3 answers
Sam
Student
Mesa, Arizona
12
Questions
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How long does it take to be a Pediatric Physician vs Pediatrician?
I'm currently in 12th grade!
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3 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1616
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Sam it usually takes at least 12 years to become a pediatrician:
• Four years to earn a bachelor's degree
• Four years of medical school*
• Four years in a pediatric residency
*To apply to medical school, you should have a high GPA (3.6+) and at least three years of undergraduate coursework completed.
Begin preparing to become a pediatrician by finding a part-time job or volunteer position that involves working with children of all ages. Pediatricians spend most of their workdays interacting with children and their parents, so it can be important for you to be certain that you want to have a career working with kids. Volunteering can help you determine if a career in pediatrics is right for you. Gaining child care experience is also a useful way to learn strategies for handling children, and it can strengthen your application and make it easier to earn acceptance into a pediatrics program.
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
Technically, you do not need to pursue any particular undergraduate major to get into medical school. Many universities offer undergraduate pre-med tracks, which typically include courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy and other medicine-adjacent fields to ensure you meet the basic admission requirements for med school. To get into medical school, focus on earning good grades in your pre-med courses.
Before applying to medical school, you should take the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice test that takes more than seven hours to complete. The test consists of 230 questions.
MEDICAL DEGREE
Most medical degrees take four years of full-time study to complete. Medical students attend labs and lectures in subjects like anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and behavioral science. During the second part of medical school, students generally complete clinical rotations in various branches of medicine, which helps them narrow down a specialty for residency. Rotations may include surgery and internal medicine, among other fields.
PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY
After graduating from medical school, you must match to a pediatric residency. The match process relies on an algorithm in which future residents rank residency programs by preference and vice versa. The algorithm then tries to ensure fair and ideal outcomes for both the residents and their placement medical facilities.
During a pediatric residency, you’ll get direct experience working with patients. Residencies can take place in a variety of environments, including clinics, hospitals and intensive care units. Most residents gain responsibility as they build experience, eventually becoming a doctor who can make key decisions. Most pediatric residencies take four years to complete.
• Four years to earn a bachelor's degree
• Four years of medical school*
• Four years in a pediatric residency
*To apply to medical school, you should have a high GPA (3.6+) and at least three years of undergraduate coursework completed.
Begin preparing to become a pediatrician by finding a part-time job or volunteer position that involves working with children of all ages. Pediatricians spend most of their workdays interacting with children and their parents, so it can be important for you to be certain that you want to have a career working with kids. Volunteering can help you determine if a career in pediatrics is right for you. Gaining child care experience is also a useful way to learn strategies for handling children, and it can strengthen your application and make it easier to earn acceptance into a pediatrics program.
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
Technically, you do not need to pursue any particular undergraduate major to get into medical school. Many universities offer undergraduate pre-med tracks, which typically include courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy and other medicine-adjacent fields to ensure you meet the basic admission requirements for med school. To get into medical school, focus on earning good grades in your pre-med courses.
Before applying to medical school, you should take the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice test that takes more than seven hours to complete. The test consists of 230 questions.
MEDICAL DEGREE
Most medical degrees take four years of full-time study to complete. Medical students attend labs and lectures in subjects like anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and behavioral science. During the second part of medical school, students generally complete clinical rotations in various branches of medicine, which helps them narrow down a specialty for residency. Rotations may include surgery and internal medicine, among other fields.
PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY
After graduating from medical school, you must match to a pediatric residency. The match process relies on an algorithm in which future residents rank residency programs by preference and vice versa. The algorithm then tries to ensure fair and ideal outcomes for both the residents and their placement medical facilities.
During a pediatric residency, you’ll get direct experience working with patients. Residencies can take place in a variety of environments, including clinics, hospitals and intensive care units. Most residents gain responsibility as they build experience, eventually becoming a doctor who can make key decisions. Most pediatric residencies take four years to complete.
Dr. Deniece
Physician
4
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Dr.’s Answer
A Pediatric Physician = Pediatrician! They are the same job, just different ways to say the same thing. To become a Pediatrician you must have a love for kids and school. 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and then 3 years of Pediatric Residency program. Then you'll start working or go to Fellowship for additional years, which can vary.
Joe A
Investment manager
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Joe’s Answer
Four years of undergraduate work in a pre-med program.
Followed by four years of medical school.
Then 2 year residency in the pediatrics department at a teaching hospital
Specialties within pedatrics will require 1 or 2 years of additional residency training.
Followed by four years of medical school.
Then 2 year residency in the pediatrics department at a teaching hospital
Specialties within pedatrics will require 1 or 2 years of additional residency training.