Qualifiactions Needed to become a Pediatrician
Pediatricians specialize in the care of children(infants, children, teenagers) being a pediatrician can be quite a rewarding experience if you like being around children and taking care of them.
If you are studying human medicine and you have not yet made up your mind whether you want to become a pediatrician or not then the following article will give you more insight on the required qualifications needed to become a pediatrician.
Educationrequirements
As a premedical student you must complete undergraduate study in calculus, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. In addition to these courses you are also required to take courses in humanities and social sciences.
You must have formal education of 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school and 3-8 years of internship and residency. You are looking at 8 years of formal education and training before you can become a qualified pediatrician.
Required training
You must get training in diagnosis and treatment of a variety of ailments specific to children. You should also be able to assess and treat the day-to- day illnesses common to children. These include infectious diseases, minor injuries and immunizations.
Apply for internship and residency
When medical school in your third year, you should apply for internship or residency programs in pediatrics through the National Matching Service. It is mandatory for you to complete your internship and residency which usually takes three years to complete (one year of internship and two years of residency).
You will be required to take the board exam in pediatrics before you can become a qualified pediatrician.
Choose an area of specialization
As a pediatrician you can either choose to do general pediatrics or specialize in a certain area such as pediatric surgery, pediatric transplant hepatology, among others. You can also specialize in treating of serious medical conditions, pediatric surgery, serious chronic ailments and treating autoimmune disorders.
Licensure and certification
In order for you to become a licensed pediatrician you must graduate from an accredited medical school and pass a licensing examination and complete 1-8 years of graduate medical education. After completion of your residency you must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before you can get a license to practice as a pediatrician.
In the US, some states require you to get a license to practice in that state after further examination while some don’t require this so long as you have a valid practicing physician license from the governing body.
You are required to take an exam after your residency for certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS).
Personal traits needed to become a pediatrician
You should have excellent communication skills (the ability to communicate effectively) with children. You should have love for children. Have patience and also have a good sense of humor, self motivated, willing to go an extra mile.
It is also important for you to be able to control your emotions as a pediatrician. Being kind hearted is also among the various traits that every pediatrician should have.
The willingness to learn something new in your profession is essential. A pediatrician should be able to work under pressure and willing to work for long hours too.
Good bedside manners are one of the major traits that you should possess as a pediatrician. It is also important for you to be able to make decisions in the midst of a medical crisis without compromising your ethics as a pediatrician. It is also important for you to be enthusiastic about the latest medical advances and technology that are available.
Adequate training and preparation is essential if you want to become a qualified pediatrician. You should always remember that becoming a pediatrician is a very rewarding profession which will have a positive impact on the lives of many young children.
