Podiatrist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a podiatrist. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a podiatrist.
Who is a Podiatrist?
A Podiatrist is a health expert who treats medical problems related to the legs. Podiatrists can also treat sugar-related complications like diabetes.
Sometimes, they are called doctors of podiatric medicine and podiatrist physicians. Though a podiatrist can be referred to as a doctor, they don’t attend your regular health school.
Their medical school and professional societies differ from traditional schools. Most podiatrists have DPM at the back of their names. Podiatrists can do surgery, treat bones, and prescribe drugs.
You will see podiatrists working with other medical practitioners especially when there are issues related to the lower legs. The US usually licenses and regulates all podiatrists in their country.
Many podiatrists can adequately diagnose leg problems that affect the skin, congenital, tumours, deformities, and ulcers. Podiatrists are known to care for medical conditions like heel spurs, shrink legs, bone disorders, and corns.
Asides from leg treatment, Podiatrists can make casts for injured fractures and sprains. They also refer patients when they notice that the symptoms are different from leg issues.
Podiatrists usually select their skill set from sports medicine, paediatrics, and other physical-related health problems.
Podiatrist Job Description
Below are the podiatrist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. The employer can use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The responsibilities of a podiatrist include:
- Diagnose leg disease
- Examine patients’ legs and discern the cause and possible treatments.
- Use the latest technological scanning machines to detect leg issues.
- Engage in leg and ankle surgery operations: A podiatrist is expected to perform detailed leg operations on patients.
- Remove and replace dislocated bones with problems.
- Treat fractures, care for sports injuries like leg and joint fractures.
- Treat bone injuries and prescribe orthotics when due.
- Diagnose therapeutic illness for bone injury related to arthritis, fractures, and calluses.
- Use the latest podiatric methods to do casting and use laser therapy to help with health deformities and sickness.
- Give relevant information about pain relief which can improve mobility for people suffering from health problems.
- Prescribe joint medicines according to the conditions of the patient.
- Analyze patient medical records before recommending drugs
- Advise on general health wellness and medical practices on the best ways to take care of legs and bone joints.
- Make an order of extra medical equipment such as X-rays and bone equipment to make the right diagnosis for the treatment of bone issues.
Qualifications
A podiatrist is expected to have a postgraduate degree in podiatry which usually takes about two to three years. After gaining this advanced degree, he/she will still need to register with the HCPC (health and care professionals Council) before they can start practising.
Before this, they should have at least five credits which must include maths, English, and two other science courses. Sometimes, BTEC or HNC degree is required before you can be accepted to be a podiatrist.
Some government health agencies require you to show NHS values before they can recognize your competencies. In the UK, you are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in medicine or Podiatry to start work.
You will need to have both practical and theoretical knowledge of leg problems and surgery. You should have specializations that include arthritis, medicine, biomechanics, and gerontology. In Scotland, you need to have a good result in GCSE with at least a B in biological sciences.
Many regulatory bodies in Europe accept people with a degree in any healthcare-related subject, occupation therapy, or Physical health science. However, you are expected to complete about 1200 hours of medical work with your patients.
Some establishments accept about 5 years of training from a registered podiatrist for those without formal degrees.
Essential Skills
Podiatrists are expected to have the required skills:
- Compassion: They should have empathy for their patients in pain. Since they treat them regularly, they should care about how patients feel.
- Have Analytic and Critical Abilities: Podiatrists should possess excellent analytical and sharp minds to be able to diagnose their patients correctly and know the right way to treat them.
- Detailed: Being detail-oriented is expected from podiatrists who want to give the right treatment. They must pay good attention to the medical history of their patients and tally it with their current medical problem to know the best treatment they need.
- Interpersonal Skills: Since podiatrists relate with patients, they are expected to interact to be gentle, and listen properly to them. Communication is important, and they should be able to tell patients who are expected to undergo operation what to expect to mitigate their fears and reduce nervousness.
- Communication Skills: Like all those in the medical line, podiatrists should adhere to science principles before prescribing a treatment plan. Podiatrists should think intuitively before arriving at their desired conclusion.
- They must be focused: This podiatrist must be able to carefully review patients’ health history to get clues about the problems and minimize conflicts. This information will help them when prescribing drugs and billing them.
- They should be able to read and write correctly. Since much of what podiatrist dish out is in written form, they need to show they are learned formally.
How to Become a Podiatrist?
Being a podiatrist is a career that many people do. However, to go through the part, you should have the required degree from a reputable medical school and earn your degree.
Many schools in the UK and Europe get their podiatrist degree between three and four years. Also, many states mandate graduates take time in medical residency at a health clinic before they are given a podiatry permit.
Many podiatrists complete their degrees within three years. However, they also wish to go for medical residency and get a degree in DPM of podiatry and health science. In the US, it is compulsory to scale through the US podiatry health licensing exams.
Some US states mandate that you take and pass state regulatory exams which will make the health sector better.
Where to Work?
A podiatrist can work in various environments which include:
Office of Medical Health Officers: Many podiatrists can be seen working closely with various health practitioners like doctors, physicians, dentists, and ophthalmologists. This is because medicine is wide and has different branches.
Self-employed: About 25% of podiatrists also work on their own. They work in a freelance environment, work from home or open private offices where they attend to patients privately.
This private practice is common in many Western countries; however, podiatrists who want to be self-employed need to have completed relevant medical courses related to their line of work.
Physicians Office: Another place where podiatrists work is in the offices of physicians. This is possible because there is an understanding between the two medical offices.
Federal Government Offices: You can see podiatrists in government parastatals because they are needed in some capacities to help take care of staff. Parastatals like the Ministry of health, fire service, and police commissions regularly employ podiatrists.
Hospitals: Many private and government hospitals have good numbers of podiatrists that work for them. In this environment, they work in various capacities and with much other health staff.
At clinics, you can see them in their private office attending to their patients. Also, they are needed at care centres across the world.
Teaching: Podiatrists are employed as teachers and lecturers where they can share their knowledge. Many schools of health and nursing require the expertise of this podiatrist.
Military Institutions: Podiatrists may work with the navy, army, and airforce in different capacities. Many enroll in the armed forces to help injured soldiers during conflicts, others are stationed in military administration across the States.
Municipals Medical Centres: You can see some podiatrists employed by various commissioners in municipalities. Their major job is consultancy and advisory on leg fractures and other health issues.
Podiatrist Salary Scale
Getting the exact salary scale of a podiatrist is complex because their pay depends on their experience level. The salary scale of a podiatrist hinges on the Entry level, early career, mid-level, professional level, management level, and Experienced.
You would also need to consider the wages in different countries to arrive at an appropriate rate.
Podiatrist Salary Scale in Australia
For an entry-level podiatrist with around a few months of experience, they will get AUS $61,213 which includes tips and overtime salary. Also, an early career level with just 1 to two years under their belts earns around AUS $ 65,112 without other benefits.
The mid-level career Podiatrist in Australia gets an average of AUS $ 75,251 with some perks. A more experienced Podiatrist in Australia earns a salary of AUS $ 84,353 including bonuses and commissions.
When a podiatrist reaches the management level, he is expected to earn around AUS $ 86,776 with total compensation.
Podiatrist Salary Scale in the US
The US pay rate for podiatrists depends on the state you are working in and your level of experience. The annual salary of a podiatrist working in the United States are:
- Texas: $ 115,778
- Hawaii: $ 122,986
- California :$ 129,115
- Missouri :$130, 802
- Colorado :$ 133,127
- New York: 138,662
- Maryland: $ 141,823
- Virginia :$ 141,990
- Nebraska :$ 142,082
- Washington :$ 144,558.
These ten US states have been listed because they pay the highest for podiatrists in the US. Washington especially has the most demand for podiatrists and other health jobs.
Podiatrists Salary Scale in the UK
If you reside in the UK, be aware that podiatrists are well paid, however, salary depends on several factors. If you are employed in the NHS as a graduate entry, your salary will be around £ 24,867 to £ 31,268.
For the specialists for more advanced professionals, it is around £ 33,226 to £38 092 for band 6 workers. If a podiatrist is promoted to band 7, his take-home pay ranges from £39,774 to £ 45,708.
Furthermore, podiatrists who are specialists will earn about £ 46, 727 to £88,604 (bands 8). If you rise to become an expert podiatrist surgeon, which means you will be on band 9, you will earn £106,883.
Many podiatric surgeons in the UK who are in private practice make around £ 30,000 to £55,000, but note if you have a successful chair practice in the UK, you will earn about £65,000 to £240,000.
Incomes for podiatrists in the UK will be affected by location, experience, and degrees.
Podiatrist Salary Scale in Europe
Europe has an excellent salary for podiatrists, especially in Western and Central European nations. Countries like France, Italy, France, Estonia, Sweden, and Finland lead the way.
For a new graduate podiatrist who has less than a year of experience, they will earn € 34,232 to € 35,635 which might or may not include benefits. Podiatrists with over two years of experience in this field earn about € 37,440 to € 38,885 with some perks.
Podiatrists in Europe with five to seven years earn € 41,336 to € 43,127. A highly experienced podiatrist in Europe earns € 50,000 to € 60,000. However, note that these salary scales for podiatrists are for those working in public and private health services.
You can set up a private office of a pediatrician if you want to make around € 70,500, to € 80,338 annually.
Podiatrist Salary Scale in Asia
Asia is also a good place where podiatrists can earn a good salary. Countries in the zone that pay highly include Japan, India, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
There are about four levels that depend on how podiatrists are paid in Asia. A new podiatric surgeon earns between $ 25,076 to $ 26,457. With a bit more experience like two to four years, you will earn about $ 30,320 to $ 32,267.
For a fully experienced Podiatrist in Asia, you earn between $ 35,237 to $ 40,268. For those with more than 15 years of practising podiatric surgery, they can earn as much as $ 50,000 to $ 55,000.
An important factor to consider is that in Asia, many podiatrists practice privately where they can earn as much as $ 90,000 annually.