No, Podiatrists and pedicurists are not the same - they have very different qualifications and scope of practice:

Podiatrist:

Medical healthcare professional with extensive university training (typically 3-4+ years of specialised study).
Diagnoses and treats foot and ankle medical conditions, injuries, and diseases.
Can prescribe medications, perform surgery, and provide comprehensive medical treatment.
Treats medical conditions like diabetic foot problems, infections, and biomechanical issues.

Pedicurist:

Beauty/cosmetic professional with shorter training focused on nail and skin care. No tertiary education is required.
Provides cosmetic foot care services like nail trimming, callus removal, and foot massage.
Cannot diagnose medical conditions or provide medical treatment.
Focuses on aesthetic improvement and basic foot hygiene.

If you have foot pain, medical conditions, or injuries, you should see a Podiatrist. If you want purely cosmetic foot care and nail maintenance, you should visit a pedicurist.

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