Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Podiatry overview
These programs are a great way to gain greater insight into podiatry. Usually taking six months to a year depending on the program, graduate certificates feature units in pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, assessing key dilemmas and practical seminars. Ample case studies give students the chance to revisit and develop their knowledge and learn how best to apply it. This makes graduate certificates a succinct and valuable addition to any podiatrist’s knowledge.
Employment options
Graduates from this line of study find themselves better equipped to re-enter their field. The hands-on experience these courses offer provides greater insight into the practices making up the craft. This allows graduates to have a more effective and fulfilling career, as a result, knowing their newfound insights can help people and even save lives.
Scholarships and funding
There are several funding opportunities available to medical professionals in general but tend not to focus on podiatry. The ACLS Scholarship for Healthcare Providers exemplifies this through partial funding for postgraduate medical study. Applicants must submit a 750-1000 word essay for consideration judged mainly upon sincerity. Students daunted by the prospect of writing essays are therefore still encouraged to apply, as it’s based more upon displays of passion than prose.
The Georgina Elizabeth Moore Hesketh Scholarship is another option, providing partial funding to medical students on the basis of financial need and academic achievement. It requires students to submit a financial aid grant online.
Prerequisites and selection process
Graduate certificates in podiatry often have strict requirements. The Queensland University of Technology hosts an example of this, requiring students to have a four-year bachelor degree in podiatry alongside current registration with the Podiatry Board of Australia. This makes them strictly for professionals wishing to broaden their skills rather than aspiring novices, for whom it is recommended to seek undergraduate qualifications instead.