Podiatry school guide
How Long Is Podiatry School?
A clear, source-backed look at the DPM timeline, from your first year of classes to residency.
Quick answer
Podiatry school takes four years. Graduates earn the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and are then required to complete residency. The Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency (PMSR) is three years.
The path to becoming a podiatrist
- Step 1 · Before
College coursework
Each college of podiatric medicine sets its own admission requirements.
- Step 2 · 4 years
Podiatry school (DPM)
Two years of basic medical sciences, then two years of clinical sciences.
- Step 3 · 3 years
Residency (PMSR)
Required postgraduate training in medical and surgical management.
What each year of podiatry school looks like
Based on the AACPM description of the DPM curriculum. Exact courses vary by school.
Year 1
Basic medical sciences
Classroom and laboratory work in sciences such as anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, with some clinical exposure.
Year 2
Basic medical sciences
Continued sciences such as microbiology, pharmacology and pathology. Second-year students become eligible for APMLE Part I.
Year 3
Clinical sciences
Clinical courses and experience in college clinics, community clinics and accredited hospitals.
Year 4
Clinical sciences
Clinical training continues, including diagnosis, therapeutics, anesthesia and surgery. Second-semester fourth-years become eligible for APMLE Part II.
Common questions
How long is podiatry school?
The course of instruction leading to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree is four years in length.
Is residency required after podiatry school?
Yes. After the four-year DPM curriculum, new podiatric physicians are required to complete residency training.
How long is podiatry residency?
The Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency (PMSR) is three years of postgraduate training. CPME accredits it with or without the added Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery (RRA) credential.
When do students take the APMLE board exams?
Students first become eligible for Part I as second-year students, and for Part II as second-semester fourth-year students. Part III follows after passing Parts I and II.
Make the four years easier
DPM Prep turns podiatry school coursework into focused lessons, practice questions, an AI tutor and a study schedule, starting with Year 1.