What does it take to become a Pediatrician?

What educational steps should I take to become a pediatrician starting with a high school diploma?

• I just got my high school diploma and have also completed a cna course I'm reay to carry on as a pediatrician and I don't know what steps to take next to persue in becoming of ...show more

• Answer:

  Becoming a pediatrician, otherwise a licensed Medical Doctor (M.D.) takes about 10 years. First you need to go to college and probably pursue medical related course of study. A lot of people study biology, physiology, biochem, etc. And then the coursework is primarily math and science based. After you graduate with your Bachelor's, you need to get into a med school. Before you can do that you have to take the MCAT, which is the test that determines your qualifications into what medical school you can go and whether or not the level of your skills are adequate to pursue medical school, which is an additional 4 years of rigorous study. The MCAT is an entire day, and most people take it their last year of college so they can move into med school right away. When you're in med school, your classes are like the typical work day: 9 am to 5 pm. Most med students live off of loans, seeing with the coursework load and academic rigor you can't work. Med school only goes through typical school terms, as there are no summer terms. The first two years you are learning basic coursework; it isn't until your 3rd and 4th years that you start to do residencies supervised by an actual licensed doctor. After med school, you need to take examinations that make you board certified and licensed. After that, most people go into a specialty, which can take another 3 years or so. By the time you are a fully practicing doctor, you will be 32 years old. Sorry if this scares you, but it's really tough and a lot of hard work. A CNA isn't bad, but if you are interested in nursing why not go into that?