7 Steps to Becoming a Pediatrician

<p>Pediatricians are medical doctors who work specifically with children and adolescents. They often work in clinics, hospitals, and doctors' offices. </p> <p><b>Job duties of pediatricians may include:</b> </p> <ul><li>administering vaccines </li><li>conducting physical exams </li><li>diagnosing and treating medical conditions </li><li>prescribing medication </li><li>referring patients to specialists </li><li>tracking children's development </li></ul><p>General pediatricians may be responsible for routine visits, but pediatricians can specialize as well. <b>Some common examples of pediatric specialties include:</b> </p> <ul><li>pediatric cardiology </li><li>pediatric dermatology </li><li>pediatric endocrinology </li><li>pediatric neurology </li><li>pediatric oncology </li><li>pediatric surgery </li></ul><p>Many years of training are required to become a pediatrician. We'll break down each step below. </p> <h2 id="section---Step1EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h2> <p>The first step in becoming a medical doctor is to earn a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Type_of_Degree_Does_a_Pediatrician_Need.html">bachelor's degree</a>. Bachelor's degrees typically require 120 credits and take four years to complete. </p> <p>Some colleges offer pre-med bachelor's degrees that are specifically designed to help you get into and prepare for medical school. </p> <p>Other bachelor's degrees you can earn for medical school include biological and physical science degrees. </p> <p>These degrees offer the foundational knowledge needed for medical school and can help you pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). </p> <h2 id="section---Step2TakeTheMCAT">Step 2: Take the MCAT</h2> <p>The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test that is required for medical school applications. </p> <p>The exam tests your knowledge of basic medical and scientific principles as well as your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. </p> <p><b>There are four sections within the exam:</b> </p> <ul><li>Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems </li><li>Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems </li><li>Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior </li><li>Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) </li></ul><p>The first three sections of the exam each contain 59 questions and a time limit of 95 minutes. The CARS section has 53 questions and a limit of 90 minutes. </p> <p>You'll receive your results 30 to 35 days after your test. If you don't pass or don't get the score you're hoping for, you can retake it three times in a year or up to seven times in total. </p> <h2 id="section---Step3GraduateMedicalSchool">Step 3: Graduate Medical School</h2> <p>Once you've taken the MCAT, the next step is medical school. You can earn either a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Type_of_Degree_Does_a_Pediatrician_Need.html">Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree</a>. </p> <p>Look for medical schools with a strong pediatric program. Medical school can be very competitive, so it's best to apply to as many as possible to increase your chances of getting in. </p> <p>Medical school typically takes at least four years to complete. The first phase is typically made of classroom instruction and labs, while the second phase is for hands-on clinical experience. </p> <p>You can find a full directory of accredited medical schools through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). </p> <p>While in medical school or shortly after you graduate, you can take the first two parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). </p> <p>Step one of the USMLE is an eight-hour exam made up of 280 multiple-choice questions that cover the basic concepts of medicine and science. The questions are divided into seven 60-minute blocks. </p> <p>Step two of the exam lasts about nine hours and is made up of 318 multiple-choice questions that cover patient care, health promotion, and disease prevention. Questions are divided into eight 60-minute blocks. </p> <p>You won't be able to take the third and final step of the exam until after you complete your residency. </p> <h2 id="section---Step4CompleteAPediatricResidency">Step 4: Complete a Pediatric Residency</h2> <p>After medical school, you can begin a pediatric residency program. These programs allow you to focus on working in pediatrics. </p> <p>Residency programs usually last about three years. During this time, you'll rotate through different medical settings and get a chance to work in different pediatric specialties. </p> <p>Your pediatric residency gives you a chance to explore these specialties and choose if one is right for you. </p> <h2 id="section---Step5FinishTheUSMLEAndObtainLicensure">Step 5: Finish the USMLE and Obtain Licensure</h2> <p>Once you've completed at least one year of your residency, you may qualify to take the third and final step of the USMLE. </p> <p>Step three is a two-day, two-part exam. Day one is the Foundations of Independent Practice exam, which is made up of 232 multiple-choice questions divided into six 60-minute blocks. </p> <p>Day two is the Advanced Clinical Medicine exam. It's made up of 180 multiple-choice questions divided into six 45-minute blocks as 13 computer-based simulations that take 10 to 20 minutes each. </p> <p>Completing the final step of the USMLE is one of the last things you need to do before you can become licensed. </p> <p>However, licensing requirements vary between states, and you'll need to check to see what the requirements are for the state you plan to work in. </p> <h2 id="section---Step6AttendAPediatricFellowship">Step 6: Attend a Pediatric Fellowship</h2> <p>If you've chosen a subspecialty, you may decide to attend a pediatric fellowship. Fellowships usually last about two years and give you the chance to work closely with experts in your chosen subspecialty. </p> <p>Fellowships are not a requirement, but they allow you to train in a subspecialty and look good on your resume. </p> <p>You can find a full list of accredited residency and fellowship programs through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). </p> <h2 id="section---Step7ConsiderBoardCertification">Step 7: Consider Board Certification</h2> <p>As with fellowships, board certification isn't a requirement but has several benefits. </p> <p>The American Board of Pediatrics certifies pediatricians in the United States. <b>To qualify for this certification, you must have:</b> </p> <ul><li>graduated from a medical school accredited by the LCME </li><li>completed three years in a pediatric training program accredited by ACGME </li><li>a valid, unrestricted medical license </li><li>passed the certification exam </li></ul><p>The general pediatric exam covers 25 different pediatric domains. Specialty pediatric exams are available as well. </p> <h2 id="section---StartYourPathToPediatricsToday">Start Your Path to Pediatrics Today</h2> <p>Pediatricians require many years of schooling and training before they can be licensed to practice. Reach out to <i><a href="https://learn.org/">Learn.org</a></i> today for help getting started.</p>