Professional knowledge
At thelevel of perception:
1. Impact of general and hereditary diseases, medications and other factors on a patient’s health.
2. Normal vital functions of an organism and abnormalities in those functions.
3. System and financing principles of health organisations
4. Project management.
5. Environmental health and the physical, chemical and biological factors that affect it.
At the level of understanding:
1. Medical devices and specific care materials used in podiatry.
2. Principles for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of patient care.
3. Medical devices used in podiatry, groups of disinfectants.
4. Pharmacological groups of medicines, their mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, side effects.
5. Characteristics and uses of groups of medicinal products.
6. Principles for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of patient care.
7. Structure of a patient’s medical history, the information to be included and the importance of the medical history.
8. Aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic and treatment principles, preventive measures of congenital and acquired disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
9. Biomechanics and topography of the foot.
10. Types of foot deformities, their classification.
11. Podiatric examination of patients: peripheral pulse and trophism examination, assessment of ischaemia risk.
12. Anatomical structure of the blood vessels of the foot and lower leg, physiological and pathophysiological processes of peripheral circulation.
13. General pathology and pathological physiology: patterns of pathological processes and causes of abnormal organ systems.
14. Medical terminology in Latin.
15. Theory of the patient care process, identification of the care problem and diagnosis of the care problem in podiatric care.
16. Aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, principles of diagnosis and treatment, preventive measures for internal, vascular, neurological, endocrine, infectious, skin and nail diseases, congenital and acquired disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
17. Philosophy of care and patient needs.
18. Relationship of diseases of the organ systems and other primary local diseases to foot diseases.
19. International
20. diabetic foot care guidelines.
21. Pathological skin changes: skin thickening, viral dermatoses.
22. Hyperkeratosis and keratotic fissures – origin, clinical manifestations, possible complications, diagnosis, principles of therapy and prevention.
23. Viral skin diseases, possible preventive measures.
24. Warts, their aetiology, clinical forms, principles of therapy.
25. Skin diseases: parasitic, mycotic, infectious (pyoderma), viral (dermatoses).
26. Nail diseases: mycotic, trophic, congenital.
27. Laboratory diagnosis of mycosis.
28. Nail growth disorders, their diagnosis and podological treatment.
29. Ingrown toenail – aetiology, stages and treatment methods.
30. Ways to correct an ingrown toenail:
31. corrective bars, orthonyxia (use of brackets/plates), nail tamponades.
32. Orthopaedics and the basics of prosthetics. Orthoses: types, indications and contraindications.
33. General surgery: surgical infection, chronic wound care.
34. Vascular surgical diseases.
35. Surgical patient preparation for surgery:
36. principles of preoperative and postoperative care.
37. International guidelines for wound care.
38. General surgery: basics of desmurgery.
39. International guidelines for wound care.
40. Emergency medical care.
41. Standards for procedures.
42. Emergency medical care principles and provision.
43. Emergency medical care and disaster medicine.
44. Basic principles of pedagogy and adult learning.
45. Basic principles of pedagogy and adult learning, communication, personality and socio-psychological aspects.
46. General medicine: groups of infectious and internal diseases, aetiology, clinic, therapeutic methods and prevention.
47. Basic principles of pedagogy and adult learning, communication, personality and socio-psychological aspects.
48. General medicine: groups of infectious and internal diseases, aetiology, clinic, therapeutic methods and prevention.
49. Theoretical basics of physiotherapy and ergonomics: body posture, general laws of lifting and moving, possibilities of using available aids in podiatry.
50. Characteristics of teaching children and adults.
51. Foundations of psychology and adult learning.
52. Basic requirements for a medical institution and the working environment: regulatory requirements.
53. Forms and types of business: governance models, registration, taxation, etc.
54. Financial management.
55. Laws and regulations governing employment relations.
56. Legislation on environmental accessibility in medical institutions.
57. Legislation on electrical safety, fire safety, etc.
58. Healthcare-associated risk factors for infectious diseases in podiatric practice.
59. Operation, safety and monitoring of equipment and devices: regulatory enactments.
60. Environment protection.
61. Environment protection.
62. Hazardous waste management.
At the level of use:
1. Medical devices used in podiatry: instruments, apparatus and equipment, their practical use and operating rules.
2. Podiatric medical devices: devices for the podiatric examination of a patient’s feet.
3. Practical application of medical devices and disinfectants used in podiatry.
4. Disinfection plan.
5. Pharmacological grouping of drugs and prophylactics: classification and composition.
6. Specific care materials used in podiatry.
7. Groups of drugs used in podiatric care, their practical application, indications and contraindications.
8. Cosmetic foot care products for professional use.
9. Groups of cosmetic foot care products for professional use, their practical application, indications and contraindications.
10. Ensuring a clean and comfortable environment.
11. Patient safety.
12. Structure of a patient’s medical history and mandatory information.
13. Evaluation of a patient’s subjective and objective medical history.
14. Occupational hazards, reducing their impact on patient health.
15. General patterns of pathological processes, disease origin and pathogenesis.
16. Subjective, objective and instrumental methods of examining a patient’s condition.
17. Positioning a patient for podiatric examinations.
18. General patterns of origin and pathogenesis of pathological processes of the skin of the feet.
19. Primary and secondary pathological processes of the skin of the feet, common skin and nail diseases, methods of their diagnosis.
20. Podiatric examination of patients:
21. examination of foot bone joint system, soft tissue trophism and evaluation of damage risk.
22. Changes in foot loading, methods of investigation.
23. Methods of ischaemic foot examination in podiatric care: palpation of a. tibialis posterior and a. dorsalis pedis, measurement of the ankle-brachial index ABI.
24. Podiatric examination of patients: neurological examination, assessment of the risk of lesion and determination of the diabetic foot risk class.
25. Neurological examination of the diabetic foot during podiatric care: Semmes – Weinstein 7.05 monofilament, 128Hz graduated chamber tone, thermotype, thermal pad, etc.
26. Completing a foot care protocol.
27. Medical records.
28. Patient data protection.
29. Podiatric care phase: documenting the results of the foot assessment in the foot care protocol, making a diagnosis, care plan.
30. Podiatric care planning: determination of the goal of care, individual foot care plan, determination of priority care activities, determination of a patient’s self-care level, reduction or prevention of the patient’s podiatric problems.
31. Documenting the course of podiatric care in a foot care protocol.
32. Diabetic foot classification: risk classes, etc.
33. Diabetic foot care and prevention measures.
34. Foot care and prevention work with high-risk patients.
35. Skin assessment for clients of different ages, recognition and assessment of abnormal skin changes.
36. Treatment technologies and preventive measures for foot hyperkeratosis.
37. Differential diagnosis and treatment technologies for warts and varicose veins.
38. Podiatric treatment of mycotic skin and nails with medical devices: podiatric equipment and instruments, therapeutic and prophylactic foot care products.
39. Types of nail prosthetics, indications and contraindications for prosthetics.
40. Toenail prosthetics and modelling: materials and technologies.
41. Principles of nail correction, nail preparation for correction.
42. Use of corrective bars, aseptic and septic ingrown nail correction.
43. Types of nail tamponades, materials, their practical application in the process of podological care, indications and contraindications.
44. Orthonyxia clamp fixation, clamp replacement and prevention.
45. Custom-made and prefabricated orthoses: advantages, disadvantages; indications, contraindications.
46. Custom-made orthoses for pressure and friction relief: silicone and non-silicone orthoses.
47. Orthotic materials used in podiatry: silicone, foam, etc.
48. Manufactured orthoses, insoles, prophy inserts, shoes and their characteristics: advantages, disadvantages.
49. Desmurgery: dressings according to the stage of wound healing, external medications, applying dressings, changing them after surgical manipulations.
50. Medical devices and specific care materials for surgery and podiatry.
51. Types of dressings and topical medications: indications, contraindications, side effects, etc.
52. Materials and techniques for lower limb splinting.
53. Patient emergencies.
54. Patient’s vital signs, their determination, medication administration technique.
55. Severe life-threatening conditions of different aetiologies: recognition, care in life-threatening situations.
56. Patient care process.
57. Topical medicines:
58. pharmacological effects, conditions of use, possible side effects, etc.
59. Patient care process in podiatry.
60. Impact of general and hereditary diseases, medications and other factors on a patient’s health.
61. Participation and social dialogue in patient care.
62. Preventive measures to maintain foot health: self-care, activity, foot exercises, compression therapy, etc.
63. Learning styles and the choice of teaching method appropriate to a patient’s ability.
64. Patient care process in podiatry.
65. Building social dialogue.
66. Principles for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of patient care.
67. Regulatory acts governing the operation of medical institutions: establishment, registration, maintenance of a podiatrist’s practice.
68. Record-keeping and laws and regulations relevant to the sector.
69. Control of the circulation of medicines:
70. ordering, accounting, storage, use, write-off.
71. Storage and use of cosmetic and therapeutic products used in podiatric care.
72. Legal basis of a podiatrist’s professional activity: employment contract, job description, etc.
73. Patient care process planning, patients’ rights.
74. Medical documentation in podiatry practice: foot care protocol, outpatient record, etc.
75. Hygienic and antipidemic requirements in podiatric practice. Infection control measures. Occupational hazards in the podiatric profession.
76. Equipment, medical devices and specific care materials for surgery and podiatry.
77. Sterilisation devices: operation.
78. Legislation on the registration, conformity assessment, distribution, operation and technical supervision of medical devices.
79. Contaminated and hazardous material in podiatry.
80. Prevention of injuries caused by instruments during podiatric care.
81. Actions of a podiatrist in case of getting injured with sharp medical instruments.
82. Contaminated and hazardous material in podiatry.
General knowledge
At the level of understanding:
1. Literary form of a foreign language.
2. Concept of cultural diversity.
3. Specifics of verbal and non-verbal communication in a multicultural environment.
4. Information and communication technology legislation.
5. Digital environment, risks and threats in the digital environment.
6. Digital identity.
7. Data protection.
8. Principles of computer and office technology.
9. Business organisation.
10. Company’s accounting and financial reporting system.
11. Financial planning and forecasting techniques.
12. Financial risks.
13. Management and culture of organisations.
14. Interdisciplinary cooperation.
15. Levels of social dialogue and basic principles of formation thereof.
16. Code of Ethics.
17. Patient safety principles.
18. Professional ethics and limits of competence.
19. Psychological foundations of communication.
20. Gender equality issues.
21. Types of violence.
22. Research methodology.
23. Medical science and research fundamentals.
24. Labour protection system.
25. Civil protection system.
26. Environmental protection system.
27. UN sustainable development goals.
At the level of use:
1. Professional terminology in the national language.
2. Business article language culture.
3. Professional terminology.
4. Scientific language style.
5. Verbal, non-verbal communication and communication culture.
6. Discussion, presentation skills.
7. Culture of professional communication.
8. Prerequisites, process and methods for effective communication.
9. Extensive professional vocabulary.
10. Functional grammar.
11. Principles of intercultural communication in a multicultural environment.
12. Standards, values and codes of conduct of one’s national culture and other cultures.
13. Strategies for identifying and resolving intercultural conflicts.
14. Information processing, storage and exchange.
15. Software for drafting documents in accordance with the task.
16. Information and communication systems security.
17. Data security.
18. Data security programmes.
19. Work with office equipment and information systems.
20. Fundamentals of project development and management.
21. Work environment organisation process and management.
22. Work organisation and culture of a medical institution.
23. Principles of teamwork.
24. Principles of cooperation.
25. Self-organisation at work and teamwork.
26. Categories of medical ethics: empathy, tolerance, altruism, etc.
27. Interpersonal and communication skills, customer service standards.
28. Ways to resolve conflicts.
29. Confidentiality of patient information.
30. Self-assessment mechanisms.
31. Learning and career planning skills.
32. Learning strategies.
33. Principles of career development assessment.
34. Mechanisms for identifying competence development needs.
35. Research methods.
36. Basic principles of time management
37. Legal relationship between employer and employee. Patient data protection.
38. Document execution requirements.
39. Labour protection regulations.
40. Environmental protection regulations.
41. Fire safety regulations.
42. Electrical safety regulations.
43. Civil protection regulations.
44. Regulatory framework for states of emergency and exception.
45. Latvia’s Sustainable Development Strategy.

Professional skills and attitudes
1. Prepare the podiatry couch for handling a patient.
2. Prepare the podiatry table for manipulations.
3. Inspect and prepare the magnifying lamp for work.
4. Prepare and inspect the medical devices required for the podiatric care procedure: sterilisation and disinfection device for podiatric instruments, podiatric apparatus and tools.
5. Prepare and test medical devices for the neurological examination of a diabetic patient: monofilament for pressure sensation, graduated tuning fork for vibration sensation, thermotype for temperature sensation.
6. Prepare and test a segmented Doppler for peripheral pulse or ankle-brachial index score determination.
7. Prepare and test a podoscope to determine the foot load on the support surface.
8. Provide hygienic detergents and disinfectants for cleaning staff hands, patients’ skin, instruments, work surfaces and rooms.
9. Prepare the medical equipment necessary for the podiatric care procedure: instrument detergents, disinfectants for the treatment of staff hands, patient skin, instruments, work surfaces and room cleaning.
10. Prepare the materials needed for the podiatric care procedure (cellulose, cotton wool, non-woven tissues, foams, silicones, gels, wires and other materials used in podiatry).
11. Provide the necessary medicines for the podiatric care process: topical medications.
12. Choose professional foot care products needed for podiatry procedures.
13. Prepare disposable medical gloves and a mask/ or protective shield for the podiatric examinations and care procedure.
14. Prepare (as necessary) a disposable medical cap and apron for the podiatric examination and care procedure.
15. Prepare a disposable drape (paper towel) to cover the footrests of the patient’s couch.
16. Find out a patient’s complaints.
17. Collect social and family history of a patient.
18. Find out about a patient’s working conditions, physical activity, lifestyle and quality of life requirements.
19. Familiarise oneself with a patient’s medical records.
20. Assess a patient’s well-being and podiatric health status.
21. Make assumptions about the cause of a patient’s complaints and the diagnosis of podiatric care.
22. Prepare a patient for podiatric assessment.
23. Inspect the condition of a patient’s toenails and the skin of the feet.
24. Visually assess changes in a patient’s toenails.
25. Identify the type of onychodystrophies.
26. Determine the stage of an ingrown toenail.
27. Differentiate traumatic nail changes.
28. Visually and palpatorially assess the condition of the skin on a patient’s feet.
29. Differentiate pathological changes of the skin of the feet.
30. Examine the condition and constitutional features of a patient’s toenails, plantar skin and locomotor apparatus.
31. Identify positional changes in the foot.
32. Assess the load on the foot on a support surface-podoscope.
33. Assess foot joint mobility.
34. Differentiate between foot deformities and pressure-induced changes in the skin and nails of the feet.
35. Manually examine the blood vessels in a patient’s feet and lower legs.
36. Check peripheral pulse by palpation.
37. Check peripheral pulse with segmental Doppler.
38. Determine ankle-brachial index (ABI) scores.
39. Make a note in the medical record of a patient’s foot and lower leg blood vessel examination findings.
40. Perform a neurological examination of a patient according to diabetic foot guidelines.
41. Perform a pressure sensation test with a monofilament.
42. Perform a vibration sensation test with a graduated tuning fork.
43. Perform a touch and prick test.
44. Measure temperature sensation with a thermotype.
45. Make a note in the medical record of a patient’s neurological examination findings.
46. Make a diagnosis for podiatric care.
47. Make an entry in the foot care protocol and/or medical record about a patient’s biometric and podiatric characteristics.
48. Record in a diabetic patient’s foot examination and care record and/or medical records an examination of the foot’s bony articular system, peripheral circulation, foot neurological and soft tissue trophism and an assessment of the diabetic foot’s risk class.
49. Document the podiatric care plan according to a patient’s foot examination findings.
50. Assess the patient’s level of self-care according to the results of the patient’s examination and investigations.
51. Plan the podiatric care process according to the podiatric care diagnosis.
52. Adjust the podiatric care plan according to the results of the podiatric procedures.
53. Recognise the impact of internal diseases on a patient’s podiatric health.
54. Recognise exacerbation of chronic diseases affecting the health of the foot and lower leg.
55. Inform patients about the health risks of delayed or untreated illness.
56. Recommend that a patient be referred to an appropriate specialist for conditions of unclear aetiology.
57. Advise a patient on the right choice of specialist doctor.
58. Determine the examinations or additional examinations required for a patient within the scope of the podiatrist’s professional competence.
59. Choose the most appropriate type of foot care treatment for the podiatric diagnosis.
60. Perform therapeutic foot care with footbathing.
61. Perform therapeutic foot care without footbathing using keratolytic adhesives.
62. Use podiatric equipment and instruments in therapeutic foot care.
63. Apply the basic elements of foot massage appropriate to the foot care treatment.
64. Use cosmetic foot care products intended for professional use and appropriate to the foot care treatment.
65. Identify the risk class for diabetic foot.
66. Assess a patient’s response to foot care in relation to foot health problems.
67. Provide diabetic foot care appropriate to the risk class.
68. Take preventive measures appropriate to the risk class of diabetic foot.
69. Determine the most appropriate treatment for a patient’s podiatric problem in the treatment of blisters, hyperkeratoses, fissures, corns and warts.
70. Treat blisters, hyperkeratoses, fissures, corns and warts manually using tools.
71. Treat blisters, hyperkeratoses, fissures, corns and warts with podiatry equipment.
72. Use topical medications and cosmetic foot care products for professional use to treat blisters, hyperkeratoses, fissures, corns and warts.
73. Document the progress and results of the treatment of blisters, hyperkeratoses, fissures, corns and warts.
74. Determine the most appropriate treatment method for the skin and nails of mycotic feet to solve the patient’s podological problem.
75. Perform mycotic foot skin treatment with podiatric equipment and instruments.
76. Collect mycotic samples of nail material to send for laboratory tests.
77. Perform mycotic nail treatment with podiatric equipment and instruments.
78. Apply local antimycotic agents in podiatry procedures.
79. Perform nail prosthetics and modeling.
80. Document the progress and results of mycotic foot skin and nail treatment, nail prosthesis.
81. Identify the stage of an ingrown toenail.
82. Determine the most appropriate type of correction of ingrown nails to address a patient’s podiatric problem.
83. Perform the correction of an aseptic (non-suppurating) ingrown nail with podiatric instruments.
84. Perform correction of a septic (suppurating) ingrown nail with podiatric instruments.
85. Perform tamponades of the nails with podiatric materials and topical medications.
86. medicinal products.
87. Perform orthognathic fixation using bracket/plate techniques used in podiatry.
88. Take preventive measures appropriate to the stage of ingrown toenail.
89. Document the progress and results of ingrown toenail correction.
90. Determine the most appropriate type and technique of mechanical relief of the feet in places of pressure and friction for solving a patient’s podological problem.
91. Make individual silicone orthoses to relieve pressure and friction points.
92. Adapt individual silicone orthoses to the anatomical features of a patient’s foot.
93. Make silocone individual orthoses to relieve pressure and friction points.
94. Adjust non-silicone individual orthoses to relieve pressure and friction points.
95. Select the appropriate prefabricated orthoses, insoles and prophy inserts for a patient’s podiatric diagnosis.
96. Match the manufactured orthoses, insoles and prophy inserts to a patient’s podiatric diagnosis.
97. Adjust footwear for different degrees of foot damage.
98. Document the process and results of orthotic selection, fabrication and fitting.
99. Choose the most appropriate type and method of foot and lower leg wound care and infection control for a patient’s podiatric problem.
100. Determine the type, localization, depth of the foot and lower leg ulcer, and signs of infection.
101. Perform surgical instrumentation, sterilisation and storage of materials.
102. Prepare a podiatry patient for surgical manipulation.
103. Perform post-operative wound care on a podiatry patient.
104. Perform the manipulation prescribed by a surgeon.
105. Assess the risk of wound infection according to wound care guidelines.
106. Use materials used in podiatry to relieve foot ulcers.
107. Teach a patient to perform wound self-care.
108. Inform a patient about the pharmacological effects of the medicine, conditions of use, possible side effects, measures to reduce adverse effects.
109. Document the progress and outcomes of foot and lower leg wound care and infection control.
110. Apply wound dressings and topical medications appropriate to the stage of wound healing according to wound care guidelines.
111. Perform lower limb dressing at the foot-shin level, choosing the most appropriate dressing technique.
112. Recognise life-threatening emergencies.
113. Provide emergency medical care to patients in life-threatening emergencies within the scope of one’s professional competence up to the provision of specialised care.
114. Organise emergency care in life-threatening situations.
115. Contact the Emergency Medical Service or a doctor immediately to get the emergency medical help needed.
116. Inform a patient about the therapeutic and prophylactic agents used topically in podiatric care, their pharmacological effects, conditions of use and side effects.
117. Educate a patient on the conditions for the use of medications, dressings and foot care products appropriate to the diagnosis of podiatric care in order to achieve the outcome of care.
118. Inform a patient about the mandatory preventive measures to maintain foot health.
119. Advise patients on podiatric care and disease prevention.
120. Inform a patient’s relatives, representatives or carer about the mandatory preventive measures to maintain foot health.
121. Advise patients’ relatives, representatives or carers on podiatric care and disease prevention.
122. Assess a patient’s level of self-care.
123. Assess factors that could affect a patient’s learning ability (health, vision problems, age, etc.)
Apply self-care measures: information, training, counselling, etc.
124. Strengthen a patient’s foot self-care skills.
125. Coordinate patient arrival for procedures.
126. Assess a patient’s knowledge of promoting and maintaining the health of the skin and nails of the feet.
127. Choose a method for learning about foot health that suits a patient’s learning abilities (health, vision problems, age, etc.) and learning style.
128. Promote patient participation and self-care.
129. Educate a patient and their family about the need for health-promoting and health-preserving activities.
130. Collaborate with endocrinologists, dermatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, infectologists, traumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons and other specialists to provide teamwork in patient care.
131. Organise educational events for care team members on specific foot disorders and their prevention.
132. Organise and carry out activities to ensure the quality of patients’ health.
133. Equip premises suitable for the provision of podiatry services in accordance with the requirements of regulatory enactments.
134. Be familiar with the principles of operation, record-keeping and financing of medical and healthcare institutions.
135. Establish a podiatry practice in line with the chosen business form.
136. Ensure the legality and compliance of the podiatry office’s activities with the requirements of regulatory enactments.
137. Keep the records of the medical office in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory enactments and the specifics of the healthcare field.
138. Calculate the costs of the work process: cost of the procedure; depreciation of equipment and tools; revenue, expenses, profit, etc.
139. Document the movement of medicines in accordance with the requirements of regulatory enactments.
140. Keep track of the expiry dates of cosmetic and medical products used in the podiatric care process.
141. Know the functions of medical institutions.
142. Adhere to the principles of work organisation in accordance with internal and external laws and regulations.
143. Work independently or as part of a care team.
144. Identify priorities for professional activity.
145. Organise work according to the priorities set.
146. Plan patient flow according to the care a patient needs in a given situation.
147. Complete medical records in accordance with the medical records procedure and the Patient Data Protection Regulation.
148. Respect the rights and responsibilities of patients and staff.
149. Maintain a safe environment for a patient in the podiatry office.
150. Comply with the hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements of an establishment.
151. Comply with environmental accessibility and patient safety requirements.
152. Use disinfectants and detergents for podiatry instruments, work surfaces and rooms.
153. Sterilise work tools and materials in accordance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
154. Observe the hygiene requirements set for the medical practitioner.
155. Wear medical scrubs, work shoes.
156. Use personal protective equipment in contact with a patient.
157. Use handwashing and disinfection products in accordance with healthcare procedures and standards.
158. Ensure internal control of the hygiene and anti-epidemic regime.
159. Assess the technical condition and operational safety of the equipment and medical devices in the podiatry office.
160. Perform regular maintenance of equipment and medical devices.
161. Keep track of medical device verification and technical surveillance deadlines.
162. Comply with environmental and labour protection requirements when sorting and collecting infectious and potentially hazardous waste.
163. Separate potentially hazardous and infectious waste.
164. Label waste in accordance with the requirements of the laws and regulations.
165. Assess the impact of environmental factors on own and a patients’ health when handling potentially hazardous and infectious waste.
166. Follow the hazardous waste disposal process in the podiatrist’s practice.
General skills and attitudes
1. Communicate orally and in writing in a variety of professional situations and environments.
2. Communicate according to the target audience and the demands of the situation.
3. Observe the norms of the Latvian literary language in business communication.
4. Produce well-structured, detailed texts.
5. Use professional vocabulary of the industry/sector in Latvian.
6. Publish presentation materials and speak to different audiences.
7. Discuss freely and constructively.
8. Present a professional topic in a clear and reasoned manner in the national language.
9. Use foreign languages in oral and written communication in a variety of professional situations and environments.
10. Use professional vocabulary in professional communication.
11. Follow the principles of intercultural communication in a multicultural environment.
12. Analyse cultural similarities and differences.
13. Resolve intercultural conflicts flexibly in the work environment.
14. Use browsing, search and selection tools to retrieve data, information and content (digital content) from the digital environment to the extent necessary for the professional activity.
15. Manage software needed to do one’s job.
16. Check the security configuration and devices and/or software used in the system workflow.
17. Work with office equipment.
18. Independently prepare documents and organise their flow in a document management system.
19. Independently find the information needed to do the job on the internet, on media.
20. Use a variety of techniques to protect digital devices and content, personal data and privacy in the digital environment.
21. Prevent risks and threats to a person’s physical and psychological health when using digital technologies to help others.
22. Apply knowledge of the management culture of organisations.
23. Define your business model to create new value.
24. Take individual and team responsibility for creating new value.
25. Apply financial planning and forecasting techniques to implement a business idea.
26. Evaluate the achievement of objectives by assessing own and the team’s contribution.
27. Justify one’s views in discussions with colleagues and management on professional issues.
28. Apply communication skills in the care of patients of different ages and risk groups.
29. Comply with a company’s rules of procedure and regulations.
30. Take responsibility for the quality of own work and that of the team.
31. Carry out delegated tasks with integrity.
32. Promote social dialogue at company level.
33. Be loyal to one’s employer, colleagues, business partners and clients.
34. Adhere to professional ethical norms and deontological principles in interactions with patients and colleagues.
35. Take responsibility for the quality of the service provided.
36. Maintain a culture of communication with colleagues and patients.
37. Respect patient autonomy, gender equality and patients’ rights in the podiatric profession.
38. Recognise the signs of violence within one’s professional competence.
39. Resolve conflicts and other non-standard situations correctly.
40. Adhere to professional ethical norms and principles in interactions with patients and colleagues.
41. Be aware of opportunities for personal and social development/improvement.
42. Adequately assess one’s professional experience and level of professional competence.
43. Targeted planning of professional competences.
44. Systematically acquire new knowledge and experience.
45. Organise self-directed learning and maintain learning skills.
46. Keep abreast of developments in the theory and practice of professional activity and the professional field.
47. Get involved in scientific research in the sector.
48. Debate with arguments based on industry research.
49. Use research methods in professional activities.
50. Comply with the requirements for the protection of personal data and information on the internet.
51. Participate in health policy-making.
52. Raise the profile and prestige of the podiatry profession.
53. Promote the development of the podiatry sector.
54. Act in accordance with the requirements of laws and regulations.
55. Comply with labour law, labour protection, environmental protection and civil protection requirements.
56. Comply with a company’s internal rules of procedure. Comply with personal data protection requirements. Respect the rights, obligations and professional boundaries of employer and employee.
57. Comply with internal rules.
58. Respect patient rights.
59. Comply with a patient’s personal data protection requirements.
60. Ensure confidentiality.
61. Assess the health effects of risk factors in the work environment.
62. Recognise one’s responsibility for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Professional competences
1. Ability to prepare responsibly for a podiatric care procedure by selecting the medical devices required for the procedure.
2. Ability to responsibly prepare and inspect medical devices for the podiatric examination of a patient’s feet.
3. Ability to prepare responsibly for a podiatric care procedure.
4. Ability to select appropriate detergents and disinfectants for the organisation of the podiatric care process for the treatment of hands, instruments, work surfaces and cleaning of the premises.
5. Ability to prepare responsibly for a podiatric care procedure, selecting the materials needed for the job.
6. Ability to prepare responsibly for the podiatric care procedure by selecting the necessary drugs (topical medications) for the job.
7. Ability to prepare responsibly for a podiatric care procedure by selecting cosmetic foot care products for professional use.
8. Ability to prepare the necessary personal protective equipment for a podiatric care procedure.
9. Ability to collect a patient’s medical history.
10. Ability to assess a patient’s subjective and objective medical history to determine the appropriate therapeutic manipulation for the patient’s foot condition.
11. Ability to assess the condition of patients’ toenails and the skin of the feet.
12. Ability to recognise the most common problems of the nails and skin of the feet, for the diagnosis of podiatric care and for cooperation with a dermatologist.
13. Ability to assess the functional state of the foot, the degree of deformity in relation to a patient’s constitutional physique.
14. Ability to determine the compliance of the functional condition of the feet with the norm or deviation from the norm, for determining the diagnosis of podiatric care and establishing cooperation with the technical orthopedist.
15. Ability to provide manual examination of the blood vessels of the foot and lower leg.
16. Ability to assess the risk of peripheral ischaemia according to the ischaemic foot methodology.
17. Ability to provide neurological examinations in accordance with diabetic foot guidelines in the assessment of diabetic feet.
18. Ability to differentiate the risk class of diabetic foot according to the diabetic foot guidelines.
19. Ability to make a podiatric care diagnosis by responsible assessment of pathological processes of the foot in accordance with the foot care protocol.
20. Ability to document the stages of a podiatric care plan for patients of all age groups within the scope of one’s competence.
21. Ability to develop a podiatric care plan for patients of all age groups according to the podiatric care diagnosis and a patient’s level of self-care, within the framework of the podiatrist’s competence.
22. Ability to recognise and assess risk factors for exacerbation of chronic diseases of uncertain aetiology, affecting foot and lower leg health.
23. Ability to make a responsible decision to involve other healthcare professionals in the treatment process without delay.
24. Ability to advise a patient on the necessary examinations and the choice of the appropriate specialist within the framework of the podiatrist’s competence.
25. Ability to responsibly provide professional foot care to patients of all ages.
26. Ability to apply the appropriate type of foot treatment and appropriate nail and foot care products for the diagnosis of podiatric care.
27. Ability to independently implement podiatric care of the diabetic foot according to the diabetic foot guidelines.
28. Ability to differentiate blisters, hyperkeratoses, fissures, corns and warts, etc.
29. Ability to perform appropriate treatment of blisters, hyperkeratosis, fissures, corns, warts, etc., using medical devices: podiatric instruments and apparatus.
30. Ability to apply topical medicaments and cosmetic foot care products for professional use in the treatment of blisters, hyperkeratosis, fissures, corns, warts, etc.
31. Ability to perform mycotic podiatric care of the skin and nails of the feet.
32. Ability to use nail prosthetics and shaping technologies according to the diagnosis of podiatric care.
33. Ability to perform correction of ingrown nails by assessing the stage of ingrown nails.
34. Ability to apply the most appropriate type of correction for an ingrown toenail: corrective bars, nail tamponade or orthonyxia.
35. Ability to implement mechanical foot relief measures to reduce pressure and friction and correct deformity by non-surgical methods using off-the-shelf orthoses, insoles and prophy inserts.
36. Ability to create individual orthoses to relieve pressure and friction points from materials available in podiatry.
37. Ability to prepare a podiatric patient for surgical manipulation within the framework of podiatric competence.
38. Ability to professionally perform broad spectrum wound care and infection control of the foot and lower leg according to wound care guidelines.
39. Ability to dress wounds of the foot and lower leg, selecting dressings appropriate to the stage of wound healing and the most appropriate dressing technique.
40. Ability to provide emergency care in acute situations and exacerbations of chronic diseases within the scope of one’s professional competence until the patient receives specialised emergency care.
41. Ability to educate the patient about the conditions of use of medicines, dressing material and foot care products necessary to achieve the result of podiatric care.
42. Ability to professionally advise patients on the podiatric care process and disease prevention.
43. Ability to provide professional advice to a patient’s relatives, guardians or carers on the podiatric care process and disease prevention.
44. Ability to involve a patient in the self-care of the foot, respecting the professional role of the podiatrist and the limits of competence in patient care.
45. Ability to implement a patient education process in foot health management.
46. Ability to work collaboratively with other health and social care professionals and partners.
47. Ability to ensure premises equipped in accordance with the requirements of regulatory enactments for the provision of quality medical treatment and podiatry services to patients.
48. Ability to apply record-keeping and business knowledge to the establishment and maintenance of a podiatry practice.
49. Ability to organise and follow the procedures for the circulation of medicines in a podiatric practice.
50. Ability to plan and organise independently one’s work in a medical institution, respecting the employment relationship and the rights of a patient.
51. Ability to provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient in the podiatry office in accordance with the regulatory enactments.
52. Ability to be responsible for patient safety, personal and occupational hygiene during the podiatric care process.
53. Ability to organise conformity surveys of medical devices in accordance with the requirements of regulatory enactments.
54. Ability to organise the segregation, marking and storage of hazardous waste in a podiatry practice in accordance with the requirements of environmental and labour protection legislation.
55. Ability to organise the disposal of potentially infectious and hazardous waste in a podiatric practice in accordance with the requirements of environmental and labour protection legislation.
General competences
1. Ability to communicate fluently in the national language, both orally and in writing, observing the norms of literary language and using professional terminology in the performance of professional duties.
2. Ability to discuss constructively and present one’s position in an argumentative manner, ensuring the provision of information that is correct, comprehensible and in accordance with the norms of literary language.
3. Ability to use foreign languages in oral and written communication and professional terminology in two foreign languages to carry out one’s job duties.
4. Ability to communicate effectively in a multicultural environment, following the principles of intercultural communication.
5. Ability to deal flexibly with intercultural conflicts in the work environment.
6. Ability to manage data, information and content in the digital environment, using a variety of digital tools and technologies, as appropriate to one’s professional activity.
7. Ability to perform professional tasks in a digital environment, using techniques to protect digital devices, personal data, privacy and personal security, while helping others.
8. Ability to confidently and securely select and use information and communication technologies in professional activities.
9. Ability to conduct professional activities in line with the chosen business model, planning and evaluating own and team objectives to create new value.
10. Ability to work individually and as part of a team, applying the principles of cooperation in the performance of duties, planning and organising work to carry out professional tasks.
11. Ability to carry out or supervise work activities that are subject to unpredictable change.
12. Ability to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration.
13. Ability to evaluate and develop own and others’ performance when working in a team.
14. Ability to apply the principles of medical ethics in patient care.
15. Ability to respect confidentiality, patient data protection, general and professional ethics.
16. Ability to identify and manage the risks of conflict of interest by understanding different views and value systems of patients.
17. Ability to develop professional knowledge and skills in a purposeful and responsible manner through lifelong learning.
18. Ability to maintain professional competence in a responsible manner by continuously developing professional knowledge and skills.
19. Ability to manage one’s learning and career effectively.
20. Ability to learn further, with an appropriate degree of independence, by developing one’s competences.
21. Ability to take an analytical approach to professional practice and professional development.
22. Ability to contribute to the creation of new knowledge through focused research.
23. Ability to engage professionally in the research process at all stages of the research process, contributing to the prestige of the podiatry profession and to the development of the field.
24. Ability to apply and monitor the requirements of the laws and regulations governing professional activities in the sector.
25. Ability to comply with civil protection requirements in accordance with civil protection plans and laws and regulations.
26. Ability to observe and monitor labour protection, environmental, electrical, fire, hygiene and quality requirements.
27. Ability to act responsibly in emergencies and states of exception, observing the regulations established by the state and being aware of one’s responsibility in maintaining national security.