7 Steps to Becoming a Pediatrician

Understand what pediatricians do and learn how to become a licensed pediatrician in seven steps.

The following chart provides an overview about pediatrics as a career.

Degree Required Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)Training Required Residency in pediatricsKey Responsibilities Examine, diagnose and treat children who may be ill or who have injuries, diseases or congenital conditions; maintain patient medical records; administer medications and vaccinations; make medical referralsLicensing or Certification All states require doctors to be licensed; board certification in pediatrics is availableJob Growth (2020-2030) -2%*Median Salary (2020) $177,130*

Pediatricians are responsible for the health and wellness of children and adolescents. They require No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "several years of medical school and traininghttps"! before they can practice.

Below, we'll explain what a pediatrician does and how to become one in seven steps.

What Does a Pediatrician Do?

Pediatricians are medical doctors who work specifically with children and adolescents. They often work in clinics, hospitals, and doctors' offices.

Job duties of pediatricians may include:

administering vaccines
conducting physical exams
diagnosing and treating medical conditions
prescribing medication
referring patients to specialists
tracking children's development

General pediatricians may be responsible for routine visits, but pediatricians can specialize as well. Some common examples of pediatric specialties include:

pediatric cardiology
pediatric dermatology
pediatric endocrinology
pediatric neurology
pediatric oncology
pediatric surgery

Many years of training are required to become a pediatrician. We'll break down each step below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The first step in becoming a medical doctor is to earn a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degrees typically require 120 credits and take four years to complete.

Some colleges offer pre-med bachelor's degrees that are specifically designed to help you get into and prepare for medical school.

Other bachelor's degrees you can earn for medical school include biological and physical science degrees.

These degrees offer the foundational knowledge needed for medical school and can help you pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Step 2: Take the MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test that is required for medical school applications.

The exam tests your knowledge of basic medical and scientific principles as well as your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

There are four sections within the exam:

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

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.

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.

Step 3: Graduate Medical School

Once you've taken the MCAT, the next step is medical school. You can earn either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.

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.

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.

You can find a full directory of accredited medical schools through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

While in medical school or shortly after you graduate, you can take the first two parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

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.

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.

You won't be able to take the third and final step of the exam until after you complete your residency.

Step 4: Complete a Pediatric Residency

After medical school, you can begin a pediatric residency program. These programs allow you to focus on working in pediatrics.

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.

Your pediatric residency gives you a chance to explore these specialties and choose if one is right for you.

Step 5: Finish the USMLE and Obtain Licensure

Once you've completed at least one year of your residency, you may qualify to take the third and final step of the USMLE.

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.

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.

Completing the final step of the USMLE is one of the last things you need to do before you can become licensed.

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.

Step 6: Attend a Pediatric Fellowship

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.

Fellowships are not a requirement, but they allow you to train in a subspecialty and look good on your resume.

You can find a full list of accredited residency and fellowship programs through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Step 7: Consider Board Certification

As with fellowships, board certification isn't a requirement but has several benefits.

The American Board of Pediatrics certifies pediatricians in the United States. To qualify for this certification, you must have:

graduated from a medical school accredited by the LCME
completed three years in a pediatric training program accredited by ACGME
a valid, unrestricted medical license
passed the certification exam

The general pediatric exam covers 25 different pediatric domains. Specialty pediatric exams are available as well.

Start Your Path to Pediatrics Today

Pediatricians require many years of schooling and training before they can be licensed to practice. Reach out to Learn.org today for help getting started.