Podiatric Medicine

Podiatrists are physicians who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lower extremity disorders, diseases and injuries. After taking the necessary undergraduate coursework, aspiring podiatrists spend four years in podiatry school and then at least two years in a residency program. 

In order to become a podiatrist, an individual must earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from an accredited program and pass the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exam, APMLE.

To qualify for admission to a podiatry program, students must take the necessary prerequisites for each school. A bachelor's degree is typically not required for admission, but is strongly recommended. 

Degrees and Coursework

Which major should I select at UNT for a pre-podiatry path?

Popular majors among pre-podiatry students at UNT include:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology, College of Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology, College of Science

Please note that Podiatry programs do not require a particular degree. If you choose a major outside of the sciences, we recommend taking extra courses in biology, in addition to all of the required prerequisites. 

For more information about each major, please visit the UNT Catalog and select and view a degree under  the 'majors, minors, certificates'.

What courses do I need for podiatry school?

Please refer to our Pre-Podiatry Packet for a list of Texas medical school prerequisites. To review prerequisites for medical programs outside of Texas, please refer to each individual school's website. 

Applying to Podiatry School

What makes a competitive application to podiatry school?

Admission to podiatry school is competitive and applicants should create a strategic plan well in advance. Below you will find characteristics of a competitive application. Please contact our advisors in the UNT Office of Health Professions to further explore each characteristic and to create your personalized pre-medical plan.

Recommendations for a Competitive Application:

  • Overall and Math/Science GPAs - 3.4+ overall / 3.3+ science (average admitted GPAs varies by school)
  • MCAT Score - 496+ (average admitted varies slightly by school)
  • Shadowing - 100+ Hours
  • Medical or Non-Medical Volunteering - 100+ Hours
  • Various Extracurricular Activities, On or Off Campus

Core Competencies for Healthcare

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) came up with a set of skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics that they believe are essential for future physicians called the pre-med core competencies. Because of its relevance to all healthcare professions, many other health professional schools have embraced the core competencies as well.  Since many, if not most, health professional schools evaluate applicants based on these competencies, we recommend that students develop proficiency in them.  More information on the AAMC Core Competencies can be found here.

Using this handout, your pre-health advisor can help you evaluate your progress on becoming a competitive applicant to medical school. 

How do I apply to podiatry school?

Podiatry schools in the United States use one online application service called AACPMAS (American Association of Podiatric Medicine Application Service).  The application cycle opens in August of each year, accepting applications for entering the program the following year.  Please note that there are fees associated with using this service.

When should I apply to podiatry school?

Students must apply to podiatry schools one year before entering a program. On the traditional four-year path, students will apply during the summer/fall after their junior year of college, complete their bachelor's degree at the end of their senior year, and enter podiatry school the following fall semester. However, every student’s journey is different and your UNT Health Professions Advisor is committed to helping create a plan and timeline that accommodates each student’s individual goals and circumstances.

Do podiatry schools require an entrance exam?

Yes, podiatry programs require the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) be taken before applying.  We strongly recommend that you not take the MCAT until after all prerequisites have been completed. Some schools also accept the DAT (Dental Admissions Test).  For more information about the MCAT, please visit the official webpage on AAMC.

Additional Resources for Students

Are there any pre-health scholarships available to pre-podiatry students?

Yes, pre-podiatry students can apply for the following pre-health scholarships using the College of Science general scholarship application. 

Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Scholarship
To be considered, a student must be a pre-medical student, should have completed 60 hours of pre-medical coursework, must demonstrate academic excellence, and have 1 year of Biology | Physics | Organic Chemistry credit. The scholarship is awarded for the following fall or spring semesters.


Dr. Leslie Parks Memorial Scholarship
To be considered, a student must be a pre-health student and should have completed 60 hours college coursework. 

The Dr. Charles D. and Vernil Mitchell Endowed Scholarship
To be considered, a student must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in any degree-granting major in the College of Science and be a graduate of any high school in Dallas ISD. 


For more information about any of these scholarships, please contact us at healthcareers@unt.edu. 

What are some additional resources for pre-podiatry students at UNT?

You can find a list of health-related student organizations at UNT here.  You can search for other student clubs and organizations on OrgSync.

If you are a current student, join our canvas course to receive important announcements and view resources related to your pre-medical journey. 

How can I get started with creating a pre-podiatry plan?

If you are a current student at UNT, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with one of our pre-health advisors using the following link: https://unt.navigate.eab.com/. If you are a prospective student, interested in enrolling at UNT in the future, and have any questions about "pre-medical" at UNT, please feel free to contact us at healthcareers@unt.edu.