Before discussing about the appropriate steps to becoming a pediatrician, it is crucial to know who a paediatrician is. A paediatrician is a physician who specializes in the treatment of babies, children, adolescents as well as young adults. As a pediatrician, you will treat illness and other health conditions and also provide preventive care. Conditions that you may diagnose and treat include genetic defect, behavioural difficulties as well as infections. You will likewise help patient with injuries, diseases, developmental disorder as well as functional problems. The job duty of a pediatrician may include examining patients, keeping records of patient historic as well as ordering diagnostic tests. Additionally, pediatrician likewise administer vaccines, develop treatment plans and also counsel patients about general wellbeing.
First Step: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
So as to be admitted into medical school, you must complete premedical courses as an undergraduate. These undergraduate courses include inorganic and organic chemistry, physics as well as biology. Since the admission into medical school is highly competitive, you may have a better chance at acceptance if you have a bachelor’s degree, gain volunteer or paid clinical healthcare experience, participate in extracurricular activities and take on some leadership positions while in college. During your undergraduate study, you’ll prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is a requirement to get into most medical schools. Check Newport Children Medical Group for further information.
Second Step: Graduate from Medical School
You may complete four years of allopathic medical school so as to earn a Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree, or you might complete four years of osteopathic medical school to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Both programs will prepare you to practice medicine as a paediatrician, but osteopathic program place more emphasis on the musculoskeletal system as well as preventive medicine.
During your medical school, you will take two years of lecture as well as laboratory courses in the sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology as well as microbiology. Your final two years will give you experience about the diagnosing and the treatment of patients on clinical rotations. These rotations would focus on various specialties such as family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, psychiatry and pediatrics.
Third Step: Earn a License
It is a must for you to earn a license before you may practice medicine in the United States. Allopathic physicians must pass the United State Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), while osteopathic physicians are required to pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX). Each 3-part exam tests candidates on basic science knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge into the clinical practice of medicine.
Fourth Step: Complete a Pediatric Residency
After graduating from medical school and earning your license, you have to complete residency training in pediatrics. This training usually lasts for a duration of three years. During your residency, you would complete clinical rotations in various pediatric sub-specialties such as emergency medicine, adolescent medicine, endocrinology and cardiology. You may also attend lectures, conduct research and also gain teaching experience.
Fifth Step: Consider Earning Board Certification
You may decide to earn a board certification in pediatrics after completing the residency, although this is not compulsory. Board certification shows patients that you have a high level of competency in your chosen specialty. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) regulates the specialty certifying boards for allopathic physicians while the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) regulates the specialty certifying boards for osteopathic physicians. However, it is crucial to have a continuing education so as to maintain the board certification.