Requirements to Become an Athletic Podiatrist
An athletic podiatrist, which is commonly called a sports medicine podiatrist, is a medical professional who prevents and treats injuries to your feet, ankles and lower legs. They enable active people to maintain the health and safety of these parts of their body. They work with individuals, recreational facilities and professional sports teams.
- Earn a Bachelor’s degree in pre-med, biology, health science, fitness or athletics.
- Seek entrance to an accredited podiatry program. This will require letters of recommendations from professors. You also need to pass the GRE (graduate record examination), MCAT (medical college admissions test) or DAT (dental admissions test). The school you are applying to will require one of these three. Check to see if the school you wish to attend has any other requirements.
- Complete the podiatry school training. In podiatry school, you will undergo between four to six years of specialized training. The first two years will focus on developing your understanding of the basics of medical science. It will include courses in anatomy, chemistry, biology, pathology and pharmacology. Courses will then focus specifically on podiatry and performing clinical rounds. At the end you will receive you doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) degree.
- Complete your postdoctoral residency in athletic podiatry. This will last for a period of three years. It can take place in your choice of either a hospital or a doctor’s office.
- Once your residency is complete, you can choose to start your own practice or join one that is already established. You can also choose to work for a sports team.