Booking a foot care appointment should feel straightforward — but it’s worth taking a couple of minutes to check that the person treating you has the right qualifications. This page walks you through exactly what to look for, whether you’re booking a podiatrist or a foot health practitioner.
Why it’s worth checking
The vast majority of foot care appointments are perfectly routine. But feet aren’t always a simple matter — especially for anyone with diabetes, circulation problems, or an ongoing condition. Knowing your practitioner is properly trained and insured is a small step that can make a real difference.
Most practitioners will be happy to answer your questions. If anything, asking shows you’re an engaged patient — and that’s a good thing.
A note on listings: Professional status details on ukpodiatrists.co.uk/ are self-declared and have not been independently verified. In the UK, "Podiatrist" and "Chiropodist" are protected titles requiring HCPC registration. Foot Health Practitioners offer related services but are not required to hold HCPC registration. We always recommend checking credentials directly before booking.
Checking a podiatrist or chiropodist
“Podiatrist” and “chiropodist” are legally protected titles in the UK. Only practitioners on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register can use them — it’s actually a criminal offence to use either title without registration. So the check is simple and definitive.
How to verify HCPC registration:
- Go to hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register
- Search by name or HCPC registration number
- Check their registration is current — not lapsed or suspended
- The entry will also show if any conditions have been placed on their practice
If someone describes themselves as a podiatrist or chiropodist but doesn’t appear on the register, don’t go ahead with treatment. You can raise concerns directly with the HCPC.
Many podiatrists also hold voluntary membership of professional bodies, which reflects a commitment to ongoing standards and education:
Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod)
The Royal College of Podiatry is the professional association for podiatrists in the UK. Membership is voluntary but widely held.
Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (IOCP)
The IOCP represents both podiatrists and foot health practitioners. Podiatrist members are required to hold HCPC registration.
Checking a Foot Health Practitioner (FHP)
“Foot Health Practitioner” isn’t a protected title — there’s no statutory regulator, so technically anyone can use it. That doesn’t mean FHPs aren’t qualified (many are excellent), but it does mean you need to do a little more of the checking yourself.
The most useful thing to look for is voluntary professional registration:
Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners (APSP)
The APSP maintains a register of foot health practitioners who have met training and insurance requirements. It’s voluntary, but it means something.
Register of Foot Health Practitioners (RFHP)
The RFHP is a dedicated voluntary register for FHPs. Registrants must hold a relevant qualification and professional indemnity insurance.
Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (IOCP)
The IOCP also accepts foot health practitioners as members — a positive sign of professional engagement.
Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) accredited training
The Royal College of Podiatry has recently begun accrediting FHP training courses. If your practitioner has completed an RCPod-accredited programme, that’s a strong indicator of quality training.
Voluntary registration isn’t the same as statutory regulation — but it does show a practitioner has met a training standard, holds insurance, and is accountable to a professional body. If an FHP holds none of these registrations, it’s worth asking why.
Questions worth asking
These four questions are perfectly reasonable to ask any foot care practitioner before your first appointment — and any good practitioner will answer them without hesitation:
- Are you registered with the HCPC? (Podiatrists only — should be yes, with a registration number)
- What qualification do you hold, and where did you train?
- Do you hold professional indemnity insurance?
- Are you a member of any professional body?
About our directory listings
Some listings on ukpodiatrists.co.uk/ are unclaimed — generated from public data and not yet confirmed by the practitioner. These may not clearly show whether the person is a podiatrist or a foot health practitioner. Where a listing shows as verified, the clinic has claimed their listing and confirmed their professional status with us directly. Either way, we recommend using the steps above to check independently before booking.
Find a Podiatrist near you →
Find a Foot Health Practitioner near you →
For a full comparison of the two professions — training, scope, and when to choose which — see: Podiatrists vs Foot Health Practitioners →
This page is for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. For concerns about a specific practitioner, contact the relevant regulatory or professional body directly.