The scope of practice for students defines what you can and cannot do safely and legally during your podiatry training.

What you can do as a student

Read about the scope of practice for podiatrists by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

Your scope of practice develops as you progress through your training. As a student, you can only carry out treatments and procedures that:

• you've been trained to do

• you've been assessed as competent to perform

• your supervisor has approved

• are appropriate for your level of training

The Practice-based Learning Framework for pre-registration podiatry learners outlines key learning statements that define your developing scope of practice, including:

• communicating effectively in all aspects of your role

• using systematic quality assurance approaches

• maintaining effective record-keeping

• engaging in reflective practice

• engaging in supervised contemporary podiatry practice

• providing supervised core clinical interventions

• maintaining a safe practice environment

• developing management plans

• using evidence-based podiatric care models

• implementing support strategies for patients

• promoting and engaging in others' learning

• participating in leadership activities

Your university course team will be able to tell you about:

• procedures at different stages of your training

• how your competency will be assessed and recorded

• how your supervision will work

What you cannot do

As a student podiatrist, you must not:

• work outside your current level of competence

• practice without appropriate supervision

• carry out procedures you haven't been trained for

• make clinical decisions independently

• present yourself as a qualified podiatrist

You will not be able to:

• diagnose conditions independently

• perform surgical procedures

• prescribe medication

• administer anesthesia or injections without supervision

• treat complex or high-risk cases alone

• practice without supervision

• make legal or ethical decisions for your patients

• advise on legal or ethical decisions

Your university course team will tell you about the consequences of you working outside of your scope of practice, but typically you will: 

• face disciplinary action by your university

• be liable for any claims brought against you

• face action from the HCPC, which could affect your ability to become registered

Getting support

Talk to your:

• clinical supervisor about specific procedures

• university tutor about your training progression

• placement mentor about day-to-day practice

• professional support officers at the Royal College of Podiatry by emailing professionalsupport@rcpod.org.uk

Find out more

You can read more about the scope of practice for podiatrists by the Health and Care Professions Council.