Educational Requirements for Becoming a Pediatrician

Pediatricians are medical doctors who diagnose and treat patients from birth to 21 years old. Pediatricians are a type of general practitioner and must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam before practicing medicine. Some hospitals require pediatricians to also pass the American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Exam.

College

• Some potential doctors will major in premed, but most medical schools don't require that. Medical schools require basic science coursework, which includes biology, math, chemistry and physics.

Medical School

• Medical school lasts four years. The first two years focus on basic medical sciences such as anatomy and chemistry. The last two years allow students to get hands-on experience with patients.

Residency

• Residency takes place after competing medical school. This is where new pediatricians work long hours with low pay to refine the skills they will need to care for sick children.

Costs

• Becoming a pediatrician can be expensive. You can expect to pay as much as $260,000 for college and medical school as of October 2009.

Salary

• Pediatricians can expect to earn around $133,000 to $177,000 per year on average, but salaries for pediatricians will vary depending on where they work and how much experience they have.