The apprenticeship route
What are apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are paid jobs that allow you to learn and work at the same time. Doing an apprenticeship means that you will be doing on-the-job training. When you’re not at work, you will be studying to complete a qualification.
You will be paid a salary and be part of a team, just like an employee.
Podiatry apprenticeships
There’s only one type of apprenticeship in podiatry – the Podiatry Degree Apprenticeship. Doing a podiatry degree apprenticeship is a fantastic way to get a career in the profession. It takes three years to complete full-time, just like a normal degree. You can complete it in four and a half years part-time. There are several benefits of taking this route:
- You can earn while you learn, spending 40% of your time in your workplace, and 60% at university
- No tuition fees to pay: they’re covered by your employer and the government, regardless of whether you do the apprenticeship full-time or part-time
- You don’t miss out on a university experience
- You take part in clinical placements
- You get to work with a wide range of patients and make a real difference
- The government contributes a maximum amount of £24,000 towards your apprenticeship training
- You can apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) after you qualify; the HCPC is the regulator for the profession and you need to be HCPC-registered to practise.
What are the entry requirements?
The entry requirements vary depending on the university you study at. However, typically you will need to have three good A-Levels, as well as GCSE in Maths and English. The entry requirements are comparable for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish systems too.
What qualification do I get when I complete a podiatry apprenticeship?
- You qualify with a BSc degree in Podiatry
How long does it take?
- It takes three years to complete full-time, just like a normal degree
- You can complete it in four and a half years part-time.
Where can I do a podiatry apprenticeship?
You can do your podiatry apprenticeship at the following universities:
It is hoped that many of the other podiatry schools in the UK will offer podiatry apprenticeships in the future.
How do I apply?
To apply for an apprenticeship, you must first be employed with a company willing to enrol you on the apprenticeship programme. This often means through the NHS, although some podiatry private practices also offer podiatry apprenticeships.
The government’s national apprenticeship website has more information on this. It also lists vacancies for apprentices.
The RCPod has also just started to list apprenticeship vacancies on its jobs board. It is worth checking this page for any opportunities.
Is there anything else I need to know?
As you will be a paid employee, you will not be eligible to take out a student loan. So it’s important to factor in that you will need to live on the salary you earn.