Podiatrists receive specialized training from day one by completing four years of medical education at one of the nine colleges of podiatric medicine, and earn their DPM degree. They enroll in many of the same basic general anatomy courses as MDs and DOs as first-year students, while honing their specialized focus on lower extremities. Upon completion of podiatric medical school, podiatrists complete a three-year, hospital-based residency training program.

Within the profession, podiatric physicians can specialize in a variety of areas such as surgery, orthopedics, or public health. Besides these certified specialties, podiatrists may practice a subspecialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, or diabetic foot care. Podiatric physicians are the only doctors to receive specialized medical and surgical training, and board certification in the care of the lower extremity.