Podiatrist

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Work Tasks

• Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the foot and lower leg
• Order x-rays and lab tests to find foot problems
• Prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures, or do surgery to treat problems
• Use a force plate to help make orthotics (shoe inserts) and special shoes for patients
• Work for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, public health agencies, the Veterans Administration, the military, podiatric medical colleges, ambulatory surgery centers, managed care plans and private practice
• Work with surgical instruments, x-ray equipment, x-rays, corrective shoe inserts, custom-made shoes, plaster casts; lab tests and results, prescription drugs, force plates, computer diagnostic equipment, and imaging equipment

Salary, Size & Growth

• $176,000 average per year ($84.50 per hour)
• A small occupation (9,300 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree and hospital residency program lasting from 2 to 4 years, followed by advanced training in podiatric medicine and surgery.
• Skills/Courses: College courses include anesthesiology, internal medicine, pathology, radiology, emergency medicine, and orthopedic and general surgery.
• Certification/Licensing: All states require podiatrists to have a license. Two years are required for board certification in one of three specialty areas: orthopedics, primary medicine, or surgery.