The mission of the Board of Podiatric Medicine is to protect the public by extending the privilege to practice to qualified applicants, and by investigating complaints relating to the competency or behavior of individual licensees or registrants.
THE BOARD OF CHIROPODY, now the BOARD OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE, WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN 1917 for the purpose of licensure of chiropodists, regulating the right to practice and defining the scope of practice. In 1959 the term podiatry became synonymous in meaning with the word chiropody and in 1961 was substituted throughout the practice act. In 1987 a new practice act became law, establishing requirements for licensure. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) are licensed to diagnose and treat medically, mechanically, and surgically the ailments of the human hand, foot, ankle, and lower leg.
Board members are appointed by the Governor, consisting of five DPMs and two public members, as defined in section 153.02. The DPM must be licensed to practice podiatric medicine in Minnesota. Membership terms are staggered, four year appointments. The provision of staff, administrative services and office space; the review and processing of complaints; the setting of board fees; and other provisions related to board operations are provided in chapter 214. The board may adopt rules as necessary.
A president and secretary-treasurer are elected from the membership. The full Board meets quarterly and the Complaint Review Committee (CRC) meets approximately 6-10 times each year. Four members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Board is entirely fee supported and receives no General Fund dollars. It is responsible for collecting sufficient revenue from fees to cover both direct and indirect expenditures, which is deposited as non-dedicated revenue into the State Government Special Revenue Fund (SGSRF). The Board has not raised its fees since 1999.
The authority of the Minnesota Board of Podiatric Medicine to regulate Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is specified in Minnesota Statutes 153.01-153.26. In addition to the Minnesota Board of Podiatric Medicine Act, the Board is governed by requirements in Minnesota Statutes 214, as are the other health licensing boards. Minnesota Rules Chapter 6900 reference many definitions including licensure requirements, temporary permits, license renewals, reinstatement of licenses, fees, and continuing education requirements.
