Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve Got Foot Questions, We’ve Got Answers

What Is A Chiropodist?

A Chiropodist is a primary health care professional specializing in the assessment, management and prevention of diseases and disorders of the foot. As a foot and ankle specialist, a chiropodist is trained to either maintain or improve active mobility and can treat either acute or chronic foot conditions with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients. Their scope of practice includes anything from basic routine nail care to nail and soft tissue surgery.

According to the Chiropody Act, 1991, Chiropodists can perform the following:

1. Cutting into the subcutaneous tissues of the foot.
2. Administering, by injection into feet, a substance designated in the regulations. 
3. Prescribing drugs designated in the regulations. 
4. Administering, by inhalation, a substance designated in the regulations.

What is the difference between a Chiropodist and a Podiatrist?

In Ontario, you may see the term chiropodist and podiatrist used to refer to foot specialists. The difference lies in education and scope of practice. Podiatrists hold a doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from one of the nine podiatry colleges in the United States or from the one French speaking podiatry programs in Quebec. A podiatrist’s scope of practice extends to performing boney surgeries in the foot, ordering and taking x-rays and the ability to communicate a diagnosis.

As there is no other podiatry school anywhere else in Canada, the Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences remains the only school providing chiropody training for students in Canada. The practice of both podiatry and chiropody are regulated by the College of Chiropodists of Ontario under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Chiropody Act, 1991.

Are chiropody services covered by OHIP?

According to the Chiropody Act, 1991, Chiropodists can perform the following:

1. Cutting into the subcutaneous tissues of the foot.
2. Administering, by injection into feet, a substance designated in the regulations. 
3. Prescribing drugs designated in the regulations. 
4. Administering, by inhalation, a substance designated in the regulations.

Do I need a doctor’s referral to see a chiropodist?

No. A doctor’s referral is not needed to make an appointment at our clinic. You can simply call our clinic or request an appointment through our website at your convenience.