicine legally in your state and that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to practice as a Podiatric Physician in most states.