Foot Health

Ready to start a new career with a Foot Health Training Course?

If so, then your search is over. Training to become a Foot Health Practitioner, Podiatry Assistant or Nail Technician, (performing Pedicures or nail cutting) maybe the best move you will ever make. With an aging population in most western countries, the foot care industry is about to explode with retiring baby boomers and so now is your best chance to get on board.

In the UK there are three main educational bodies that offer foot health courses to students wanting to train as foot health professionals (FHP’s).

Best Footcare Course providers:

The Stonebridge College
SMAE Institute
College of Foot Health Practitioners (formerly the West Midlands School of Chiropody)
Open Study College
All offer foot training in two parts, a theory section and practical section. With the theory you learn in the comfort of your own home or distance learning as it is called with a dedicated tutor on hand to help and guide you. The practical part is done over one or two weeks at a training facility equipped. These Foot care courses give the student the confidence to perform basic foot care like removal of corns and calluses and the treatment of a variety of foot and nail conditions like fungal and wart infections.

The cost of these courses may seem slightly high from the outset, around £2,000 depending on the number of weeks of practical training. But when you compare this to the amount you can earn it is more than worth it.

Once you complete your foot care course, you will be qualified and registered to practice with that organisation and generally they will provide your insurance cover. However, you will not be able to use the title ‘Chiropodist’ or ‘Podiatrist’ as these are now legally protected titles.

Current Foot Care openings in the Footcare World

If you are looking for how the foot care industry exists in the UK in its present form, then listed below is the structure based on educational requirements (And this excludes one of the biggest sectors – Footwear):

Podiatrist/Chiropodist
Podiatry Assistant (Medical Pedicure in the USA)
Foot Health Practitioner
Nail Technician/Pedicurist (Medi Pedi’s in the USA)
Reflexologists
Podiatry is the professional end of foot health with invasive procedures like ingrown toenail and bunion removal with gait analysis to prescribe orthotics. Foot health courses for Podiatrists are normally full time tertiary university degrees although part time courses are available.

With a Podiatry assistant you need to complete around 500 hours of supervised practice (NHS or Private) with both oral and practical assessments.

Although at the lower end of the scale a good way into the foot health industry is to train as a nail technician or Pedicurist. They of ten form part of a beauty therapist course but can be done individually at some colleges. They are aimed at beautifying the foot, many people just find they need their nails cut, and so the income potential of a nail technician is not that different from that of a foot health practitioner.

Normally a FHP will base their business on a home visiting practice. However, this has many plus points with it like being your own boss, working and charging what you like as well as keeping cost down to a minimum.

What may surprise you the most, is that by completing one of these Foot Health Courses it will give you the ability to earn a staggering amount of money compared to the general 9-5 population and therefore give you the tools to transform your life for the better – if you set up your practice correctly.

If you would like to read more on becoming a Foot Health Professional and how it can lead to a great career, why not opt in to our Free newsletter here: Foot Health Courses

FootCareCourses.org provides information on a range of foot care issues including foot care courses and foot health problems. We also provide encouragement for those seeking to capitalize on the growing foot care industry by offering information on how to succeed with a foot care business and maximise your profit. We are soon releasing a free report

Foot health is a topic that many people try to avoid. The foot isn’t exactly a part of the body that we normally associate with the words pretty and sexy. The foot is typically protected from the outside world via a pair of socks and shoes.

All sorts of foot-wear exists these days and they come in different shapes and size. We wear this kind of foot-wear to protect our feet. Foot health relates to looking after the well-being of our feet. Ensuring that our feet our healthy is what foot health is all about.

There are many different kinds of problems that can occur to our precious feet. Foot pain, bottom-of-foot pain and toenail fungus are three common problems that occur. Our feet need to be taken care of and washed on a daily basis.

There are a few types of foot pain. Bottom-Of-Foot pains are a common occurrence because we use that part of the foot so much. They are constantly taking a pounding from everyday activities such as walking and standing.

A medical term for bottom-of-foot pain or ball-of-foot pain is metatarsalgia. Metatarsalgia is a painful condition which affects the metatarsal region of the foot. The metatarsal region is the area just below the toes. We also call this region ball-of-foot.

The disorder can affect the bones and joints at the ball-of-foot. The problem typically occurs because of excessive pressure being applied on the region over long periods of time.

Most of the time, the problem can be fixed by wearing the correct foot-wear. Foot-wear that is uncomfortable to wear is more than likely going to cause pain and discomfort.

Toenail fungus is another condition that affects the toenails. Fungus can develop on the toenails due to poor hygiene. The feet need to be cleaned on a regular basis and at least once a day. Bacteria naturally live on the surface of our skin on the feet.

The number of bacteria that live on our feet really depends on whether or not we clean our feet properly. If we wear shoes and socks throughout the day, bacteria can grow and spread. Inside shoes and socks, the conditions for bacteria and fungal growth are just right.

It is very important that we take foot health seriously and wear comfortable foot-wear that allows our feet to feel safe and relaxed. Shoes must be designed to absorb most the impact when walking and running. Massages might be able to relieve sore feet.

In conclusion, if you are experiencing foot pain, bottom-of-foot pain or toenail fungus, then we need to ensure that we are wearing the right foot-wear and keeping our feet clean.