How to Become A Pediatrician

Improving the health of children is essential to building a healthier and safer generation for tomorrow. Various healthcare programs have therefore been established to promote children health and raise awareness on disease prevention. Pediatricians are at the forefront of this mission. These medical experts provide healthcare services to children from early childhood. Pediatricians specialize in treating kids and respond to their various healthcare needs. What makes this career challenging is the changing psychological and physical nature of children. Pediatrician must be able to assess seriousness of a child’s illness and provide adequate medical treatment and care.

With the healthcare industry expanding, the need for specialized professionals such as pedestrians is high. In 2012, there were approximately 35,000 employed pediatricians, according to O*NET OnLine.

To become a pediatrician, individuals must complete its educational and training requirements. Education is necessary to help students develop the necessary understanding of the medical field, whereas training will allow students to build a strong skill set. The general steps that must be completed to become a pediatrician are:

• Complete a high school diploma
• Complete a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
• Complete four years of education from a medical school
• Complete a 3-4 year residency program in pediatrics

During high school, it is recommended that students take up various science courses as this will help strengthen their scientific knowledge and prepare them for advanced studies ahead.

The first step to preparing for a medical school is to hold a bachelor’s degree, preferably in biology or a related field.  According to The Association of American Medical Colleges, over 51% of students hoping to enter medical school chose to major in biological sciences. Other recommended majors are:

• Humanities
• Statistics and math
• Physical sciences
• Chemistry
• Specialized health sciences

The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is a standardized test. The test will evaluate your problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, knowledge of scientific concepts, and analysis skills.

The admission requirements of medical schools may vary; however, generally, applicants will be required to provide the following:

• Completed admission application
• MCAT scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts of a bachelor’s degree
• A minimum GPA

After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can apply for admission in a medical school. However, not necessarily do all medical schools offer pediatrics as a specialization. Medical schools generally offer the D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and MD (Doctor of Medicine) degrees. The coursework will integrate science and clinical knowledge to help students prepare for the healthcare field. The curriculum will typically entail courses such as the following:

The main purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the basic human anatomy. Students will be required to participate in anatomical dissection classes.

This course will provide students with a thorough understanding of tissue types and cells. The course will cover various topics such as nature of genes, food molecules, metabolism, and structural components of the human body.

In this course, students will learn how to identify and analyze different disease types, and understand how the immune system works. Some of the topics covered include disease process, pathogens, chronic inflammation, infectious organisms, immunology, and microbiology.

This course will cover topics such as epidemiology, health organizations, health promotion, and occupational medicine. Students will acquire in-depth knowledge about drugs and medicine used for treatment and disease prevention.

The course is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the human central nervous system. The course integrates psychiatry and neuroanatomical concepts within its structure.

This part of the program is aimed at providing students with specialized knowledge in a certain field. Students who choose pediatrics as their specialization may go through a clerkship program. It is geared towards providing students with hands-on experience and training in pediatrics. The duration can last anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending upon the institute.

To practice as a physician in the United States, one must complete a residency program. Medical residency training is basically designed to provide physicians with practical experience and skills. During the residency program, individuals are required to work under the supervision of a senior physician.

In a pediatric residency program, students may learn the following:

• Acquire exposure to general pediatrics
• Work in pediatric wards, ICUs, and pediatric emergency units
• Participate in research and physician-scientist training programs
• Build strong case management skills

Individuals must have a medical license to practice professionally. The requirements of obtaining a medical license will vary slightly from state to state.

Certification is highly recommended for every medical sub-specialty field such as pediatrics. The American Board of Pediatrics is among the few leading certifying agencies in the nation. Individuals can take the certification examinations if they fulfill the basic eligibility criteria. This may include the following:

• Graduation from a medical school
• Completion of an accredited 3-year pediatric training program
• Applicants must hold a valid medical license

Pediatricians earned a median annual wage of $157,610 in 2013, according to O*NET OnLine and a median annual wage of $170,530 in 2013, according to U.S Bureau of Labor Stastics (BLS) respectively.

How to Become a Pediatrician in Texas?

The first step to become a pediatrician in Texas is getting a four-year long bachelor’s degree, followed by four years of medical school. Once this is completed, students interested in pediatrics will be required to obtain a residency in that capacity. The American Board of Pediatrics requires medical school graduates to complete at least three years of training accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. After clearing this, aspiring pediatricians will need to obtain their medical license from the Texas Medical Board to be able to begin practicing in the state.

How to Become a Pediatrician in California?

To become a pediatrician in California, you will first need to complete four years of undergraduate studies, followed by four years of medical school. This will be followed by three years of residency in the field of pediatrics. Students opting for a career in pediatrics should be prepared for an extensive educational study. California has the highest employment for pediatricians, with 3,460 professionals in the field, and an annual mean wage of $182,790.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Source: bls.gov