Becoming a pediatrician typically takes between 11 and 15 years, depending on the path and specialization chosen.
Typical Timeline Breakdown
- Undergraduate degree: 4 years of college education, often with pre-med coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and related sciences
- Medical school: 4 years to earn a medical degree (M.D. or D.O.). Some programs combine undergraduate and medical school into 6 years, and graduate entry programs may vary from 4 to 6 years
- Residency in pediatrics: Usually 3 years of specialized pediatric training after medical school
- Optional fellowship: Additional 2 to 6 years if pursuing a pediatric subspecialty such as neonatology or pediatric cardiology
Summary
Stage| Duration
---|---
Undergraduate degree| 4 years
Medical school| 4 years (or 6 years combined)
Pediatric residency| 3 years
Fellowship (optional)| 2–6 years
In total, becoming a general pediatrician requires about 11 years (4 + 4 + 3) of education and training, with subspecialization extending this to as much as 15 years
. Thus, the minimum time to become a practicing pediatrician is around 11 years, typically extending to 15 years if further specialization is pursued.
