Clerkship

During their third and fourth year of podiatric medical training, students are typically required to participate in clinical sciences and patient care judgment. Part of this educational is experience is clerkships or clinical rotations.

Clerkships are three-to-four-week rotations (40 hours per week) in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. Students observe and participate in basic podiatric procedures as outlined in their clerkship and approved by their college or institution. Clerkships expose students to all facets of podiatric medicine and surgery in the hospital, professional office, and clinical setting. Students gain essential experience managing the care of patients and learning the roles and responsibilities of the DPM. They also witness first-hand the DPM’s interaction with other health-care professionals.

Clerkships are approved by the academic council of each college that allows its third- and fourth-year students to participate. Approved clerkships provide a schedule, goals, and objectives and/or a protocol procedure for each rotation to the college. At least one DPM from the clerkship program must submit a CV for adjunct clinical faculty appointment. All programs must submit an evaluation sheet for each clerk and all clerks complete an evaluation sheet for the program.

The Clerkship Handbook published by the AACPM enables students to look at details regarding programs participating in Clerkship. 

Clerkship Handbook

AACPM's National Clerkship Calendar provides a standardized start and end dates of rotations for all podiatric medical colleges. 

National Clerkship Calendar

For more information on the clerkship schedule, listing of podiatric medicine clerkships, and much more, visit AACPM. 

APMSA Resources

Each year, APMSA surveys 4th year podiatric medical students regarding their clerkship experiences across the country. Survey responses are compiled into a guide to assist future students in their clerkship selection process. The survey provides reflection on clinical experience, lifestyle, and responsibilities at different residency programs. This resource is available only to APMSA members.  

View APMSA's Clerkship Surveys