License Requirements for Podiatry

The practice of podiatry and use of the titles "podiatrist," or "chiropodist" within New York State requires licensure as a podiatrist.

To be licensed as a podiatrist in New York State you must:

• be of good moral character;
• be at least 21 years of age;
• meet education;
• meet examination requirements; and
• meet experience requirements.

You must file an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Title 8, Article 141, Section 7004 of New York State Education Law and Section 52.7 and Part 65 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

The fee for licensure and first registration is $377.

The fee for a limited permit is $105 and $50 for a renewal (the limited permit fee is not refundable).

The fee for a limited residency permit is $105 and $50 for each renewal (the limited permit fee is not refundable).

Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• If you apply for licensure electronically using the online Application for Licensure, you will be required to pay by credit card.
• Other payments must be made by personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail any required forms and fees to the indicated address on the form.

NOTE: Payment submitted from outside the United States should be made by check or draft on a United States bank and in United States currency; payments submitted in any other form will not be accepted and will be returned.

Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Podiatry Unit by e-mail at opunit1@nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 250 or by fax at 518-402-5354.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure fee and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.

To meet the education requirements for licensure as a podiatrist, you must present evidence of completing A, B and C below.

1. Preprofessional Education

   Satisfactory completion of 60 semester hours of college study from a New York State registered program or the equivalent as determined by the New York State Education Department. These 60 semester hours must include courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology or zoology, and physics.

2. Professional Education

   Received the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree upon the completion of a program in podiatric medicine registered by the Department as licensure qualifying or accredited by an accrediting organization acceptable to the Department, or a program determined by the Department to be equivalent. The educational program must consist of four years of study based upon the prerequisite education defined in Part A and must lead to the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, or its equivalent.

   Accredited Podiatry Schools and Residency Programs

   For information about accredited professional podiatric medicine programs and approved residency programs contact the Council on Podiatric Medical Education at:

   American Podiatric Medical Association
   9312 Old Georgetown Road
   Bethesda, MD 20814
   Phone 800-ASK-APMA (800-275-2762)
   Fax 301-530-2752
   Web www.apma.org/CPME/index.html

3. Additional Requirements
    
   • Child Abuse Identification Reporting

     You must complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse in accordance with Section 6507(3)(a) of the Education Law. See additional information and a list of approved providers for this training.

   • Infection Control and Barrier Precautions

     You must complete approved coursework or training appropriate to the professional's practice in infection control and barrier precautions, including engineering and work practice controls, to prevent the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis b virus (HBV) in the course of professional practice. See additional information and a list of approved providers for this training.

To meet the examination requirement for licensure as a podiatrist, you must successfully complete Parts I, II (both components for class 2015, 2017 etc.) and III.

The National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) offers the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exams (APMLE). These consists of four components: Part I, Part II written, Part II CSPE (EFF. 2016) and Part III.

American Podiatric Licensing Exam (APMLE) Parts I and II (written)

Prometric Inc. conducts Parts I and II written examinations.

Starting in 2016, Part II added a new component: Part II Clinical Skills Patient Encounter (CSPE). The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) conducts this examination.

**Beginning with the Class of 2015, excluding the Class of 2016, and continuing with the class of 2017, there are two components to the Part II examination: Part II written and Part II CSPE. Candidates must pass the Part II written examination and the Part II CSPE before the Part III examination can be taken. Additionally, candidates must meet certain eligibility requirements prior to taking each examination.

Exams are generally taken concurrently with study in a program of podiatric medicine. Part I is taken after the completion of a candidate's second year of study; Part II is taken near the completion of a candidate's final year of study.

For information regarding the American Podiatric Licensing Examinations, contact:

Prometric/NBPME
7941 Corporate Drive
Nottingham, MD 21236
Phone 877-302-8952
Website at www.prometric.com/nbpme

Your examination results should be sent directly by Prometric or NBPME to:

NYS Education Department
Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
Podiatry Unit
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000

Part III of the American Podiatric Licensing Exam

You do not have to be an applicant for a New York State license to apply for Part III of the American Podiatric Licensing Exam

Part III of the American Podiatric Licensing Exam is administered by Prometric, Inc.

For information regarding Part III of the American Podiatric Licensing Exam including application forms, test dates and filing deadlines, contact:

Prometric/NBPME
7941 Corporate Drive
Nottingham, MD 21236
Phone: 877-302-8952
Website: www.prometric.com/nbpme

Reasonable Testing Accommodations

If you have a disability and may require reasonable accommodations for Part III of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners examination, please follow the instructions for indicating your needs for accommodation(s) on the registration form supplied to you by the Chauncey Group International.

You must complete at least one year of supervised postgraduate hospital training in podiatry which is approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education or an equivalent organization acceptable to the Department. One year consists of a period of not less than 11 calendar months of full-time training or the equivalent, as determined by the Department. If you participate in a residency program in New York State, you must obtain a limited permit to practice while you are in the residency program.

Endorsement, often referred to as reciprocity, is not available in New York for the profession of podiatry. Applicants licensed in another jurisdiction or United States territory seeking licensure in New York must submit an Application for Licensure (Form 1), fee, Verification of Other Licensure/Certification (Form 3) and Certification of Professional Education (Form 2). Contact the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards to transfer the exam scores at:

Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards
6551 Malta Drive
Boynton Beach, FL, 33437
Phone 561-752-3735

Transferred exam scores will be reviewed by the Department to determine if satisfactory.

A limited permit allows an individual who has satisfied the education requirements for licensure as a podiatrist in this State to practice podiatry only under the supervision of a New York State licensed podiatrist and only in:

1. a hospital or health facility licensed pursuant to Article 28 of the Public Health Law; or
2. a clerkship conducted by a licensed podiatrist designated as a member of the faculty of an approved school of podiatry for purposes of a preceptorship program.

Limited permits are valid for one year and may be renewed for one additional year with the Department's approval.

The fee for an initial limited permit is $105; the fee for each renewal is $50.

If you are applying for licensure in this State, you may apply for a limited permit (Form 5A) at the same time or any time after you submit your Application for Licensure (Form 1), the $377 licensure and first registration fee, evidence of satisfactory education (Form 2), and demonstration of your compliance with the required coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse.

If you are not applying for licensure in this State, you may apply for your limited permit at any time by submitting the limited permit application (Form 5B), limited permit fee of $105, evidence of satisfactory education (Form 2), and demonstration of your compliance with the required coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse.

A limited permit cannot be issued until the Department has approved your education and you have demonstrated compliance with the required coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse. It is unlawful for the applicant to begin practice until the limited permit is issued.

If you change employment or supervisors after your limited permit is issued, you must apply for and obtain a new limited permit before continuing practice during that one-year period. An additional fee is not required.

A limited residency permit allows an individual who has satisfied the education requirements for licensure as a podiatrist in New York State to practice podiatry only in an approved post-graduate residency training program in podiatric medicine. A New York State licensed and currently registered podiatrist must supervise all practice under a limited residency permit. However, practice under this permit requires the direct personal supervision of an authorized and competent New York State licensed physician when procedures involve the practice beyond that authorized by Section 7001 of the Education Law.

Limited residency permits are valid for one year and may be renewed twice with Departmental approval.

The fee for an initial limited permit is $105; the fee for each renewal is $50.

If you are applying for licensure in this State, you may apply for a limited residency permit (Form 5C) at the same time or any time after your submit your Application for Licensure (Form 1), the $377 licensure and first registration fee, Certification of Professional Education (Form 2), and demonstration of your compliance with the required coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse.

If you are not applying for licensure or are already licensed in New York State, you may apply for your limited residency permit at any time by submitting the Application for Limited Residency Permit (Form 5D), the $105 limited residency permit fee, Certification of Professional Education (Form 2), and demonstration of your compliance with the required coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse.

Beginning July 1, 2011, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) will require that you pass both Parts I and II of the National Board examinations prior to beginning a post-graduate podiatric residency program. Therefore, if you are applying for the first time for a Limited Residency Permit (LRP), you will have to achieve passing scores on both examinations before you can be issued a permit. This requirement does not apply if you are already in a residency program.

A limited residency permit cannot be issued until the Department has approved your education and you have demonstrated compliance with the required coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse. It is unlawful for the applicant to begin practice in a residency program until the limited residency permit is issued.

If you change employment or supervisors after your limited residency permit is issued, you must apply for and obtain a new limited residency permit before continuing practice during that one-year period. An additional fee is not required.

Anyone who currently holds a limited permit may continue to train under that permit. Instead of applying for a renewal of the limited permit to complete a residency, you will need to apply for a limited residency permit. Also, if you are a New York State Licensed podiatrist who is training or will be training in a residency program, you MUST apply for a limited residency permit.