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Podiatrists

Work abroad as a podiatrist: UK, Ireland, EU and US (2026)

Podiatrist is a protected title in the UK and Ireland, and recognition routes exist in Germany and the Netherlands. The USA is different: podiatric licensure there needs a US Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree.

Overview

Podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat problems of the foot and lower limb. NHS Health Careers describes work with children with lower limb problems, people with diabetes at risk of amputation and athletes with sports injuries.

If you trained abroad, you can register as a podiatrist in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands through a recognition route. In the USA there is no equivalent route: licensure as a podiatrist requires a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from a US college of podiatric medicine.

In the UK, chiropodist and podiatrist are both protected titles held by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). There is no licensing exam. Two podiatry assessors compare your degree, placements and experience with the HCPC standards of proficiency for chiropodists and podiatrists, which include local anaesthesia, nail surgery, debridement of ulcerated skin, orthoses and administering relevant prescription-only medicines. In Ireland, CORU opened its Register of Podiatrists on 31 March 2021, and the grandparenting period ended on 31 March 2023. International applicants first apply to CORU for recognition of their qualification.

Germany and the Netherlands regulate podiatry, but their training is different from a UK or Irish degree. In Germany the profession is Podologe or Podologin, and you need authorisation to use the professional title from the authority in your federal state, plus German at B2. In the Netherlands, podotherapeut is one of the professions listed in the BIG Act with a protected training title (an article 34 profession). It is not on the BIG register, but a diploma from outside Europe must still be recognised through a Certificate of Professional Competence, with Dutch at B2.

The USA works on a different model. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says podiatrists need a DPM from an accredited college of podiatric medicine and a three-year residency, and every state requires a licence. The licensing exam, the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE), is run by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners. California, for example, accepts only graduates of nine approved US colleges of podiatric medicine. We found no credentials evaluation or equivalence route for a foreign podiatry degree, so an internationally trained podiatrist who wants to practise in the USA would normally have to complete a US DPM.

This page is for podiatrists and chiropodists who trained outside these countries, including those working in the Gulf. The most common problem is scope: UK and Irish standards expect hands-on training in local anaesthesia, nail surgery and wound care, and podiatry degrees in some countries do not include them. Check this before you pay any fee.

Qualifications

Minimum

A podiatry or chiropody qualification that first allowed you to practise in the country where you trained, with course content and clinical hours your institution can document course by course. Podiatry Ireland describes Irish podiatrists as holding a 3 to 4 year BSc with at least 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical training.

Preferred

A degree that covers lower limb assessment (neurological, vascular, biomechanical and dermatological), local anaesthesia, nail and skin surgery, debridement, orthoses, diabetes and wound care, and the use of prescription-only medicines, as the HCPC standards of proficiency require.

Experience

No country here sets a fixed minimum. The HCPC and CORU use your experience to decide whether it makes up for gaps in your degree, and Germany takes professional experience into account in its equivalence assessment. CORU accepts two years of practice in a country where English is the sole official language, in the past five years, as an English exemption.

Country by country

United Kingdom: HCPC

Chiropodist or podiatrist (both protected titles)

Requirements
Apply through the HCPC international route with a course information form completed by your university, a standards of proficiency mapping document, an experience section, certified documents and references from supervisors on official work email addresses.
Exams
No licensing exam. Two podiatry assessors decide on paper and may offer a test of competence, a structured professional discussion usually held online, which must be completed within 12 months.
English
IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5, TOEFL iBT at the HCPC scores, or OET Podiatry with 1400 overall and no element below 300, no more than two years old. Qualifications from listed English-speaking countries are exempt.
Timeline
The HCPC says assessment takes about three months from a complete application and verification about three months more after acceptance. High volumes can mean longer waits.
Good to know
Fees: £678.38 non-refundable scrutiny fee, then £370.02 registration for most international applicants, covering three professional years. Prescribing and medicines annotations are separate entries on the Register.
Podiatrists in the United Kingdom: full guide
About the HCPCWorking in the United Kingdom

Ireland: CORU

Podiatrist or chiropodist (registered with CORU)

Requirements
Apply to CORU for recognition of your international qualification. If CORU finds substantial differences from the Irish standards of proficiency, it sets a compensation measure. Once recognised, you apply for registration with the Podiatrists Registration Board.
Exams
No national exam. A compensation measure may be an adaptation period of supervised practice in Ireland or an aptitude test.
English
OET Podiatry with grade B in three components and at least C+ (300) in one, IELTS Academic 7.0 with no element below 6.5, or Cambridge C1 at grade C. Certificates must be within two years of applying.
Timeline
CORU says recognition can take up to four months from the file being deemed complete. A compensation measure adds time.
Good to know
Recognition fee €510. CORU's guidance notes (revised 2026) and applicant leaflets give €510; an older FAQ page still shows €410, so confirm the amount at payment. The register opened on 31 March 2021 and the grandparenting route closed on 31 March 2023. A registration fee also applies; check it with CORU.
Podiatrists in Ireland: full guide
About CORUWorking in Ireland

Germany: State recognition authority

Podologe or Podologin (authorisation to use the title)

Requirements
Apply to the competent authority in your federal state for authorisation to use the professional title. It compares your training with the German qualification, taking account of experience, and checks personal aptitude, medical fitness and German.
Exams
If your training is not equivalent, you complete a compensation measure: an adaptation period or a knowledge test.
Language
German, not English: level B2. You can provide the certificate later in the procedure.
Timeline
The authority confirms receipt within one month and should decide within four months of a complete file, though it may extend this.
Good to know
The Recognition Finder lists €25 to €430 for the procedure, plus translation and compensation measure costs. Documents must be in German, translated by sworn translators.
Working in Germany

Netherlands: BIG

Podotherapeut (protected training title, not on the BIG register)

Requirements
Podotherapeut is an article 34 profession under the BIG Act. With a diploma from outside Europe you apply through mijn.bigregister.nl for a Certificate of Professional Competence; the Committee for Foreign Healthcare Graduates (CBGV) advises on article 34 professions and may require additional training. There is no BIG registration afterwards.
Exams
No BI-test; the BIG register lists it only for doctors, dentists and nurses. The committee may advise additional training of three months to two years.
Language
Dutch at B2 (the level for higher vocational professions) through the NT2 State Examination, and English reading at B1. Certificates must be less than two years old.
Timeline
The BIG register says six to 18 months on average. For professions without a BI-test you receive an intended decision within six weeks of the file reaching the committee.
Good to know
The BIG register says there are no costs for the certificate application and committee assessment. Voluntary registration is with the Nederlandse Vereniging van Podotherapeuten.
About the BIG registerWorking in the Netherlands

United States: NBPME and state boards

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), licensed by each state

Requirements
A DPM from an accredited US college of podiatric medicine and residency training. California, for example, accepts only graduates of nine approved US colleges and requires CPME-approved residency. We found no route for a foreign podiatry degree.
Exams
The APMLE, run by NBPME, in parts. California requires Parts I, II and III for a permanent licence, and Part III is offered in May and December.
English
Not applicable: there is no route for internationally trained podiatrists without a US DPM.
Timeline
A US DPM programme followed by a three-year residency, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes.
Good to know
Podiatrists in the USA are doctors of podiatric medicine who also perform surgery, so the role is broader than in the UK or Ireland. Check any state's rules with its board.
Working in the United States

The route, step by step

  1. 1. Check your training against the standards

    Read the HCPC or CORU standards of proficiency for podiatrists and compare them with your transcript. Look for local anaesthesia, nail surgery, debridement, orthoses, diabetes and vascular assessment, and prescription-only medicines. Missing practical areas are the most common reason for extra questions or compensation measures.

  2. 2. Ask your university for detailed course information

    The HCPC needs its course information form completed, stamped and signed by your university, with theory and practical hours for each course. CORU, Germany and the Netherlands also need detailed transcripts and syllabuses. Start this first, because universities can be slow.

  3. 3. Pass the language test

    The UK and Ireland accept IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5, or OET Podiatry at their set grades. Germany needs German at B2, and the Netherlands Dutch at B2 plus English reading at B1. Results usually expire after two years.

  4. 4. Collect references and good standing letters

    The HCPC needs referees who supervised you, on official work email addresses. Every regulator wants proof of good standing, and Germany wants certificates no more than three months old. Ask each Gulf or home regulator you have been licensed with.

  5. 5. Submit the application and pay the fee

    Apply to the HCPC (£678.38 scrutiny fee), CORU (€510 for recognition), the German state authority, or the Dutch BIG register for a Certificate of Professional Competence. Submit only a complete file, because missing items pause processing.

  6. 6. Complete any test or compensation measure

    You may be offered an HCPC test of competence, a CORU adaptation period or aptitude test, a German adaptation period or knowledge test, or Dutch additional training. Prepare around the specific gaps listed in your decision letter.

  7. 7. Register and start work

    Pay the registration fee and wait for your registration number or authorisation before using the title. Employers often interview while your application is in progress, but you cannot practise as a podiatrist until registered.

  8. 8. Sort out your visa

    In the UK, podiatrists (occupation code 2256) are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa with a licensed NHS or NHS-supplier sponsor. Check the official immigration site of each country before you resign from your current job.

Exam preparation

None of the four countries with a route for internationally trained podiatrists uses a written licensing exam. Assessments come after a paper review: the HCPC test of competence, CORU's aptitude test, Germany's knowledge test, or the Dutch committee's advice on additional training. Each one targets the gaps found in your application, so your decision letter is your syllabus. The US APMLE is open only to students and graduates of US podiatric medical education, so it is not part of an international route.

Tips

  • For an HCPC test of competence, prepare to discuss your own cases against UK practice and the standards of proficiency. It is a structured professional discussion, not a practical exam.
  • Be ready to explain how you use local anaesthetic safely, including dose limits, contraindications and managing adverse reactions.
  • Revise high-risk foot care: diabetic foot screening, vascular and neurological assessment, ulcer management and when to refer urgently.
  • Learn how prescription-only medicines are supplied and administered by podiatrists in the country you are moving to, as the legal framework differs from the Gulf.
  • Read your CORU or German decision letter closely. Compensation measures address only the substantial differences it lists.
  • Learn the consent, record-keeping and safeguarding rules of the new country. Assessors often ask about them.
  • Plan around deadlines: the HCPC test of competence must be completed within 12 months of the offer.
  • For Germany and the Netherlands, practise clinical vocabulary in German or Dutch, because any knowledge test or training is held in that language.

Topics that come up

  • Lower limb anatomy, biomechanics and gait analysis
  • Neurological and vascular assessment of the foot
  • Diabetic foot care and ulcer management
  • Local anaesthesia and nail surgery
  • Debridement of intact and ulcerated skin
  • Dermatological and nail disorders
  • Orthoses prescription and manufacture
  • Prescription-only medicines and pharmacology
  • Musculoskeletal and sports injuries
  • Paediatric podiatry
  • Infection control and sterilisation
  • Law, ethics, consent and professional standards

Pay by country

Public sector podiatrists in the UK and Ireland are paid on national scales, shown with their effective dates. Private clinics set their own pay everywhere. For Germany and the Netherlands we could not confirm a national figure from an official source. The US figure is for licensed DPMs, a route not open to internationally trained podiatrists without US training.

  • UK£32,073 to £39,043 (Band 5), £39,959 to £48,117 (Band 6), 2026/27NHS Agenda for Change in England from 1 April 2026. NHS Health Careers says new podiatrists typically start at Band 5.
  • Ireland€45,514 to €65,068 (HSE Chiropodist/Podiatrist, from 1 June 2026)HSE consolidated pay scales. Senior €65,197 to €76,767; Clinical Specialist €72,119 to €83,689. The HSE also has a Podiatry Adaptation grade at €39,590.
  • GermanySet by collective agreement or employerMany Podologen work in private practices. We could not confirm current figures from an official source.
  • NetherlandsSet by collective agreement (CAO) or employerWe could not confirm current figures from an official source.
  • USA$160,300 median annual wage (May 2025)US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for licensed podiatrists with a US DPM.

See your NHS band and annual pay

Career growth

Once registered, podiatrists can specialise, take on extended practice such as prescribing, move into surgery in the UK, or lead services. The UK and Irish public scales set out the main clinical grades.

  1. Specialist clinical roles

    NHS Health Careers lists specialisation in sports injuries, diabetes care and paediatrics. In the NHS this usually means Band 6 and Band 7 posts; in the HSE, Senior and Clinical Specialist grades.

  2. Medicines and prescribing

    The HCPC records annotations for podiatrists who can administer or sell and supply prescription-only medicines, and for supplementary and independent prescribers. Prescribing needs further approved training.

  3. Podiatric surgery

    The UK has a podiatric surgery annotation on the HCPC Register, and NHS Health Careers mentions advanced training to become a podiatric surgeon. This is a long postgraduate pathway.

  4. Management and leadership

    Lead a service as a podiatry manager. The HSE has Chiropodist/Podiatrist Manager grades, and NHS service leads are usually Band 8a or above.

  5. Private practice, teaching and research

    Many podiatrists run or join private clinics. Universities employ podiatrists to teach and research, usually with a master's or doctorate.

Common mistakes

  1. 1

    Applying with training that lacks local anaesthesia, nail surgery or wound debridement. The HCPC standards expect all three, and gaps lead to extra questions, tests or refusal.

  2. 2

    Assuming a US route exists. US licensure requires a US DPM, so do not pay for a credentials evaluation expecting it to lead to a podiatry licence.

  3. 3

    Leaving the HCPC course information form to the end. Your university must complete, stamp and sign it with hours for each course.

  4. 4

    Using referees without official work email addresses. The HCPC does not accept personal addresses such as Gmail or Hotmail.

  5. 5

    Taking the wrong OET. Only OET Podiatry counts for podiatrists with the HCPC and CORU.

  6. 6

    Assuming the Gulf counts as an English-speaking country. It is not on the HCPC exemption list, and CORU's exemption needs practice where English is the sole official language.

  7. 7

    Expecting BIG registration in the Netherlands. Podotherapeut is an article 34 profession; you need a Certificate of Professional Competence, not a BIG number.

  8. 8

    Underestimating German or Dutch. Germany needs B2 German and the Netherlands B2 Dutch through the NT2 State Examination.

How we help podiatrists

  • Review of your qualifications, transcripts, experience and current registration

  • Check against the published requirements of the regulators you choose

  • Check of how recent your practice is and whether any gap in practice affects your route

  • English or other language requirement for each route, with any exemption you may qualify for

  • Comparison of routes and countries, with the trade-offs explained

  • List of the exams, aptitude tests or adaptation periods each route is likely to involve

  • Written roadmap: exams, English test, documents, fees and timeline

  • Budget built from the official regulator, exam and verification fees, kept separate from our own fee

  • Flags for slow steps to start first, such as primary source verification and language learning

  • A call to walk you through the plan and answer your questions

What our eligibility assessment includesPackages and fees

Questions

Yes, once registered with the HCPC through its international route. Chiropodist and podiatrist are protected titles. Two podiatry assessors review your training and experience on paper, and there is no written exam.

No licensing exam. If the HCPC assessors need more information, they may offer a test of competence, which is a structured professional discussion, usually online, completed within 12 months.

Yes. The HCPC accepts OET Podiatry with 1400 overall and no element below 300. CORU accepts OET Podiatry with grade B in three components and at least C+ (300) in one.

Yes. CORU opened the Register of Podiatrists on 31 March 2021, and the grandparenting route ended on 31 March 2023. International applicants apply for recognition first (€510, confirmed at payment), then for registration.

The scrutiny fee is £678.38 and is non-refundable. If accepted, most international applicants pay £370.02 to register, covering three professional years.

Yes, once your state authority grants authorisation to use the title Podologe or Podologin. You need German at B2, and if your training differs substantially you complete an adaptation period or knowledge test.

No. Podotherapeut is an article 34 profession with a protected training title, not a BIG-registered profession. With a diploma from outside Europe you still need a Certificate of Professional Competence before you can use the title.

Not with a foreign podiatry degree. US licensure requires a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from an accredited US college, residency training and the APMLE. California, for example, lists nine approved US colleges only.

The American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination, run by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners. It is taken in parts during and after US podiatric medical education, and state boards use it to license DPMs.

NHS Health Careers says new podiatrists typically start on Band 5, which is £32,073 to £39,043 in England in 2026/27. Experienced podiatrists may be appointed to Band 6 depending on the post.

No. In every country here you go through the international route. Gulf experience can help fill gaps in your training, and you need a good standing letter from each Gulf regulator you have been licensed with.

Yes. GOV.UK lists podiatrists (code 2256) as eligible, with a job offer from the NHS, an NHS supplier or adult social care, and a certificate of sponsorship.

Sources

  1. 1CORU: Guidance notes for international qualification applicants (revised 2026)
  2. 2HCPC: The professions we regulate
  3. 3HCPC: International applications
  4. 4HCPC: Certificate of English language proficiency
  5. 5HCPC: Paying your scrutiny fee
  6. 6HCPC: Registration fees for applicants
Show all 26 sources
  1. 7HCPC: Standards of proficiency for chiropodists and podiatrists
  2. 8HCPC: Test of competence
  3. 9NHS Health Careers: Podiatrist
  4. 10NHS Employers: Pay scales for 2026/27
  5. 11GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, your job
  6. 12CORU: Apply for registration as a podiatrist
  7. 13CORU: International qualifications FAQs
  8. 14CORU: Compensation measures
  9. 15CORU: Language requirements
  10. 16HSE: Consolidated pay scales, 1 June 2026 (PDF)
  11. 17Podiatry Ireland: Become a podiatrist
  12. 18Recognition in Germany: Recognition Finder, podiatrist (Berlin, third-country qualification)
  13. 19BIG register: Other professions
  14. 20BIG register: CBGV (in Dutch)
  15. 21BIG register: Certificate of Professional Competence
  16. 22BIG register: Dutch language skills
  17. 23BIG register: Processing time and costs
  18. 24BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Podiatrists
  19. 25NBPME: About the APMLE
  20. 26Podiatric Medical Board of California: Summary of licensing requirements (PDF)

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