How much schooling is required to become a podiatrist?
Podiatrists specialize in medical care of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They must have a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) degree from a college of podiatric medicine. Podiatrists are sometimes referred to as foot doctors, foot and ankle surgeons, or podiatric surgeons. They must pass written and oral board examinations and must obtain a state license to practice podiatric medicine.Admission to a college of podiatric medicine requires completion of at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate study, an acceptable grade point average, and acceptable scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Required courses include biology, chemistry (inorganic and organic), and physics. Prospective students are also evaluated on the basis of letters of recommendation, interviews, and extracurricular activities.Colleges of podiatric medicine offer 4-year programs similar to other medical schools. During the first 2 years, students take courses in anatomy, chemistry, pathology, and pharma
