SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE

Learn more about the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.

About the Program

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM) offers coursework and clinical programs leading to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree in four years. The DPM curriculum fully prepares students for post-graduate residency training.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 6 years

Campus Location: Center City

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time study is required.

Interdisciplinary Study: In collaboration with the College of Public Health at Temple University, TUSPM offers a joint program that leads to the Master of Public Health and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degrees. Earned full time in the midst of podiatric studies, the MPH helps students understand the social and environmental factors that influence healthcare and patient experiences. These affiliated degree programs allow students to earn two advanced degrees in five years.

Job Prospects: Graduates of the program have excellent prospects at employment in the podiatric medicine field.

Licensure/Certification: Podiatric physicians are licensed in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to treat the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg by medical, surgical or other means.

Students enrolled in any of the nine colleges of podiatric medicine are required to pass Parts I and II of the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE) before beginning residency training. Part I covers basic science areas and is generally taken at the conclusion of the second year. Part II has two components: (a) a written exam that covers clinical areas such as Anesthesia and Surgery; Community Health, Jurisprudence and Research; Medicine; Orthopedics, Biomechanics and Sports Medicine; and Radiology; and (b) the Clinical Skills Patient Encounter (CSPE) portion that assesses proficiency in podiatric clinical tasks. Part III of the APMLE is taken during residency. The APMLE is overseen by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME). To learn more about the exam, visit https://www.apmle.com/.

State licensing requirements generally include graduation from an accredited school or college of podiatric medicine, passage of the National Board exams, and postgraduate training. Podiatric physicians may also become certified in one or both specialty areas: (a) primary care and orthopedics, and/or (b) surgery. National podiatric specialty boards grant certification to qualified podiatrists who have completed the specified educational requirements and who successfully complete written and oral examinations. For more information, see https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Coursework may not be taken on a non-matriculated basis.

Financing Opportunities: Partial scholarships, student loans and work study funds are available.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall Admission Only: 

  • April 1 - Priority Deadline for First-Year and International Applicants
  • May 1 - Deadline for Transfer and Advanced Standing Applicants
  • June 30 - Rolling Deadline for First-Year and International Applicants

Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year. Early application is encouraged.

APPLY ONLINE to this professional program.

Applicants for the Podiatric Medicine DPM must utilize the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS), which is a centralized application service for all nine U.S. schools and colleges of podiatric medicine. The AACPMAS application must be completed at https://aacpmas.liaisoncas.com/.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 1-3

From Whom: For first-year applicants, letters of academic evaluation are required from an advisor and premedical advisory committee. Alternately, two letters are needed from science faculty and a letter from a podiatric physician. For transfer applicants, a letter of good standing is required from the dean of the applicant’s current medical college. TUSPM participates in Interfolio and VirtualEvals.

Degree Required for Admission Consideration: Most incoming students have at least a bachelor's degree. The minimum requirement is 90 credits of undergraduate education completed at an accredited college or university, including these prerequisite courses:

  • Biology or Zoology: 8 credits, including laboratory. Additional courses in Anatomy, Cell Biology, Embryology, Evolution, Genetics, Histology, Microbiology and Physiology are recommended but not required.
  • General/Inorganic Chemistry: 8 credits, including laboratory
  • Organic Chemistry: 8 credits, including laboratory. An additional course in Biochemistry is recommended but not required.
  • Physics: 8 credits, including laboratory
  • English: 6 credits
  • An additional 52 credits

Standardized Test Scores:
MCAT or DAT: A minimum score is not fixed as candidates are evaluated on their entire academic portfolio, but the reported test score must be respectable. The test must have been taken no more than three years prior to the beginning of the application cycle.

Interview: A personal interview is required for all students under consideration by the Admissions Committee. Applicants take part in an interview day that consists of a tour of the TUSPM campus, lunch with current students, and interviews conducted by faculty members and admissions personnel.

Transfer Credit: Students transferring from other podiatric medical schools should expect to lose a year because of differences in curriculum. Podiatric-specific courses at TUSPM begin with the first-year curriculum.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required: 196.15

Required Courses:

Year 1
PBMS P100Histology6.25
PBMS P102General Anatomy7
PBMS P103Lower Extremity Anatomy7.7
PBMS P104Neurophysiology2.5
PBMS P105Neuroanatomy2
PBMS P109Biomechanics2
PBMS P110Biochemistry6
PBMS P111Physiology5
PBMS P120Microbiology6.8
PDMD P130Fundmntl of Podiatric Pract I3.5
PDOR P142Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation2
Year 2
PBMS P210Pharmacology5.25
PBMS P221Pathology9
PBMS P222Pathophysiology3
PDMD P200Fundmntl of Podiatric Pract II2.7
PDMD P215Internal Medicine3
PDMD P230Fundamentals of Dermatology2.2
PDMD P236Foot and Ankle Radiology2.6
PDMD P237Vascular Disease2
PDMD P239Infectious Disease1
PDMD P336Neurology1.6
PDOR P240Pathomechanics2
PDOR P241Casting1
PDOR P243Clinic Foot Orthopedics1.8
PDOR P248Sports Medicine2
PDSR P250Principles of Podiatric Surgery I2.8
PDSR P252Principles of Podiatric Surgery II2.5
PDSR P253O R Protocol1
PDSR P257Podiatric Surgical Skills2.4
Year 3
PCED P381Intro Clerkship Clinical Pod I13.5
PCED P384Clerkship Clinical Podiatry I4.5
PCED P385Clerkship Clinical Podiatry II4.5
PCED P386Clerkship Clinical Podiatry III4.5
PCHA P360Community Health2
PCHA P361Law & Podiatric Medicine1.8
PCHA P362Professional Administration and Development2
PDOR P340General Orthopedics2
PDOR P342Pediatric Foot Orthopedics1.8
PDOR P346Traumatology1.75
PDSR P352Princ First Ray Surgery2.6
PDSR P353Reconstruct Surgery Foot & Leg2.6
Select one from the following:4.5
Medical Elective
Clerkship Internal Medicine
Select one from the following:4.5
Clerkship Clinical Neurology
Clerkship Periph Vascular Dis
Clerkship Internal Medicine (may be taken twice for credit)
Clerkship Infectious Disease
Clrkshp Gen Orthopedics
Year 4
PCED P431Clerkship Clinical Podiatry IV4.5
PCED P432Clerkship Clinical Podiatry V4.5
PCED P440Community Clerkship4.5
PCED P441External Podiatric Clerkship I4.5
PCED P442External Podiatric Clerkship II4.5
PCED P443External Podiatric Clerkship III4.5
PCED P444External Podiatric Clerkship IV4.5
PCED P446External Podiatric Clerkship V4.5
Select one from the following:4.5
External Podiatric Clerkship III
External Podiatric Clerkship VI
Select one from the following:4.5
Clerkship in General Orthopedics (cannot be taken in addition to PDOR P341)
Clerkship Clinical Neurology (cannot be taken in addition to PDMD P331)
Clerkship Clinical Neurology (may be taken after PDMD P334 and/or PCED P387, and must be selected if PDMD P334 or PCED P387 has not already been completed)
Clerkship Infectious Disease (cannot be taken in addition to PDMD P338)
Clerkship in Peripheral Vascular Disease (cannot be taken in addition to PDMD P332)
Total Credit Hours196.15

Contacts

Submission Address for Application Materials:

https://aacpmas.liaisoncas.com/

Mailing Address for Application Materials:

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine

Office of Admissions

148 N. 8th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine

tuspmadm@temple.edu

215-625-5451

Financial Aid:

TUSPM Office of Student Financial Services

215-625-5447