Foot Care Professionals: What's the difference?

It can be overwhelming to understand the difference between foot care professionals and trying to choose the right one for your particular needs. A pedicurist, foot care nurse, and podiatrist can all take care of your foot care needs and provide safe toenail care, but their approach, training, and scope of practice vary significantly. It's important to understand the differences to keep your feet healthy and safe.

Pedicurist 

A pedicurist specializes in caring for clients’ feet, including cleaning and filing nails, and providing cosmetic treatments. Pedicurists are licensed in their practicing state. In North Carolina, a pedicurist is overseen by the NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and must complete clinical hours before taking a state board exam. Pedicurists are sometimes called nail technicians and provide services in a variety of locations, most commonly in a nail salon or spa, but there are mobile pedicurists who provide in-home appointments. Pedicurists can care for healthy individuals seeking routine nail care and cosmetic services.

*** It's important to ensure that you do not have certain health conditions that would require care from a licensed medical provider, such as a specialized nurse or podiatrist.

Registered Nurse and Certified Foot Care Nurses

A Registered Nurse (RN) is medically trained, completing clinical hours, and is required to pass a state nursing board exam. In North Carolina, RNs must pass the NCLEX exam before practicing. Routine foot care services and diabetic foot care can be provided by nurses, depending on their state nurse practice act, employer policies, and with appropriate training. Certified Foot Care Nurses (CFCN) or Certified Foot Care Specialists (CFCS) take additional courses, complete clinical hours that focus on foot health and toenail care, and must pass a certification exam. Registered Nurses often are trained in assisting our elderly/ geriatric patients who may have dementia or a more complex medical history. 

RNs with appropriate training or certification can safely take care of thick toenails, fungal toenails, early ingrown toenails, and patients with corns and callus. 

*** You should seek care from a registered nurse or podiatrist if you have diabetes, neuropathy, or vascular disease

Podiatrists (i.e., Foot Doctors)

A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine who has had extensive medical training. A podiatrist specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of all things below the knee. This includes feet and toes! Podiatrists perform advanced surgical procedures in addition to managing common foot conditions. These conditions include foot pain, bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, Morton's neuromas, neuropathy, plantar warts, ingrown toenails, fungal toenails, and more.

So, Who Do I Choose?

Figuring out who should be managing your foot care needs can be confusing, but let’s keep it simple. If you have Diabetes, neuropathy, or peripheral vascular disease, thick or painful toenails, ingrowing nails, or thick fungal toenails, you should seek care from a medically trained professional. If you are relatively healthy and searching for someone to complete basic foot care services that include grooming and cosmetic treatments, a pedicurist would certainly be a good fit for you! When in doubt, speak to your primary care provider for guidance on who should be managing your foot care needs and trimming your toenails.