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Chiropodist
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£21,200 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
As a chiropodist or podiatrist, you would diagnose and treat a variety of problems on the foot and lower leg. You could see a wide range of patients, from athletes with sports injuries to elderly people with arthritis, and pregnant women with problems brought on by weight gain.
Your day-to-day work could involve:
- discussing treatment options with patients
- advising patients on foot care
- carrying out a range of treatments using scalpels, chemicals and occasionally local anaesthetics
- providing long-term care for people at high risk of foot injury or disability, such as people with diabetes
- performing minor surgery, such as removing bunions (with advanced training)
- screening children for foot problems
- diagnosing and treating sports injuries.
Your role is also likely to include educating the public about the importance of healthy feet by speaking to individual patients and giving talks to groups. You would also give advice and share information with other health professionals, such as orthopaedic specialists, GPs and health visitors.
HoursDesc
Hours
You will usually work 37.5 hours a week over five days. If you are self-employed or in private practice, you may work outside of these hours to fit in with patients.
You will usually work in a clinic, which could be attached to a hospital, health centre or GP surgery. You could also treat patients in their own homes or in residential and nursing homes. Some jobs may include visiting schools or attending sporting events.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries in the NHS can be between £21,200 and £27,500 a year
- With experience this can rise to around £34,200
- Senior chiropodists, specialists and team managers can earn around £40,200
- For consultant level posts, salaries can reach around £90,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Before you can start work as a chiropodist/podiatrist you need to complete a degree in podiatry approved by the Health Professions Council (HPC). You can then apply for state registration with the HPC and full membership of a professional body (see further information section for a list of professional bodies).
To get on to a degree you will usually need at least five GCSEs (A-C) including maths, English, and biology or human biology, plus two or three A levels including a biological science. Check with course providers for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted.
Check the HPC website for details of all approved courses.
If you already have a degree (in a related subject such as biology, nursing, physiology or zoology), you may be exempt from some exams.
Most places on podiatry degree courses are funded by the NHS. Check the NHS Business Services Authority for details.
Alternatively, you could work in the private sector as a Foot Health Practitioner (FHP), providing routine foot care to the general public. You do not need a degree for this, but you may have an advantage when seeking work if you have a Diploma in Foot Health Practice and membership of the Voluntary Register of Foot Health Practitioners (run by The Alliance of Private Sector Chiropody and Podiatry Practitioners).
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a qualified and practising chiropodist/podiatrist, you will need to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities each year to keep your skills up to date and maintain your HPC registration. Professional bodies (such as those listed in the further information section) can provide more advice and information on CPD as well as access to post-registration training opportunities in areas such as nail surgery, diabetes and wound care.
You could go on to work towards a Masters or PhD qualification, or focus on developing skills in a specialist area like surgery or orthotics (designing and fitting appliances such as braces and in-shoe correction aids).
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- a keen interest and ability in science
- the ability to keep up to date with new developments in the profession
- strong communication skills
- good presentation skills
- the ability to reassure patients and gain their trust
- the ability to work under pressure and deal calmly with all types of people
- practical skills to carry out delicate treatments
- the ability to organise and prioritise your workload
- good time management skills
- the ability to work alone and use your initiative
- good teamworking skills
- commercial awareness and business skills (if you wish to become self-employed).
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists 
www.iocp.org.uk
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
1 Fellmonger's Path
Tower Bridge Road
London
SE1 3LY
Tel: 020 7234 8620
www.feetforlife.org
Health Professions Council
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU
Tel: 020 7582 0866
www.hpc-uk.org
Alliance of Private Sector Chiropody and Podiatry Practitioners
www.thealliancepsp.com
British Chiropody and Podiatry Association
The New Hall
149 Bath Road
Maidenhead
Berks
SL6 4LA
Tel: 01628 632449
www.bcha-uk.org
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
According to the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, 100% of chiropody graduates (who want to work in chiropody) are employed within the first year of graduation.
You will find most jobs within the NHS, for example working within a local community clinic, health centre or GP practice. You could combine this with working in a surgical unit in a hospital or carrying out a research or teaching role within higher education.
With experience, you could go on to set up your own private practice. Establishing your own business can be expensive and take time, so you could mix this with working in the NHS. You could also work in sports clubs and high street stores.
Jobs are advertised in industry press, such as the British Journal of Podiatry and Podiatry Now, and you may also find the following useful for vacancies: (links open in new window)
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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