How to Become a Pediatrician

Co-authored by Corey Fish, MD and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 6, 2023 References Approved

If you want to become a doctor and love kids, you may be interested in becoming a pediatrician who provides medical care for people under the age of 18 (from newborns to teenagers). A career in pediatrics can be very rewarding, but also requires a significant amount of training, education, and both physical and emotional stamina. You must also remember that the parents of the patients are counting on you to help their children feel better. Pediatricians can also specialize in other fields of medicine like psychiatry (deals with mental disorders), endocrinology (deals with hormones), and much more but they may require additional years of training.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Getting Your Education and Credentials

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Obtain a high school diploma or pass the General Education Development (GED) test.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Association of American Medical Colleges
Nonprofit organization repsonsible for the administration of the MCAT and for facilitating the medical school applications process
Go to source} This is the first step on the road to becoming a doctor. Classes like biology, physics, and chemistry will prepare you for the type of coursework you will be studying in medical school. How you perform in these types of courses will be a good indicator of whether medicine is the right field for you.
- If you do not like or struggle with science, consider finding a private tutor to help you. Some universities offer extra help services to their students so take advantage if one is available for you. If you hate science, you may want to reconsider becoming a pediatrician.
- If you are still having trouble even with the help of a tutor, consider becoming a pediatric nurse. Unlike doctors, nurses do not need to take the MCAT or difficult science courses like Physics. It also provides flexibility in time and money because it only requires two years to complete compared to the traditional four years of medical school.
- Getting good grades in high school will be important when it comes to applying to a four-year university. The grades you receive during your sophomore and junior years are important. Be sure to complete assignments on time, study for tests and quizzes, and keep up with reading assignments.
2
Graduate from a four-year university. You should apply to several universities and choose the most prestigious one, as this will increase your chances of getting into medical school.^{[2]
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Research source} Most students who pursue medicine choose pre-med majors like Biology or Chemistry, but you don't necessarily have to graduate with a Bachelor of Sciences (BS). Students who graduate in social sciences and humanities can also be accepted to medical school.
- Even if you don't graduate in sciences, you may need to complete certain requirements in chemistry, physics, general biology, and calculus. The specific requirements will vary between schools, so check around with the various medical schools you plan on applying to.
- Increase your chances of being accepted to a top medical school by volunteering or working in an environment that deals with public health. Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home, or find a job working in a pharmacy.^{[3]
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3
Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized multiple-choice test that is required for admission to medical school. The topics covered in the test include physical sciences, biological sciences, and verbal reasoning.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
Association of American Medical Colleges
Nonprofit organization repsonsible for the administration of the MCAT and for facilitating the medical school applications process
Go to source}
- Prepare for the test by buying an official MCAT handbook, taking practice tests, hiring a private tutor, and/or taking an MCAT preparatory class.^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Association of American Medical Colleges
  Nonprofit organization repsonsible for the administration of the MCAT and for facilitating the medical school applications process
  Go to source}
4
Finish medical school. Most medical school programs are four years long. During the first two years, you will study broader subjects like physiology, chemistry, human anatomy, and pharmacology.^{[6]
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Research source} During your second two years, you will narrow down your focus to a specialized field, including family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics.^{[7]
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- Annual fees for medical school average at $25,000 for state residents and $48,000 for non-residents. Consider getting a loan, grant or scholarship to help you pay for medical school.
5
Complete a residency at a hospital. Once you have graduated from medical school, you will need to complete a three-year pediatric training program at a hospital before you can start your own practice.^{[8]
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Research source} During this time, you will be given hands-on training and develop your skills in treating and dealing with sick patients. Over the course of the three years, you will be given an increasing amount of responsibilities and learn how to properly interact with patients.^{[9]
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- The training program must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
- Residencies are the most challenging part of becoming a doctor. You will be working very long hours (80–100 hours per week) and will be paid a minimum wage.^{[10]
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  Research source} Expect to devote all of your time to completing your residency; you will have very little time to spend with friends and family.
6
Get board certified. You will need to receive and maintain a certification to practice pediatric medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) or the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics (AOBP).
- There is a limit of seven years that can pass between the time you finish your pediatric training and become board certified.
- Certifications expire on December 31 of the specified year of expiration, and doctors will have to renew their certifications to continue practicing.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Understanding the Required Skills and Habits

1
Be prepared for the physical and emotional challenges involved. Pediatricians work with both healthy children and sick children whose illnesses will vary in their severity, and may meet patients who do not survive their illnesses. Parents of sick children may be extremely emotional and touchy, so it is important to be empathetic, patient, and have strong communication skills.
- Physicians usually work long hours and have limited time to spend with friends and family. They also experience a great deal of stress when it comes to both time-management and the prospect of losing patients.
2
Know what to expect in medical school. Many students feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the heavy workload and breadth of study in medical school. The best way to prepare for medical school is to have a thorough understanding of the basic subjects, which include anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, among others.
- Be prepared to spend a majority of your time either in school or studying. Take advantage of the months before medical school starts to travel and spend time with loved ones, as your free time will be very limited once the program begins.
3
Start early. It is important that you fully apply yourself in all levels of your education, from high school through medical school. Getting good grades early on in life will increase your likelihood of being accepted to a reputable university, medical school, and residency program. More importantly, being able to grasp the basic subjects early on in life will build a foundation that will help you throughout your education and work as a doctor.
4
Determine whether you enjoy working with children. Pediatricians should love children and feel comfortable working with them. Remember that your patients are children (from newborns to 17 years of age). Treating younger patients requires more patience and intuition as a doctor, as patients may be uncooperative or unable to speak for themselves (especially infants). You will also have to ask teenagers if they are having sex, smoking cigarettes or cannabis, vaping, or drinking alcohol because these are very common among high school students. Teens are in the process of becoming adults both physically and mentally making them more susceptible to mental health issues like depression and OCD, which do not happen in prepubescents (younger children).
- Make sure you take time to listen to parents and children when they explain how they're feeling rather than rushing through consultations.^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Corey Fish, MD
  Pediatrician & Chief Medical Officer, BraveCare
  Expert Interview. 17 March 2020.}
- Work on your sense of humor so kids will feel more comfortable around you.^{[12]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Corey Fish, MD
  Pediatrician & Chief Medical Officer, BraveCare
  Expert Interview. 17 March 2020.}

Expert Q&A

Question

How hard is it to become a pediatrician?

Corey Fish, MD
Pediatrician & Chief Medical Officer, BraveCare
Dr. Corey Fish is a practicing Pediatrician and the Chief Medical Officer at Brave Care, a pediatric healthcare company based in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Fish has over 10 years of experience in pediatric care and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Fish received a BS in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University in 2005, an MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2009, and completed his Pediatric Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 2012.

Corey Fish, MD

Pediatrician & Chief Medical Officer, BraveCare

Expert Answer

It requires a lot of hard work. It is important to be detail-oriented and have a thorough understanding of medicine in order to effectively diagnose patients, especially infants, who cannot articulate their symptoms.