Podiatry assistant

You could do a college course to get into this job. Relevant subjects include:

• Level 2 Certificate in Work Preparation for Health and Social Care
• Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
• Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Most health and social care courses include work placements and this can be a good way of getting experience.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You'll need to do an advanced apprenticeship as a senior healthcare support worker, which has a training option for podiatry assistants.

When recruiting, employers may select apprentices who have experience as a support worker.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job. You could move into podiatry work through further training and promotion.

You'll find it useful to get some paid or unpaid voluntary experience in a healthcare setting or or a caring role with older people, or people with physical disabilities, or learning difficulties.

You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience from work like care or health-related roles.

Employers may ask for a qualification in a health-related subject, and experience of working with people.

You could be self-employed and provide routine foot care to the general public, rather than in the NHS.

You'll need to take a Diploma in Foot Health Practice. You would then register with The Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners and work as a foot health practitioner.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a podiatry assistant from The Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners and Health Careers.

You'll need:

• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• customer service skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to read English
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You may need a driving licence and access to your own transport for jobs that involve visiting clients in their own home.

As part of your day-to-day duties, you could:

• prepare patients for treatment by a podiatrist
• support a podiatrist during a procedure
• treat patients who have already been assessed by a podiatrist
• cut toe nails and applying dressings
• carry out general clerical tasks and make appointments
• provide advice on foot and nail care, particularly for patients with diabetes

You could work at a health centre, at a client's home, in an NHS or private hospital or at a GP practice.

You may need to wear a uniform.