Is there really any point to getting ABFAS if you plan to practice rural where they don’t really care what you have?
It's most useful for getting top consideration for jobs in the first place, as mentioned above.
ABFAS Foot cert puts you in the top half or so of DPMs for most jobs, and RRA much higher.
ABFAS simply shows you've passed tough tests; shows you've done cases.
ABPM does basically nothing for jobs/CV as everyone passes that one.
The main thing is definitely that your job options will be crippled without ABFAS qual/cert (hence this whole attempt for people who didn't pass to have"one board").
It's also about being certified in your primary specialty and minimizing any issues with surgery privileging.
As for hospitals and privileges (regardless of it you work for them or just do cases there), some require ABFAS, some do not. Rural or less desired areas/facilities tend to be more lax as they're just more hard up for docs and cases overall. In metros and suburbs, it is very common to require ABFAS qual for surgical privileges... and usually require cert within 5yrs.
Just because you work rural for a first job or for awhile doesn't mean you won't change later. Most podiatrists work 25+ years... or even 35+ years. I personally lasted about 2 years in truly rural work... back to at least small/medium cities and towns. Some hospitals, esp many IHS/VA, also give higher salary for ABFAS cert vs not. Realize that the gatekeepers for the vast majority of pod jobs are DPMs... and they know ABFAS is fairly hard and any podiatrist passes ABPM. For most jobs, the applicants without ABFAS get tossed right away... and they
still have a ton to sort through. I have had my own CV tossed many times back when I was ABFAS qual (for hospital jobs... IHS, private sector, VA); the employers had so many apps with ABFAS cert that the pod reviewing apps (or the HR of hiring) told me when I called or emailed to follow up on my CV submit that I wouldn't be considered for interview without cert status. "We'll let you know if we extend the job search to include more" (never did).
Other benefits are that the ABFAS logging system is good to use; nearly any hospital will ask for residency logs... and attending logs. It's easy to generate PDF lists. I've used that dozens of times for staff application/privileges or renews.
A
huge benefit in my eyes is ACFAS (journal, conferences, cme online, etc etc). A lot of the CME in podiatry is very low quality (Present, Apma, etc are largely garbage), but ACFAS is the best CME and journal... the best minds we have. You need ABFAS qual/cert to get ACFAS membership and member rates and accesses and workshops and etc. I kinda wish it weren't that way (I'd prefer ACFAS available for all DPMs), but that's how it is... logically so. I don't love that the rich DPMs get richer with good CME while the poor get poorer with mediocre CME, though.
...It is basically a career self-neutering in podiatry to not get ABFAS qual and to not try for at least ABFAS Foot cert, imo... add RRA if you do those cases and can get that cert will give even more job options. Are there some ppl who do fine with just ABPM - or even with a non-recognized pod board? Sure... but why chance it? Podiatry is highly saturated job market, even if you use all advantages. Why lose job options and best CME without even trying? ABPM is the alternate, and it's fine for ppl who can't pass ABFAS or don't do surgery... but it's crazy not to shoot for the main goal and best results/advantage possible (assuming you do any OR surgery).