The APMA Seal of Acceptance is awarded by the American Podiatric Medical Association to products that an independent committee of licensed podiatrists has reviewed and found to be beneficial to foot health. It is not self-certified or purchased — it covers design, materials, structural support, and overall clinical benefit, evaluated separately for each product submitted.

Yes — and critically, they are reviewed independently. Each Aetrex orthotic product earns the seal on its own merits, separate from our footwear. This means you can use an Aetrex orthotic in any shoe and still benefit from an APMA-accepted product, not just when wearing Aetrex footwear.

Aetrex submits its footwear and orthotics to APMA each season for review. Our current collection carries the Seal of Acceptance. Because acceptance is tied to specific submitted products — not the brand as a whole — we maintain this by resubmitting seasonally. To verify a specific product's status, you can check Aetrex's listing atAPMA.org.

Aetrex is a strong option to bring up with your podiatrist. Our footwear and orthotics are carried by podiatric clinics and foot health specialty retailers globally — many podiatrists recommend Aetrex by name, particularly for plantar fasciitis and heel pain. We suggest showing your doctor the specific style you're considering. Our products are listed on APMA.org, which you can share as a reference.

Most APMA-accepted brands are footwear companies that added support to select styles. Aetrex started as an orthotic manufacturer — foot health is the origin of the business, not a feature added to it. That shows up in how we build: AeroCell® PU cushioning, posted heels, and CopperGuard® antimicrobial treatment are standard across our products, not tiered features. And our Albert® 3D foot scanning platform — used in retail worldwide — feeds real foot data back into how we design, at scale.