There are 7 podiatric schools in the United States. A podiatric physician is licensed in all states to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and disorders of the foot and ankle. This includes performing appropriate physical examinations using X-ray, blood and other laboratory studies, performing biopsies, and prescription of medication.
Podiatrists treat patients with fractures, dislocations, pains and strains.
In addition, many podiatrists perform surgery on bones and soft tissues of the foot and ankle. A podiatrist specializes in the foot and ankle and can practice in primary care, surgery, orthopedics, sports medicine, geriatrics, or pediatrics. Students interested in podiatry should take the MCAT in the spring of their junior year. Applicants to podiatric schools are required to take the MCAT as an entrance requirement. The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to help admission committees predict which of their applicants will perform adequately in the medical school curriculum.