To become a podiatrist in the UK involves completing a degree in podiatry, gaining practical experience, and registering with a professional body. Podiatrists are healthcare professionals who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and disorders of the feet and lower limbs. They help patients manage various foot problems, from common conditions such as bunions and ingrown toenails to highly complex cases such as diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and arthritis. Podiatrists work in a variety of settings, including private sports clinics and community. If you want a healthcare career and enjoy working with people while having an interest in anatomy and physiology, being a podiatrist might be a good fit. This guide outlines how to become a podiatrist in the UK, what qualifications you need and what skills are key to being a successful podiatrist.

What Does a Podiatrist Do?

Podiatrists will assess, diagnose and treat various conditions affecting the foot and lower limb. Some podiatrists will also provide preventative care so that patients can avoid problems with their feet. Typical work activities of a podiatrist include:

• Diagnosing Foot and Lower Limb Conditions: Podiatrists assess foot, ankle, and lower leg problems to determine the nature of the complaint. This may involve inspecting the skin, nails, and muscles, ordering X-rays, or conducting gait analysis.
• Treating a range of conditions: Treatment may include minor forms of surgery (nail surgery, for example, for ingrown toenails) alongside the management of foot pain and skin problems such as corns, calluses, and warts. Podiatrists treat more complex conditions, such as diabetic foot ulcers or mobility problems caused by arthritis.
• Preventative Care: Podiatrists can help patients avoid common foot problems, especially those with a history of foot problems or considered ‘high risk’ (for example, people with diabetes, athletes, and the elderly). Custom orthotics (shoe inserts) can be prescribed to improve foot function and relieve pain.
• Chronic Condition Management: Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis can help manage their symptoms and provide long-term care to avoid complications.
• Minor Surgeries: A podiatrist will learn minor surgical procedures, such as removing toenails or treating foot infections. Some podiatrists will specialise in podiatric surgery, where they can undergo training to perform more advanced surgical treatments.
• Working Together With Other Health Care Professionals: Podiatrists work as part of a multidisciplinary team with doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians and other health professionals to help patients with their illness or injury.

Average Podiatrist Salary in the UK

For instance, in the UK, the pay of a podiatrist depends on their experience, geographic location and whether they work for the National Health Service (NHS) or in private practice. NHS beginner podiatrists receive annual pay in the range of £25,000 and £31,000, according to Band 5 of the NHS pay scale.

Podiatry has a fixed salary scale, so podiatrists can progress up the band once they have the necessary experience. At the top end, a band of 6 or 7 podiatrists could earn in the region of £31,000 to £45,000 per year. Senior podiatrists and specialists, for example, in podiatric surgery, can earn more. Podiatrists can set their rate for private practice and earn £40,000 to £60,000-plus depending on their client base and location.

Key Skills for a Successful Podiatrist

A good podiatrist must communicate well and have strong medical and technical skills. You will need the following:

• Comprehensive Knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology: The foot and ankle system comprises various bones, muscles, tendons and skin. Each component of the lower limb has a function specific to gait and posture, as well as support to the body. The complex structure of the foot, along with its intricate function, requires detailed knowledge for proper podiatric examination and treatment.
• Manual dexterity and precision: Some tasks that podiatrists perform, such as trimming nails and removing hard skin, require a high level of manual dexterity and precision because these tasks must be performed safely and effectively.
• Problem-solving skills: Diagnosing foot problems and selecting the most appropriate treatment means podiatrists’ work requires strong problem-solving skills. They need to create a personalised treatment plan for each patient.
• Communication Skills: Podiatrists need to explain medical issues and treatment options in a way that patients can understand. Good communication skills are also required when working with other health professionals.
• Empathy and Patience: Podiatrists often treat patients with painful or painful conditions. The podiatrist, with empathy and patience, is more likely to reap the rewards of a trusting relationship with his or her patient.
• Attention to detail: Pay close attention to details when conducting routine physical examinations or performing minor surgical procedures to provide proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Business and Management Skills (For Private Practice): These are important for managing a private practice, including marketing, financial management, and client relations.

Steps to Become a Podiatrist in the UK

Becoming a podiatrist in the UK involves completing a degree in podiatry, gaining practical experience, and registering with a professional body. Here are the steps to becoming a qualified podiatrist:

1. Complete GCSEs and A-Levels: To become a podiatrist, you’ll need to meet the entry requirements for a podiatry degree. This usually includes GCSEs in subjects like Maths, English, and Science. After GCSEs, you will need to complete A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications) in relevant subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry, or Physical Education. A strong foundation in biology is particularly important, as it helps you understand human anatomy and physiology.
2. Earn a Degree in Podiatry: The next step is to complete a BSc (Hons) degree in Podiatry. This is a three to four-year program that is available at several universities in the UK, including Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of Brighton, and University of Huddersfield. During the degree, you will study topics such as human anatomy, biomechanics, pharmacology, and foot health. You will also gain practical experience through clinical placements, where you will work with real patients under supervision.
3. Register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): After completing your degree, you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to legally practice as a podiatrist in the UK. The HCPC ensures that podiatrists meet professional standards for training, ethics, and patient care. You will need to provide evidence of your qualifications and pay a registration fee to become registered.
4. Gain Work Experience: Once registered, you can begin working as a podiatrist. Many newly qualified podiatrists start their careers in the NHS, where they gain broad experience in treating a variety of foot conditions. You may work in hospitals, clinics, or community healthcare settings. Gaining hands-on experience in different areas of podiatry is important for developing your skills and building your confidence as a practitioner.
5. Consider Specialization (Optional): After gaining experience as a general podiatrist, you may choose to specialize in a particular area of podiatry, such as podiatric surgery, sports podiatry, or diabetic foot care. Specialization typically requires additional training or qualifications. For example, podiatrists who want to become podiatric surgeons must complete advanced training in foot and ankle surgery.
6. Pursue Continuing Professional Development (CPD): To maintain your HCPC registration, podiatrists must engage in continuing professional development (CPD) throughout their careers. This can involve attending workshops, completing additional courses, or staying updated with the latest research and techniques in podiatry. CPD is important for ensuring that you provide the best possible care to your patients and stay current with advances in the field.
7. Consider Starting a Private Practice (Optional): Once you have gained experience, you may choose to start your own private podiatry practice. Running a private practice allows you to set your own schedule, choose your clients, and potentially earn a higher income. However, it also requires business skills such as managing finances, marketing your services, and building a client base.

Tips for Aspiring Podiatrists

You should also shadow a podiatrist to determine what podiatry entails and whether you’d enjoy the job.

• Shadow a Podiatrist: Before committing to a podiatry degree, try to shadow a practicing podiatrist to gain insight into the day-to-day work and see if the career is the right fit for you.
• Build Strong Communication Skills: As a podiatrist, you will need to communicate complex medical information in a way that is clear and reassuring to patients. Developing strong communication skills will help you build rapport and trust with your patients.
• Stay Informed About Advancements: Podiatry is an evolving field with new treatments and technologies emerging regularly. Stay informed about the latest research and best practices to ensure that you’re providing the best care for your patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Become a Podiatrist?

Want a job where you can help people, enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and become a trusted member of their healthcare team? Then, a podiatrist might be the career for you. A podiatrist treats and prevents foot problems and injuries that impact a patient’s ability to move and live well.

Is a Career as a Podiatrist Right for You?

If you’re detail-oriented, have good communication skills and enjoy working one-on-one with patients to help them with health-related issues, a career in podiatry could be right for you. Suppose you’re passionate about anatomy, physiology, and helping people manage pain or mobility issues. In that case, you’ll find podiatry to be a rewarding career that allows you to make an immediate, meaningful difference in people’s lives.

What Are the Salary Prospects for Podiatrists in the UK?

The starting salary for a band five entry-level NHS podiatrist is between £25,000 and £31,000, increasing with experience to between £31,000 and £45,000. A senior charge podiatrist or specialist could earn more than £50,000, particularly in private practice or a specialist role such as podiatric surgery. Private podiatrists have greater earning potential; some can earn over £60,000 or more depending on their client base and location.

What Qualifications Are Needed to Become a Podiatrist?

You can become a podiatrist in the UK by taking a BSc (Hons) degree in Podiatry from a university accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You must register with the HCPC to practise legally and complete continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain your registration and keep up to date with new developments in the field.

Do You Need Work Experience to Start a Career as a Podiatrist?

Certainly, work experience is necessary to become a good podiatrist. As part of your podiatry degree, you’ll undertake clinical placements with real patients, which provide you with experience working as a podiatrist. After qualifying and registering with the HCPC, you can work in an NHS or private healthcare setting, such as hospitals, clinics or a private practice, to develop your skills and experience.

What Is the Career Outlook for Podiatrists?

In the UK, podiatry is projected to stay competitive, with increasing demand for foot care services in an ageing population, ever-increasing rates of diabetes and arthritis, and increased demand for podiatry-led sports medicine, orthopaedics and rehabilitation. Podiatrists undertaking additional training in specific areas, such as diabetic foot care or sports podiatry, might find further opportunities as these sub-specialities grow.

What Are the Career Progression Options for Podiatrists?

Having gained experience, some can move into more senior NHS roles, such as a specialist or consultant podiatrist. You might also wish to develop a specialist interest into a career such as becoming a podiatric surgeon, biomechanist, or sports podiatrist (requ podiatrists enter higher education as lecturers teaching the next generation of podiatrists, or you could set up your private practice, which perhaps offers higher earnings and more autonomy.

What Are the Exit Options and Opportunities Beyond Podiatry?

For example, the clinical, medical and physical skills that you would learn as a podiatrist (medical knowledge, manual skills and patient care) are highly transferable to other areas of healthcare. Some podiatrists will pursue roles in healthcare management or teaching and research. In contrast, others will pursue areas of specialisation elsewhere in medicine, such as orthopaedics or physiotherapy, where their understanding of foot and lower limb health can be applied. Some podiatrists who have learned to run a private practice may wish to pursue their interests in business or consultancy.