Podiatric Medicine Specialties/Subspecialties
Diabetic Foot Care | Dermatology | Orthopedics | Primary Care | Podopediatrics | Sports Medicine | Surgery | Wound Care & Management | and more!
Podiatrists are physicians who specifically "treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg" (AACPM, 2018). After taking the necessary undergraduate coursework, aspiring podiatrists spend four years in podiatry school and then at least two years in a residency program.
FAQs
Which major should I select at UNT for a pre-podiatry path?
Recommended majors for pre-podiatry students at UNT:
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology, College of Science
- Bachelor of Science in Biology, College of Science
For more information about each major, please visit the UNT Catalog and select 'majors, minors, certificates' that is found beneath the link to ‘Catalog Home’.
What courses do I need for podiatry school?
Please refer to our Pre-Podiatry Packet for a list of podiatry schools in the United States.
Timeline: When do I apply for podiatry school?
Students must apply to podiatry schools nearly one year before entering a program. On the traditional four-year path, students will apply between the summer after their junior year and the fall of their senior year. They will then complete their bachelor's degree at the end of their senior year and enter a podiatry program the following fall semester.
This timeline will show you an example of the traditional four-year path to podiatry school.
Note: Each student's timeline is different. Your UNT academic advisor/counselor is committed to creating a plan that accomodates your individual goals and circumstances.
What makes a competitive application to podiatry school?
Below you will find typical categories of a competitive application. Please contact our advisors in the UNT Office of Health Professions to further explore each competitive characteristic and to create your pre-podiatry plan.
Call, click or come by for more information!
Office of Health Professions: 940-369-8606 | Hickory Hall, Room 256
| CATEGORY | COMPETITIVE |
|---|---|
| GPA | 3.3 Overall 3.2 Science |
| MCAT Score | 496+ |
| Shadowing | 100+ Hours |
| Medical Volunteering | 100+ Hours |
What is the MCAT?
The Medical College Admission Test, MCAT, is the entrance exam that must be taken before applying to podiatry school. The score range for the MCAT is 472 to 528. We strongly recommend that you not take the MCAT until after all prerequisites have been completed. This includes coursework from the following areas: biology, chemistry, statistics, physics, biochemistry, and psychology/sociology. For more information about the MCAT, please visit the official webpage on AAMC.
How do I apply to podiatry school?
Podiatry schools in the United States use one application service to obtain your information: AACPMAS.
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, AACPMAS
Podiatry Schools in the United States
Arizona School of Podiatric Medicine, Glendale, Arizona
Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, Miami, Florida
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California
College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa
Kent State University of Podiatric Medicine, Independence, Ohio
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, New York
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Western University of Health Sciences, College of Podiatric Medicine, Pomona, California
Does UNT offer an HPAC?
Yes! Our Office of Health Professions provides a Health Professions Advisory Committee service, HPAC. This committee produces a committee letter of recommendation that is strongly preferred by podiatry school admissions committees. A Committee Letter of Recommendation is one of the letters of recommendation included in a letter packet when applying to podiatry school, and is an evaluation of your competitiveness by a group of faculty members across the UNT campus.
When to participate in HPAC
HPAC is offered each spring semester for those applying to podiatry school the following summer. Students will have 1 interview with our Assistant Dean, Dr. Debrah Beck, and 1 interview with a faculty member on the committee. The committee then meets to discuss each applicant, and the feedback is used to write the Committee Letter of Recommendation.
Qualifications for HPAC
To participate in HPAC, you must meet the following qualifications:
- 3.2 Overall GPA
- 15 hours of UNT course credit
If you do not meet the minimum requirements, please schedule an appointment with our Senior Academic Counselor, Todd Lang, to discuss your individual situation.
Are there any scholarships available to pre-podiatry students?
Unfortunately, there are no specific scholarships offered to pre-podiatry students. However, general scholarships are offered to students through each department and college across campus. Below you will find the scholarship webpage for the popular majors listed above:
- Biology Major Scholarships
If you do not see your major listed under the college listed above, please visit the scholarship website of the college that houses your major.
What pre-health student organizations and professional associations are there at UNT?
Alpha Epsilon Delta: https://unt.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/alphaepsilondelta
Pre-Health Minority Club (Alpha Delta): https://unt.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/alpha-delta-the-minority-pre-health-organization
Medically Dedicated Students: https://unt.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/medically-dedicated-students-organization
UNT’s Volunteer Organizations: http://studentaffairs.unt.edu/
Hearts for the Homeless: https://unt.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/hearts-for-the-homeless-dallas
American Podiatric Medical Association: https://www.apma.org/
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine: http://www.aacpm.org/
Who can help me create a plan for this career path?
If you are a current student, please visit appointments.unt.edu to schedule an appointment. If you are a prospective student interested in learning more about 'Pre-Podiatry at UNT', please contact our Pre-Podiatry advisor:
Todd Lang, Senior Acadmic Counselor
email: Todd.Lang@unt.edu
Virnin Bonner, Academic Counselor
email: Virnin.Bonner@unt.edu
Hannah Snowberger, Associate Academic Advisor
email: Hannah.snowberger@unt.edu
If you are a current student, join our canvas course to receive important announcements and view resources related to your pre-podiatry journey.
References:
AACPMAS (2018). Becoming a podiatric physician. Retrieved from https://www.aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/