There are three items to consider when looking for the best podiatry courses: accreditation, faculty, and target audience. Podiatry courses are available from universities, community, career colleges and community centers. Podiatry is the study of the human foot.
When looking for podiatry courses, the first item to check is the accreditation status. An accredited school has had its academic and administrative policies reviewed by an independent third party. Courses from an accredited school can be transferred to other post-secondary institutions. The professional podiatry association accepts continuing education courses completed at this type of school.
Review the qualifications of the faculty or course instructors. Most schools publish biographies of their faculty, listing their academic credentials, experience, publications, and areas of expertise. Take the time to review this information to obtain valuable background on their areas of expertise, expectations, and focus. Although qualified podiatrists teach many podiatry courses, bio-mechanical engineers, medical doctors, nurses, and other health services professionals also teach some related courses.
People who report the highest level of satisfaction with podiatry have a clear understanding of the course expectations and audience. There are three possible audiences for podiatry courses: a layperson with a personal interest in the foot, a podiatry assistant, and a podiatrist. Each of these students has a very different background and reason for taking a podiatry course. It is very important when looking for the best podiatry course to make sure that you read the course description and have the background necessary to understand the course material.
A course intended for a layperson might be offered at a community center or local education center as a personal interest course. Items covered may include the structure of the foot, common foot issues, choosing shoes, and the role of the foot in balance and mobility. There is rarely a test or examination in these types of courses.
Courses for a podiatry assistant are available at a community or career college. These courses may be part of a program to become a podiatrist assistant, or continuing education for program graduates. Subjects covered include common foot issues, how to size a foot correctly, and when to refer the client back to the podiatrist.
The podiatry courses offered at the university level are for podiatrists, both before and after graduation. The total program to become a podiatrist is two to four years in length. Post-graduate programs form part of the licensing requirements for practicing podiatrists.