sortiwa
When you think of the day-to-day life of a pediatrician, you probably think that it’s primarily diagnostic exams and routine checkups. While these are both essential parts of the job, there’s much more to being a pediatrician than just those things. To excel at your role as a pediatrician — and stay in it for years to come — you need to make sure that your education is constantly advancing. To continue your education as a pediatrician, you’ll want to pursue different education methods. While some programs will be able to help you achieve certification in areas like child development or speech pathology, others will give you general continuing education credits so that you can build on the knowledge from your degree program and stay ahead of the curve. Here we’ll cover several ways you can further educate yourself as a Peds Doc:
Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in a Non-Pediatric Field
If you’re looking to continue your education, you may want to take a different route as far as your degree is concerned. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree that doesn’t involve pediatrics, you may want to consider a bachelor’s degree in a non-pediatric field. This is because, while many pediatricians have an undergraduate degree, it isn’t required by the American Board of Pediatrics. Because of this, plenty of physicians have taken undergraduate degrees in fields such as psychology or business and then gone on to be board-certified pediatricians.
Take the MCAT or the GRE
You can also improve your chances of getting into a top medical school by taking a standardized test, such as the MCAT or GRE. The MCAT is a perfect option for those who want to get into medical school because it evaluates your knowledge of subjects such as science and biology. While most of these tests cost money, many tests are free to take, including the MCAT and GRE. If you want to take either of these tests, then speak with your doctor about getting a letter from them that states that you have taken and passed one or both of these exams. ABP MoCA (Maintenance of Certification Assessment for Pediatrics (MOCA-Peds) is a web-based assessment program for pediatrics. MOCA-Peds emphasizes continuous learning, allowing pediatricians to determine when and where they take questions. MOCA-Peds can be completed online and are designed to evaluate the ongoing practice of pediatricians.
Take a Course or Two Through the Duke University Medical Program
You can also take courses through the Duke University Medical Program if you’re interested in obtaining further knowledge. In this program, you can take classes in various areas such as radiography, maternal-fetal medicine and surgery, and many other topics. Some of these courses are paid for by the University, while others are free to enroll in. If you attend medical school after earning your bachelor’s degree, you will receive credit toward your medical degree for any classes that you took through this program.
Take Classes at a Community College
If you’re not interested in taking classes through the Duke University Medical Program, you can take courses at a community college. This would allow you to take courses relevant to your major and receive credit for these courses. You can also take these courses at a lower price than those offered by many top schools.
Get a Residency in Pediatrics
If you want to further your education without going back to school, you may consider getting a residency in pediatrics. Medical schools typically offer residence residencies and often last between one and three years. During this time, you will be able to gain additional experience working with children, which will improve your knowledge of pediatric medicine and make you more attractive to employers.
Apply for and Complete a Residency in Pediatrics
You can apply for and complete a residency in pediatrics at one of the many hospitals that offer this type of training. Many hospitals will also offer special scholarships for students interested in pursuing this career path. After completing a residency, you may be able to become board certified and receive a higher salary.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in becoming a pediatrician, you should consider all of the career options available to you. Some of these options require additional education, while others do not. If you have further questions about the options available to you as a pediatrician, you can continue to research and explore.