Is a Podiatrist a Doctor?

Podiatry is a field focussing on the care of the lower limb, and is practiced by specially trained and qualified podiatrists. Podiatrists pursue a specialist degree which allows them to practice a number of different treatments in licensed practices in the UK. A podiatrist can then go on to pursue post-graduate qualifications that give them the right to perform a broader range of treatments should they wish to do so.

Podiatrists are not doctors however, and their education and training is quite different to that of a medical doctor. Medics train in all aspects of medicine for many years before specialising and pursuing a particular area, or going into General Practice. Podiatrists on the other hand, only train in administering treatments to the foot.


Some countries grant podiatrists the title of Doctor, despite this they do not qualify as doctors but as podiatrists.


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