Podiatric medicine is devoted to the study of human movement with the foot and ankle as its primary focus. Podiatric physicians, or podiatrists, specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders, diseases, and injuries. They perform surgery, administer medications, and prescribe physical therapy regimens. Podiatrists often detect serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease, because they are usually first expressed in the lower extremities. 

General Information

There are only nine accredited podiatric medical colleges in the United States. The degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) is awarded after completing four years of study. The first two years concentrate on classroom instruction and laboratory work in the basic medical sciences and the fundamentals of specialized medicine. The third and fourth years of study focus on the clinical sciences and patient care. However, clinical exposure begins as early as the first year.

After receiving their degree, graduates enter a residency of twenty-four to thirty-six months in duration. At least two years of post-graduate residency training in an approved healthcare institution is required for board certification.

Application Process

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, or AACPM, administers the centralized application service, E-AACPMAS, by which applicants apply to any one of the eight member colleges in the United States. Applicants submit a single application to E-AACPMAS, which then sends a standard applicant packet to each of the schools to which you are applying. The cost is $160 for the first application packet and $35 each additional packet which is sent.

Podiatric schools often require a letter of evaluation from a pre-health advisory committee, rather than several individual letters. Each applicant who seeks a committee letter of evaluation will be interviewed by several members of the Stonehill Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee, who will then condense the comments of science faculty, non-science faculty, and employers, which you will have previously gathered, into a single letter of evaluation to be submitted to optometry schools.

If a podiatric school is seriously considering you for admission, they will most likely request a personal interview.

Entrance Exam

The MCAT is generally required for admission to podiatry school. However, New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM) will also accept the DAT. The test scores that you submit must have been administered within the past three years

The MCAT is a multiple choice examination that is approximately 7.5 hours long and consists of the following four examinations in order:

  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; 59 questions; 95 minutes
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills; 53 questions; 90 minutes
  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; 59 questions; 95 minutes
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; 59 questions; 95 minutes
  • Total testing time: 6 hours and 15 minutes

Only an introductory-level knowledge of physics, general chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry is required for the MCAT. However, the test determines how well you can apply this introductory material to problem-solving questions, not simply if you have it memorized. Each section is scored on a scale of 118 to 132. Your combined score will range between 472 to 528.  

If a podiatric school is seriously considering you for admission, they will most likely request a personal interview.

MCAT 2015 

Subjects Covered  - Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Math, Stats, & Writing. More information here

Type of Exam - Computer, Multiple Choice 

Exam Length - 7 hr 30 min, which includes breaks and administrative tasks

When Given - AM and PM Sessions Available multiple times late January through September

Where Taken - Test centers throughout the US and globally

Contact Info to Register - www.amc.org/mcat

Test Prep - Prep materials can be found here. 

Cost of Exam - $300.00 Financial aid available (discounted to $115.00). More information here 

Obtaining Scores - Scores released 30-35 days after exam. More information here

Uploading Scores- Scores automatically uploaded to AMCAS

Score Record - Schools may determine how far back they want the score record to go

Notes -

DAT

Subjects Covered - Natural Sciences Perceptual Ability Reading Comprehension Quantitative Reasoning 

Type of Exam - Computer Multiple Choice

Exam Length - 4 hr 30 min 

When Given - Varies by appointment

Where Taken - Prometric Test Centers throughout the US

Contact Info to Register - Apply to take the DAT after obtaining a DENTPIN; email instruction will follow application approval

Test Prep - www.ada.org & Prometric Test Drive at www.prometric.com & www.kaptest.com

Cost of Exam - 415.00 Financial assistance available for 50% discount 

Obtaining Scores - Unofficial report given upon completion; official scores available 3-4 weeks later

Reporting Scores - Registration fee includes reports to all schools listed on your DAT application; $34.00 per additional report later

Score Record - The four most recent attempts are reported as well as the total number of attempts

Notes - Obtain a DENTPIN at www.ada.org

Suggested Coursework

The following is a list of undergraduate courses that typically satisfy the prerequisites for podiatry programs:

  • Chemistry with lab (1 year)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (1 semester)
  • Biology with lab (1 year)
  • Physics with lab (1 year)
  • English (1 year)

Resources