Podiatry vs Chiropody: Is There a Difference in the UK?
In the UK there is no difference in the profession. Chiropody is the older name and podiatry is the modern one, and both titles describe the same regulated foot-health professional. If you are choosing between a podiatrist and a chiropodist, what matters is not the title on the door but whether the person is registered, what they are trained to treat and whether they can look at the whole lower limb, not just the foot. At Parks Therapy Centre, podiatry sits alongside physiotherapy, sports injury treatment, acupuncture and Pilates, so a foot problem can be looked at together with the knee, hip or back above it.
TL;DR
Podiatrist and chiropodist are two protected titles for one profession, regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
New entrants train as podiatrists only. Chiropody survives as an older name, not as a separate, lesser or more basic qualification.
Podiatrists treat everything from corns and nails to sports injuries, heel pain, wounds and, for some, minor surgery.
Check any practitioner on the HCPC register by surname or registration number before you book.
Heel, arch or ankle pain that keeps returning is often better assessed with a multidisciplinary team that can also look at knees, hips and training load.
Table of Contents
Podiatry and chiropody: the short history
The two words cover the same job. The Royal College of Podiatry explains that the profession was once known as chiropody, until the qualification changed from a diploma in chiropody to an Honours degree in Podiatric Medicine, and it states that there is no difference between the services the two titles describe.
You will still see “chiropodist” on shop fronts, in older NHS leaflets and in the way many people over 50 describe a foot appointment. Nothing about that wording signals a different level of training. If anything, it signals a practice that has been around for a long time and kept the name patients recognise.
The law treats the two words identically. The HCPC lists “Chiropodist” and “Podiatrist” as the two protected titles for one regulated profession, defined as diagnosing and treating disorders, diseases and deformities of the feet. To use either title, a person must be on the HCPC Register, and someone who misuses a protected title is breaking the law and may be prosecuted.
The same registration page also says that the term “state registered” is now redundant and should no longer be used. If a practitioner’s website still leans on it, the register is the place to confirm their current status.
Why some pages claim podiatrists are “more qualified”
Some clinic pages describe chiropodists as focused on routine care and podiatrists as the ones who handle complex problems. That is a marketing distinction, not a legal one. The government’s Regulated Professions Register lists one profession, “Chiropodist/Podiatrist”, with the HCPC as its UK regulator and both titles protected.
What does differ is each individual’s experience and extra qualifications. One registrant may spend most of their week on nail and skin care, another on biomechanics and sports injuries, another on wounds or surgery. That is why the useful question is “what is this person trained and experienced in?”, not “which title do they use?”.
What a podiatrist does
NHS England describes podiatrists as professionals who assess, diagnose and treat foot and lower-limb conditions, from routine nail care and hard-skin removal to complex wounds, orthotics and biomechanical interventions. They work in community clinics and in settings such as diabetic foot clinics, musculoskeletal services, surgical theatres, wound care units and rheumatology services.
The Royal College of Podiatry sets out the scope of practice in more detail:
General foot health: nails, corns, calluses and skin.
Musculoskeletal podiatry: joint pain, sports injuries, walking analysis and rehabilitation.
Minor surgery under local anaesthetic, including ingrown toenail removal.
Vascular podiatry, skin conditions, wound care and high-risk limb care.
All of this is described on the College’s page making sense of podiatry for the public.
What happens at a first appointment
Arthritis UK says that at a first appointment a podiatrist will assess your feet, note any current treatment and agree a treatment plan with you. For people with arthritis, they can help with corns, calluses and troublesome nails, advise on special shoes or insoles for foot deformities and, in some cases, perform minor surgery. The charity sets this out on its page about seeing a podiatrist.
A good assessment usually involves a conversation about when the pain started, what you do on your feet all day, what you wear and what you have already tried. It then moves to looking at the skin and nails, how the joints move and how you stand and walk.
Do podiatrists cut toenails?
Yes, private podiatrists commonly cut and tidy toenails, particularly when thickened, painful, ingrowing or hard to reach. NHS services are different. Some NHS podiatry departments treat medical conditions of the foot and nail but treat everyday nail cutting as personal care. Oxfordshire’s NHS podiatry service says it does not offer a regular nail cutting service, and Bradford’s NHS podiatry team says the same, adding that the majority of private podiatrists will cut toenails for a fee.
So if you cannot reach your feet, have thick nails or have pain when you walk, a private podiatry appointment is a practical route. Local NHS eligibility varies, so your GP or local NHS podiatry service can tell you what is available where you live.
Podiatry is not just about nails
The image many people have of a podiatrist is nail clipping and corn removal. That is part of the job, and our guide to corn removal and podiatry options covers it. But the lower limb works as a chain: foot, ankle, knee, hip and back. A problem at one point often shows up at another.
Common reasons people see a podiatrist include:
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendon pain
Arch and forefoot pain
Ankle instability after a sprain
Pain in the foot or leg when running or playing sport
Corns, calluses and thickened or ingrowing nails
We explain how this works in our articles on podiatry and foot and lower-limb pain, podiatry for sports injuries and podiatry in injury prevention.
Foot pain and the rest of the body
If your heel hurts after you started running, the cause may sit in the foot, but it may also involve calf strength, hip control or a sudden jump in mileage. A podiatrist can look at footwear, foot mechanics and insoles. A physiotherapist can look at strength, movement patterns and loading. When both sit in the same centre, the plan does not have to be built from two separate sets of notes.
This is the case for choosing a multidisciplinary centre for stubborn foot, ankle and leg problems. It does not replace the specialist: it puts the specialists in one place.
How to check a podiatrist or chiropodist is registered
Because both titles are protected, checking takes a minute and settles the question of whether the person is legally allowed to use them.
Go to the HCPC’s online register.
Choose the profession: chiropodist/podiatrist.
Enter the person’s surname, or their registration number.
Read the result.
The HCPC explains that you need the profession and either a surname or registration number. A registration number has up to six digits and starts with the profession code, “CH” for chiropodists and podiatrists. Results show the person’s name, registration status, registration number, approximate area and any additional entitlements. Cautions or conditions of practice are also displayed.
Extra entitlements you might see
Some registrants hold annotations on the register. The HCPC lists those for this profession as independent prescribing, supplementary prescribing, podiatric surgery, and administration or sale and supply of prescription-only medicines, in its guidance on registration. You do not need any of them for routine care, but they are relevant if your problem needs medication or surgery.
What registration guarantees
Registered podiatrists must keep their skills up to date. NHS England notes that continuing professional development is a compulsory requirement for all HCPC-registered podiatrists, and that they follow clinical practice guidelines. The HCPC’s revised standards of conduct, performance and ethics have applied since 1 September 2024. They require registrants to work within the limits of their knowledge and skills, manage risk, be open when things go wrong and keep records. Revised standards of proficiency for the profession have applied since 1 September 2023.
How people qualify
New UK podiatrists qualify through an approved degree. The Regulated Professions Register lists the routes as BSc (Hons) Podiatry, Master of Podiatry (MPod), BSc (Hons) Podiatric Medicine and a BSc (Hons) Podiatry apprenticeship, with approved programmes listed on the HCPC website, as set out on the register. That is why a newly trained practitioner calls themselves a podiatrist: there is no separate chiropody course to take.
Podiatry or physiotherapy for foot and leg pain?
The two professions overlap, which is part of the confusion. A simple guide:
Your problem | Often a good starting point |
Corns, calluses, thick or ingrowing nails | Podiatry |
Heel pain with a change in footwear or activity | Podiatry, with physiotherapy if loading is an issue |
Achilles pain, tendon pain, shin pain | Physiotherapy, with podiatry for foot mechanics |
Knee, hip or back pain that may relate to how you walk | Physiotherapy, with podiatry for gait and insoles |
Recurring ankle sprains | Physiotherapy for strength and balance, podiatry for foot support |
Ongoing pain you cannot place | A joint assessment so the right treatment is chosen |
If you are not sure, book the assessment that fits the pain you feel most and let the clinician decide whether a second discipline should join in. Our guide to preparing for a first physiotherapy appointment lists what to bring and what to expect.
Common questions behind the search
“Is chiropody the same as chiropractic?”
No. Chiropody is the older name for podiatry and concerns the feet and lower limbs. Chiropractic is a separate profession.
“Which is better, a podiatrist or a chiropodist?”
Neither. They are the same profession, so quality depends on the individual: their registration, their experience with your type of problem and how they explain the plan to you.
“Can I see a podiatrist without a GP referral?”
For private care, yes. Arthritis UK notes that a GP or hospital consultant may refer you, but many NHS services accept self-referral, and that anyone self-referring should check the podiatrist is on the HCPC register.
Seeing a podiatrist if you trained overseas or are checking a new arrival
Occasionally patients ask whether a practitioner who trained abroad can use the title. The answer is the same: they must be registered first. NHS Employers states that overseas-qualified allied health professionals must register with the HCPC before practising under a protected title in the UK. The register remains the check that counts.
Where Parks Therapy Centre fits
We have treated patients in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire since 1986, from centres that include Biggleswade, St Neots, Bedford and Milton Keynes. Our team covers physiotherapy, sports injury treatment, acupuncture, podiatry, Pilates, shockwave therapy and more, so foot, ankle and leg problems can be assessed alongside the joints and muscles around them. We accept all major health insurance plans, and we can arrange diagnostic imaging referrals when a scan is needed.
Our published prices at the time of writing include a physiotherapy assessment at £76 and physiotherapy treatment at £67. Shockwave therapy, often used for heel and tendon problems, starts with an assessment at £60, and treatment sessions are £60 for 20 minutes or £70 for 30 minutes. Our image assessment is £76 and an image referral letter is £10. The full list is on our prices page.
If your foot or leg pain is ongoing, the quickest way to find out which treatment suits you is to book an assessment.
Our view on choosing between the two titles
We hear the podiatry or chiropody question often, and our answer is always the same: do not let a title decide. What should decide is whether the person is registered, whether they have time to listen, and whether they look beyond the sore spot. Foot pain is rarely only about the foot. A heel that hurts on the morning run may involve a calf that has tightened, a hip that is not doing its share, or shoes that no longer support you. That is why we have built a multidisciplinary centre, with podiatry, physiotherapy, sports injury treatment, Pilates and acupuncture under one roof. You can see one clinician, and they can bring in another view without you starting again. Since 1986 we have worked with local people of all ages and activity levels, from those who just want to walk the dog comfortably to those training for races. We would encourage you to book when pain first starts to change what you do, not after months of working around it. Ivan
FAQ
Is a chiropodist the same as a podiatrist?
Yes. Chiropodist and podiatrist are two protected titles for one profession in the UK, regulated by the HCPC. The older name, chiropody, gave way to podiatry as the qualification became a degree.
What does a podiatrist do in the UK?
A podiatrist assesses, diagnoses and treats problems of the feet and lower limbs. That ranges from nails, corns and hard skin to heel pain, sports injuries, orthotics and wound care. Some registrants also carry out minor surgery under local anaesthetic.
How do I know my podiatrist is qualified?
Search the HCPC register using the profession (chiropodist/podiatrist) and the person’s surname or registration number. The result shows their registration status and any additional entitlements. Anyone using either title without being on the register is breaking the law.
Do podiatrists cut toenails?
Many private podiatrists do, especially for thick, painful or ingrowing nails. Some NHS podiatry services treat routine nail cutting as personal care and do not provide it, so availability depends on where you live.
Sources
Making sense of podiatry for the public, Royal College of Podiatry
Chiropodist/Podiatrist, Regulated Professions Register, GOV.UK
Standards of proficiency for chiropodists and podiatrists, HCPC
Recruitment of overseas allied health professionals, NHS Employers
Who will cut my nails?, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
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