FAQ for the Georgia State Board of Podiatry Examiners

Please refer to the Board Rules available on the website for all the information regarding licensure as a Podiatrist in Georgia. In general, the requirements are as follows:

• Applicant must submit a completed application with the required non-refundable and non-transferable fee. Applications are void after 60 days from the date of notification of application deficiencies. If all required supplemental documents are not received within that 60-day window, your application will be withdrawn, and you will need to re-apply.
• Applicant must have graduated from an accredited College of Podiatric Medicine approved by the Board.
• Applicant must submit proof of completion of 1 year residency in podiatric medicine and surgery in a program based at a hospital approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Board. A copy of the document is acceptable.
• Applicant must submit certified proof of scores from the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners of having successfully passed the *NBPME licensing examination series.
• Applicant must hold a Doctoral degree or its equivalent.
• Applicant must complete a fingerprint background check through the Georgia Applicant Processing Services (GAPS). Click here for instructions.

*NOTE: Effective July 2011, the NBPME Exam will become known as the “American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE) Parts I, II & III.

Applicants must use the GAPS Applicant Processing Service (gemalto.com) to obtain a criminal background check.

For more information, download these Instructions for Applicants to Obtain Fingerprints for a Background Check >>

Please visit the home page of Board's website to locate the link to the current fee schedule information or select the Quick Link on the right side of this page.

Application processing may take up to twenty-five (25) business days from the receipt of a complete application in the Board Office. Should there be any information associated with the application which causes it to fall outside of the administrative guidelines established by the Board (i.e., criminal history, disciplinary history, incomplete application, etc.), processing times may be extended and/or Board review may be required. 

Applicants may check the status of their application via the "Online Services" section on the Board website or by calling the Board office @ (404) 424-9966 for information.

• ALL licenses will expire August 31st of the odd numbered years. You may renew online with a credit card or call 404-424-9966 for a paper renewal form to be mailed to you.
• Please refer to fee schedule.
• Attain the required number of Continuing Education hours within the specified time frames. Please refer to Board Rule 500-5-.01 for specific continuing education requirements.
• At renewal you will need to answer questions concerning your intent to prescribe drugs and your registration with the Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

Individuals become subject to the requirements of renewal beginning the day that the license is issued. As a result, CE completed prior to the date the license was issued in Georgia may not be used to meet the CE requirements to renew the license. 

ONLY submit your documents if you are selected for a Continuing Education Audit and/or requested to do so by the Board. A percentage of active licensees shall be selected randomly for a Continuing Education Audit by the Board during the renewal application process as well as after the expiration date of the license. If you are chosen for an audit during the renewal application process you will see specific instructions concerning the audit when you submit your renewal application on the online renewal site. If you receive a paper renewal form which indicates that you are selected for an audit the instructions for submissions are on the application form. 

Those who are randomly selected for a post renewal audit (after expiration date) will receive written correspondence with instructions on how to satisfy the requirements of the audit. If a current, valid email address has been provided to the Board office, an email regarding your selection for an audit will be sent to you. If no email address is provided, the notice will be sent via mail. 

Please note that all licensees are required to provide updated name and/or address information, to include a current email address (if applicable) within 30 days of a change. A failure to do so may result in disciplinary action by the Board.
 

Those podiatrists who are randomly selected for an audit are to submit proof of their continuing education hours along with the Podiatry Continuing Education Audit Form to the Board office by fax to 866-888-1308 or by USPS mail to: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-3858. Please include your name and license number on all correspondence to the Board.

O.C.G.A. § 50-13-9.1 Allows for an applicant, a licensee and/or entity to petition the Georgia State Board of Podiatry Examiners to vary (modify) or waive (not apply) all or part of a rule requirement in their particular situation. For a rule or portion thereof to be varied or waived, the petitioner must be able to demonstrate strict application of rule can lead to unreasonable, uneconomical, and unintended results in the petitioner’s particular instance. The statute also allows for the Board to grant a variance or waiver when the petitioner is able to demonstrate that the purpose of the underlying statute upon which the rule is based can be or has been achieved by other specific means which are agreeable to the person seeking the variance or waiver and that strict application of the rule would create a substantial hardship to such person.

If an applicant, a licensee and/or entity desires to make such a petition, you must download and complete a Petition for Rule Variance or Waiver form and submit it along with any supporting documentation to the Board for consideration. You may download the instructions and form by visiting the Application/Form Downloads section on the home page of the Board website.

Please be aware that a failure to properly complete the form and submit the documentation supporting your statements within the petition may result in the denial of the request based on insufficient evidence to substantiate that the application of the rule in your circumstance will cause a hardship. 

The petition will be posted for a minimum of fifteen (15 days) on the GeorgiaNet Public Registry and petitioners may conduct a search for their petition. Please note that any member of the public, including interested parties, shall have the opportunity to submit written comments in support of or against proposed variances or waivers prior to the Board decision. The Board has up to 60 days from receipt of the petition to render a decision to either grant or deny the petition. The petitioner will be notified in writing of the Board’s decision and the written statement will include relevant facts and the reasons for the Board’s action.

Address and name changes will be accepted via USPS Mail Service or fax to 866-888-1308 if the appropriate information is submitted on the Name and Address Change Request Form. Licensees may also use the Online Services tab of the home page of the Board website to update their own address and email address online by logging into your account using our User ID and Password.

A name change request must be submitted in writing to the Board offices accompanied by the supporting legal documents initiating the name change.

The Georgia State Board of Podiatry Examiners does not issue letters of good standing. If another licensing authority or employer requires an official statement about the status of a license in this state, the licensee may submit an Online License Verification request via the Quick Link entitled Purchase a Verification of Licensure, which can be found on the home page of the Board website. 

Please note that a $35 fee is required before the verification will be issued. The license verification request will be processed and forwarded to the entity you indicated on the online form. If you have multiple licenses and/or need the license verification sent to multiple locations, you will be required to submit a new order and fee each time.

If you do not have access to a credit or debit card for payment of the fee, you may submit your request by mail using a check or money order. Download the order form >>