APMLE Part II study guide
APMLE Part II · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
APMLE Part II is the second computer-based multiple-choice component of the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination sequence, taken by podiatric medical students and graduates who are working toward licensure to practice podiatric medicine and surgery in the United States. It follows successful completion of Part I and is designed to test whether a candidate can apply basic and clinical science to realistic patient scenarios rather than simply recall isolated facts. The APMLE Part II study guide has 9 sections and about 2,181 words.
01History and Physical Examination
The history drives most of the diagnosis in podiatric practice. Master the characterization of pain (onset, location, radiation, quality, severity, timing, aggravating and relieving factors), the review of systems relevant to the foot (vascular, neurologic, dermatologic, rheumatologic), and the risk stratification of every patient for peripheral arterial disease, neuropathy, and infection.
290 words, about 1 min02Diagnostic Testing and Imaging
Know the indications, limitations, and normal values for the tests you order. Plain radiographs remain first-line for bony trauma, arthritis, and foreign bodies; obtain weight-bearing views for alignment and stress views when ligamentous injury is suspected.
301 words, about 2 min03Medical and Surgical Management of the Lower Extremity
Understand conservative versus surgical management pathways for common conditions: hallux valgus, hammertoe, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, Morton neuroma, and ankle sprains. Know the indications for surgery-failure of appropriate conservative care, progressive deformity, instability, or neurovascular compromise-and the risks of each procedure.
251 words, about 1 min04Biomechanics and Orthopedics
Understand normal gait: heel strike, midstance, toe-off, and the role of the subtalar joint in shock absorption and propulsion. Know the windlass mechanism, the first ray, and the relationship between pronation/supination and common pathology (plantar fasciitis, tibialis posterior dysfunction, lateral ankle sprain).
258 words, about 1 min05Dermatology and Wound Care
Know the classification and staging of wounds (Wagner, Texas, and NPUAP pressure injury staging) and the principles of wound bed preparation: debridement, moisture balance, infection control, and offloading. Understand the difference between arterial, venous, and neuropathic ulcers by location, appearance, and associated findings.
251 words, about 1 min06Systemic Disease and Podiatric Medicine
Understand how systemic disease manifests in the foot: diabetes (neuropathy, vasculopathy, infection), gout (podagra, tophi), rheumatoid arthritis (symmetric small joint involvement, erosions), peripheral arterial disease (claudication, rest pain, tissue loss), and connective tissue disorders. Know the podiatric implications of each-when to refer, what to monitor, and how to modify care.
245 words, about 1 min07Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Know the indications, mechanisms, and adverse effects of drugs commonly used in podiatric practice: NSAIDs, antibiotics, antifungals, corticosteroids, and analgesics. Understand antibiotic selection for common foot infections and the importance of culture-directed therapy.
213 words, about 1 min08Professionalism, Ethics, and Practice Management
Understand informed consent, confidentiality, and the physician's fiduciary duty. Know the principles of medical ethics-autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice-and how they apply to podiatric practice.
198 words, under 1 min09Clinical Skills and Patient Communication
Understand effective communication: active listening, empathy, plain language, teach-back, and shared decision-making. Know how to deliver bad news, discuss risk, and obtain informed consent.
174 words, under 1 min