Image of career: Podiatrist

Podiatrist

Overview

Podiatrists are foot and ankle specialists who diagnose, treat, and prevent lower limb problems to keep people walking, running, and staying active throughout their lives.

Description

  • Diagnose foot, ankle, and lower limb problems using physical exams, walking analysis, and medical imaging.
  • Treat serious conditions like diabetic foot ulcers, infections, and sports injuries.
  • Design custom shoe inserts (orthotics) to fix walking problems and reduce joint pain.
  • Educate high-risk patients on daily foot care to prevent serious complications.
  • Work with other doctors like surgeons and physiotherapists to create complete treatment plans for patients.

Entry requirements

  • You need a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Podiatry from a recognised overseas university as it’s not currently offered locally. You must also register with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC).

Salary

$3,600 – 6,700

/mo

Salary ranges are estimated based on public information found on Singaporean job portals, including MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFuture. Updated as of 2026.

Trivia

Podiatrists play a life-saving role in diabetic care as they detect hidden nerve damage and poor blood circulation before serious complications develop and require amputation.

What to expect

Develop good people skills as patients often have chronic pain or are self-conscious about their feet. Treating infections, open wounds, and foot deformities is also common.

Soft
skills

Compassion

Able to make anxious or embarrassed patients feel comfortable during examinations and treatments.

Clear Communication

Able to share about medical conditions and foot care advice clearly and well to all audiences.

Problem-Solving

Able to identify the cause of foot problems and adjust treatment plans to help patients heal.

Movement Analysis

Trained to study how patients walk or run to find the root cause of their pain and movement problems.

Wound Care Management

Trained to clean, treat, and dress serious foot wounds, especially diabetic ulcers, using specialised medical techniques.

Custom Orthotic Design

Trained to take precise 3D scans or casts of feet to create accurate, corrective shoe inserts that fix walking issues.

Hard
skills

Benjamin, Podiatrist
"When a healthy foot becomes high risk, a podiatrist will attempt to do all they can to manage it, making sure it doesn't deteriorate."

Benjamin, Podiatrist

MOH Holdings

Frequently asked questions

No, they're specialised allied health professionals. They’re the lower limb experts with thorough university training that’s focused on feet and ankles.

Not at all. They treat all ages, correcting children's walking patterns, treating ingrown nails, or using 3D scanning to help athletes perform better.

Diabetes causes nerve damage and poor blood flow to feet. Patients can't feel pain, so tiny blisters may become life-threatening infections. Podiatrists prevent amputations by treating wounds early.

Yes, especially biomechanics. They must understand how forces from walking travel through feet, ankles, and knees to properly diagnose pain and design corrective shoe inserts.

Currently no local universities offer podiatry degrees. Aspiring podiatrists usually study overseas in countries like Australia or UK before returning to register with Singapore's health council.