Podiatry is practiced as a specialty in many countries including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In many English-speaking countries, the older title of “chiropodist” may be used by some clinicians. In many non-English-speaking countries of Europe, the title used may be “podologist” or “Podólogo”.  The level and scope of the practice of podiatry varies among countries.  It is the most advanced in the United States, where they are the physicians and surgeons of the foot and ankle.

Canada

In Canada the definition and scope of practice of podiatry can mean very different things. For instance, in some provinces like British Columbia and Alberta, the standards are the same as in the United States where the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) is the accepted qualification. Quebec, too, has recently changed to the D.P.M. level of training although other academic designations may also register. Also in Quebec, in 2004, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières started the first program of Podiatric Medicine in Canada based on the American definition of podiatry.

In the Prairie and Atlantic Provinces, the standard was originally based on the British model now called podiatry (chiropody). That model of podiatry is now the accepted model for most of the world including the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa. The province of Ontario now only registers Chiropodists since July 1993 where the Ontario Government imposed a cap on new podiatrists. Even if an American, British or other countries’ registered podiatrist were to emigrate to Ontario they would have to register and practice as a chiropodist. The podiatrists who were practicing in Ontario previous to this cap were grandfathered and kept the title of podiatrist as a subclass of chiropody. The scope of these grandfathered (mostly American trained) podiatrists includes bony procedures of the forefoot and the ordering of x-rays in addition to the scope of the chiropodist.

United Kingdom

The scope of practice of UK podiatrists on registration after obtaining a degree in podiatry includes the use and supply of some prescription only medicines, injection therapy and non-invasive surgery, e.g., performing partial or total nail resection and removal, with chemical destruction of the tissues.  Podiatrists complete about 1,000 supervised clinical hours in the course of training which enables then to recognize systemic disease as it manifests in the foot and will refer on to the appropriate health care professional. Those in the NHS interface between the patients and multidisciplinary teams. The scope of practice of a podiatrist is varied.  In a similar way to podiatrists in Australasia, UK podiatrists may continue their studies and qualify as podiatric surgeons.

Australia

In Australia, there are seven registration boards and six teaching centers, with three levels of awards — unclassified bachelor’s degree, honours level and the post graduate Doctor of Podiatric Medicine offered by the University of Western Australia.   There currently exist 2 levels of professional accreditation and professional privilege: General Podiatrist and the specialist – Podiatric Surgeon.

Australian podiatrists complete an undergraduate degree ranging from 3 to 4 years of education. The first 2 years of this program are generally focused on various biomedical science subjects including anatomy, medical chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and patient psychology, similar to the medical curriculum. The following two years will then be spent focusing on podiatry specific areas such as podiatric biomechanics and human gait, podiatric orthopaedics or the non-surgical management of foot abnormalities, pharmacology, general medicine, general pathology, local and general anesthesia, and surgical techniques such as partial and total nail avulsions, wound debridement, and other cutaneous and electrosurgical procedures.

Australian podiatric surgeons are specialist podiatrists with further training in advanced medicine, advanced pharmacology, and training in foot surgery. Podiatrists wishing to pursue specialization in podiatric surgery must meet the requirements for Fellowship with the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons. They first complete a degree of 4 years, which includes 2 years of didactic study and 2 years of clinical experience. Following this, a master’s degree must be completed with focus on biomechanics, medicine, surgery, general surgery, advanced pharmacology, advanced medical imaging and clinical pathology. They then qualify for the status of Registrar with the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons. Following surgical training with a podiatric surgeon (3–5 years), rotations within other medical and surgeons’ disciplines, overseas clinical rotations, and passing oral and written exams, Registrars may qualify for Fellowship status. Fellows are then given Commonwealth accreditation under the Health Insurance Act to be recognized as providers of professional attention, for the purposes of health insurance rebates.

New Zealand

Chiropody became a registered profession in New Zealand in 1969 with the requirement that all applicants take a recognized three-year course of training. Soon after the professional title was changed from Chiropody to Podiatry and The New Zealand School of Podiatry was established in 1970 at Petone under the direction of John Gallocher. Later the school moved to the Central Institute of Technology, Upper Hutt, Wellington. In 1976 the profession gained the legal right to use a local anesthetic and began to introduce minor surgical ingrown toenail procedures as part of the scope of practice.

New Zealand podiatrists were granted the right of direct referral to radiologists for X-rays in 1984. Acknowledgement of podiatric expertise marked improved services to patients and eventually in 1989 suitably trained podiatrists were able to become licensed to take X-rays within their own practice. Diagnostic radiographic training is incorporated into the degree syllabus and on successful completion of the course, graduates register with the New Zealand National Radiation Laboratory.

In 1986, the profession undertook a needs analysis in conjunction with the Central Institute of Technology to identify competencies for podiatry in 2000. A Bachelor of Health Science was introduced in 1993. Auckland University of Technology is now the only provider of podiatry training in New Zealand.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podiatry