The British Chiropody & Podiatry Association was formed in 1959 and is the largest professional organisation in the United Kingdom representing the interest of thousands of fully trained independent private chiropodists and podiatrists who have all trained at the SMAE Institute, the school of Surgical Chiropody and Podiatric Medicine at Maidenhead, Berkshire. Upon completion of their basic training in Chiropody/Podiatry members are entitled to use the letters MSSCh (Member of the Society of Surgical Chiropodists) after their names. Completion of all postgraduate training courses and modules results in the award of the Diploma in Podiatric Medicine and the use of the letters Dip Pod Med. Some members may go on to be awarded Fellowship of the British Chiropody & Podiatry Association and be entitled to use the letters FSSCh.

Membership of the BChA entitles the chiropodist/podiatrist to use the letters MBChA. The British Chiropody & Podiatry Association provide the majority of privately practicing chiropodists and podiatrists in the UK.

All practicing members of the British Chiropody & Podiatry Association hold full professional indemnity insurance to the value of 5 million pounds.

The BChA enables members to maintain contact with each other by operating at branch level throughout the United Kingdom. This serves to assist the membership with continuing their professional development as chiropodists/ podiatrists as well as serving a social function to members.