Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Doctors of podiatric medicine

• Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot and communicate diagnoses to patients

• Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy, or prescribed medications

• May also perform surgery on the bones of the forefoot and the subcutaneous soft tissues of the foot.

• Chiropodists and diploma or first-degree trained podiatrists

• Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot

• Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy and subcutaneous soft-tissue foot surgery.

• Doctors of naturopathic medicine

• Diagnose patients' diseases and disorders

• Employ natural methods of healing such as acupuncture and acupressure, spinal manipulation, reflexology, hydrotherapy, herbal medicines, biochemical therapy, clinical nutrition, homeopathy and counselling in their treatment.

• Doctors of osteopathic medicine

• Diagnose disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal, circulatory and nervous systems

• Treat patients with manipulative therapy, medications or surgery.

• Doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)

• A four-year doctoral degree program in podiatric medicine available in the United States and in Quebec, normally following completion of a bachelor's degree program, is required.

• A medical residency is required in Alberta and British Columbia.

• Chiropodist and podiatrist titles are used interchangeably, depending on the province or territory. The use of the podiatrist job title does not necessarily refer to doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.).

• Doctors of osteopathic medicine may obtain a licence as general practitioners.