How to Become a Pediatrician
If you have a passion for working with children and want a career in healthcare, let us show you how to become a pediatrician and why it’s a great choice. According to U.S. News research, a pediatrician career ranks 10th in the best paying jobs, 12th in best healthcare jobs, 14th in best STEM jobs, and 36th in the best jobs overall in the country.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are over 30,000 pediatricians working on U.S. soil, and sadly they are not enough. From the data collected by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) it emerged that physicians in many pediatric subspecialties are in short supply, which negatively impact children’s access to health care.
For example, approximately 1.5 million children in the U.S. have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but there are only roughly 700 practicing pediatricians who are board-certified in developmental-behavioral medicine. Moreover, the national average wait time for a developmental evaluation by a pediatrician is over five months.
To pursue this fulfilling, highly requested, and well-paid healthcare career, keep reading about how to become a pediatrician.
What Is a Pediatrician?
A pediatrician specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and helps disease and injury prevention for babies, children, and adolescents. Most pediatricians in the U.S. are employed in physicians’ offices (over 23,000), hospitals (over 7,000), and outpatient care centers (over 1,800). The rest work in colleges, universities, professional schools, state and local government, and private companies and enterprises.
What Does a Pediatrician Do?
Before digging deep into how to become a pediatrician, here are some of the most common duties and responsibilities in the job:
- conducting medical examinations, diagnosing, and treating illnesses and injuries
- completing medical encounter forms after each visit and maintaining patient records
- establishing treatment plans and providing referrals to specialists
- communicating with patients and their parents and caregivers about illness and injury prevention and promoting lifelong health practices.
- Working closely with the medical director and other staff to identify, develop, and implement comprehensive pediatric clinical and preventive services.
- Participating in team and evidence-based approaches to pediatric care by providing appropriate patient education about illness, treatment, medications, and immunizations.
- Supervising medical assistants and lab personnel in areas of specific support services for pediatric care delivery.
- Participating in quality assurance and performance improvement activities as assigned, including peer review, provider meetings and pharmacy management.
How To Become a Pediatrician
Choosing a pediatrician career means committing to years of medical and pediatric study, a pediatric residence, internship, and for some even a fellowship. So, how long does it take to become a pediatrician? Following your GED, it takes at least 11 to 15 years to become a pediatrician. The duration depends on whether you intend to join a fellowship program or work in general pediatrics.
Let’s look at out how to become a pediatrician in terms of everything from a pediatrician’s education requirements, to the must-have skills, locations where pediatricians are most sought-after, and more.
Pediatrician Education Requirements
What degree do you need to be a pediatrician? The quick answer is either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), which involve you first obtaining a bachelor’s degree with enough science classes.
However, to become a pediatric subspecialist you’ll also need to complete extra few years of fellowship clinical and research training. The exact number of fellowship years depends on the pediatric subspecialty you choose, such as cardiology, neurology, adolescent medicine, pulmonary medicine, or neonatology .
How to Become a Pediatrician in any State
To practice medicine in the U.S., all pediatricians must obtain a medical license for the state you want to work in. In certain situations, pediatricians are also required to be board certified or board eligible as an extra commitment to professional standards, lifelong learning, and assessment.
Each state has its own set of requirements as well as different timelines. Most range from a minimum of six weeks, like in New York, to up to five months, such as in New Jersey.
Here are the most common requirements for pediatricians included in job listings:
- Residency or fellowship in pediatrics or pediatric subspecialty.
- D. or D.O. medical degree.
- American Board of Pediatricians certification, or board eligible.
- License to practice medicine in state of employment.
Skills You Need for a Pediatrician Career
If you’re wondering how to become a pediatrician who is successful, admired, and appreciated by colleagues and patients alike - involves more than just satisfying the technical requirements. You’ll also have to master certain skills as well. The most sought-after skills in a pediatrician include:
- excellent bedside manner
- ability to express complicated information in an accessible manner to patients and caregivers
- patience and empathy
- team leadership and management skills
- conversational Spanish or another second language is a plus
How Much Is a Pediatrician’s Salary?
The median general pediatrician salary in the U.S. is $174,546 per year and ranges from $152,953 to $189,331. Your education, specialization, and experience, as well as your job location and facility, are key factors in determining your specific pediatrician salary. According to BLS, Montana and Texas are the top paying states for pediatricians, while Austin (TX) and Santa Maria (CA) are the top paying metropolitan areas.
Head to Monster’s salary comparison tool to instantaneously find out how much pediatricians are paid in your preferred locations. Our tool is free to use and will also show you salaries for related jobs, potential moves to advance your career path, and high-demand job locations.
How to Find Pediatrician Jobs
Once you’ve satisfied the main requirements for how to become a pediatrician, prepare a doctor’s resume and a cover letter tailored for the healthcare industry and start applying to jobs. Before sending your resume, make sure it has a clear format, is organized, and easy to read. Utilize bullet points and incorporate numbers that demonstrate your experience and achievements.
Also, always customize your cover letter with details strictly related to the pediatrician job you are applying to. For example, be sure to name the employer, reference your interest in the job location, and mention the specific requirements that they’re looking for.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that the top five states with the most pediatrician job opportunities are:
The top five U.S. metropolitan areas with the most pediatrician jobs are:
Join Monster’s Network of Professionals to Kickstart Your Pediatrician Career
Now that you know exactly how to become a pediatrician, join Monster for free to embark on your career. Upload your resume to be discovered by hiring managers. And, don’t forget to activate custom notifications to receive alerts about new jobs for your preferred locations and roles.