How to Become a Podiatrist in British Columbia
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC to work as a podiatrist in British Columbia or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Under the HPOA, 6 regulatory colleges regulate 25 regulated health professions. … College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) … Podiatrists”
From www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resourc..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained outside Canada: 6 steps, listed one-time fees $665
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSBC
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 6 done
- Listed one-time fees: $665
- 5 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 0.1 months (only 1 of 6 steps state a time)
-
Applicants who meet all the requirements email the college to obtain an application package.
Source
“Applicants who meet all the requirements for the full – podiatric surgeon licenceshould email [email protected] to obtain an application package.”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... -
The applicant completes the application package and pays the application fee.
- Application fee: $665
Source
“Full – podiatric surgeon C$665 application fee”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Source
“Full – podiatric surgeon C$665 application fee”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... - Application fee: $665
-
The college reviews the application, assigns a file manager, and emails the applicant a secondary application package.
Source
“CPSBC reviews all applications and assigns a file manager to an applicant. The file manager will email the applicant with the secondary application package.”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... -
The applicant submits the completed secondary application with a certificate of professional conduct, reference letters, and proof of English language proficiency.
Source
“- provide a certificate of professional conduct from the regulatory or licensing authority in each jurisdiction where the applicant has held medical licensure or trained/practiced—this must be dated within 60 days from the intended start date of practice in BC - provide reference letters as per CPSBC's instruction - meet CPSBC’s English language proficiency requirements”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... -
The college completes a final review and approves the application.
Source
“Application approved for licensure | All classes | Licence issued within 3 business days of payment”
cpsbc.ca/licensees/licensing/timelines -
After the application is approved, the applicant pays the licence fees and the licence is issued within three business days.
Time: 3 daysTime source
“Application approved for licensure | All classes | Licence issued within 3 business days of payment”
cpsbc.ca/licensees/licensing/timelinesSource
“Application approved for licensure | All classes | Licence issued within 3 business days of payment”
cpsbc.ca/licensees/licensing/timelines
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $665
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $665 | 100% |
| One-time total | $665 | 100% |
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- OET English proficiency testing: $455 (English proficiency testing)
Source
“OET | English proficiency testing | AU $587 or USD $455”
cpsbc.ca/licensees/licensing/timelines - CELPIP English proficiency testing: $290 (English proficiency testing)
Requirements
Education
The applicant must hold a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from a recognized podiatric medical education program listed in schedule C of the CPSBC Bylaws.
Source
“have a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from one of the recognized podiatric medical education programs listed in schedule C of the CPSBC Bylaws”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Experience
The applicant must have completed a minimum of two years of a CPME accredited and approved residency, or a minimum of one year if the postgraduate training was completed before January 1, 2012.
Source
“have successfully completed a minimum of two years of a Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) accredited and approved residency, or - if postgraduate training was completed before January 1, 2012, have successfully completed a minimum of a one year CPME accredited residency”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Insurance
To maintain the licence, the licensee must have ongoing professional liability coverage or protection.
Source
“ongoing professional liability coverage or protection, and”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Residency
The applicant must have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident, or be legally entitled to live and work in British Columbia.
Source
“have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident or be legally entitled to live and work in British Columbia”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Other
The applicant must have successfully completed the three-part American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examinations administered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners or the historic three-part National Board of Podiatric Medical Examinations.
Source
“have successfully completed the three-part American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examinations (APMLE) administered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners or the historic three-part National Board of Podiatric Medical Examinations”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...The applicant must meet CPSBC's English language proficiency requirements.
Source
“meet CPSBC's English language proficiency requirements”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...The applicant must provide a certificate of professional conduct from each jurisdiction where they have been licensed or trained, dated within 60 days of the intended start date in BC.
Source
“provide a certificate of professional conduct from the regulatory or licensing authority in each jurisdiction where the applicant has held medical licensure or trained/practiced—this must be dated within 60 days from the intended start date of practice in BC”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state how a podiatrist already licensed in another Canadian province or territory can register in British Columbia. Source
“The full - podiatric surgeon licence permits a podiatric surgeon to practise podiatric medicine within the scope of their education, qualifications, and experience without any restrictions or supervision.”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSBC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSBC
Exams
-
American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examinations (APMLE)
Source
“have successfully completed the three-part American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examinations (APMLE) administered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners or the historic three-part National Board of Podiatric Medical Examinations”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... -
National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners examinations (historic three-part)
Source
“have successfully completed the three-part American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examinations (APMLE) administered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners or the historic three-part National Board of Podiatric Medical Examinations”
cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing...
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSBC
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSBC
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSBC
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $37,929 | $71,500 | $124,000 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $32,867 | $56,800 | $123,000 | — |
Podiatrists in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Health profession regulation - Province of British Columbia www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resourc... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Podiatric surgeon | College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Independent practice | College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Application timelines and fees | College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC cpsbc.ca/licensees/licensing/timelines · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a podiatrist in British Columbia?
Yes. Registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is required to practise in British Columbia.
Which exams are required?
American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examinations (APMLE), National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners examinations (historic three-part).
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