What degrees do pediatricians need?

Answer

The undergraduate degree that one chooses does not matter in order to be a pediatrician (or any other type of physician for that matter)--he or she must simply take the appropriate premed classes, graduate from college, and be accepted into medical school. The classes one must take to get into medical school are the same no matter which kind of physician one wants to be. Generally, the premed requirements consist of a year of biology, a year of inorganic chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, calculus, english, and a year of physics. (Check with a premed advisor to make sure that these have not changed).

If you know that you have a particular interest in Pediatrics, you might consider trying to volunteer with a clinic or hospital and finding an pediatrician who would serve as your mentor to see if it's really what you want to do and to show your interest in the field.

Once in medical school, all of the classes and rotations are the same for everyone until the fourth year, when elective rotations can be taken. You would need to apply to pediatric residency programs during that year of medical school and then complete a pediatrics residency (tpyically 3 years).

Hope this helps!

Dr. B.

First answer by ID1176783782. Last edit by Kubrendan. Contributor trust: 430 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 33 [recommend question]