Pediatricians

Career summary

Pediatricians provide primary care and take care of children's general health needs. They ask parents questions to learn about their child's health. Like most doctors, pediatricians focus on preventing problems before they begin.

Pediatricians see their youngest patients for regularly scheduled visits called well-baby checks. At each check-up, they check the child's growth, weight, and development. They advise parents about immunizations and other ways to keep their children healthy. They educate their older children about exercise, hygiene, and eating healthy food.

Pediatricians examine patients and order lab tests. They explain test results and review treatment options with parents and the patient. If more than one treatment option is available, they help parents decide which option to choose. They also monitor the patient's condition and make changes in the treatment plan if needed.

For serious conditions, pediatricians refer patients to health care specialists for testing or treatment. Some pediatricians specialize in treating children with cancer or heart problems.

Pediatricians share similar tasks with other types of physicians, they:

• Assign tasks to nurses and other health care workers
• Consult with other health care professionals
• Oversee the business aspects of running an office
• Keep detailed records about each patient
• Write reports for insurance companies and government agencies

Some pediatricians teach at medical schools. They may also do research on procedures and treatments for disease. Advances in medicine require pediatricians to update their skills regularly.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Family and General Practitioners
• Internists
• Naturopathic Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Physician Assistants
• Psychologists
• Surgeons
• University and College Teachers

Military careers

• Physicians and Surgeons

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to pediatricians.

• Treat children who have illnesses, health problems, and other medical concerns.
• Examine children to chart growth and development or diagnose conditions.
• Order or perform tests to find out about patients' health.
• Collect, record, and maintain patient medical history and exam results.
• Provide consultation services to other doctors. Refer patients to specialists when necessary.
• Prescribe or give medication, therapy, or vaccinations to children.
• Operate on patients to improve their health.
• Supervise nurses and other medical staff.
• Plan and operate medical care programs that benefit children.
• Research and study new ways to prevent or control diseases.
• Prepare medical reports on birth, death, and disease statistics.
• Attend conferences to stay current on medical information.

Common work activities

Pediatricians perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Make decisions and solve problems
• Get information needed to do the job
• Document and record information
• Assist and care for others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Perform for or work with the public
• Analyze data or information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Process information
• Use computers
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Teach others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Think creatively
• Develop and build teams
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Coach others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, pediatricians:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They constantly talk with patients, parents, and medical staff.
• Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of their patients and the people they supervise.
• Are responsible for the work outcomes of the staff they supervise.
• Often are placed in conflict situations in which patients and family members may be unpleasant or angry.
• Work as part of a team providing care to patients.
• Communicate with medical staff and patients daily by phone, e-mail, and in person.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Work daily with patients who have diseases or infections.
• Wear protective clothing weekly such as masks, gloves, or apron.
• Work physically near patients.

Work performance

• Must be very exact and accurate in performing their job. This is very important because very serious mistakes could risk patients' health.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities, especially when performing exams.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that substantially impact patients and their families.
• Make nearly all their decisions and set their daily tasks and goals independently.
• Must meet strict weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Work more than 40 hours per week.
• Generally work a set schedule.
• May travel between office and hospital to visit patients.
• Work on the weekends and nights when on-call.

Physical demands

Pediatricians frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for pediatricians to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for pediatricians to be able to:

• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.

Skills and abilities

Pediatricians need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Work with things

• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Medicine
• Osteopathic Medicine

Other programs of study to consider

• Anatomy
• Emergency Medical Care
• Physiology
• Pre-Medicine
• Psychology, General

Training

To work as a pediatrician, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree;
• graduate from medical school;
• complete an internship;
• pass a state licensing exam;
• complete a residency program in pediatrics; and
• pass additional exams to become board certified.

Education after high school

To become a doctor, you must complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DOM) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and labs. You study anatomy, biochemistry, and medicines. You also learn how to take a medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of physicians.

You usually need a bachelor's degree to get into medical school. While you do not need to be a pre-medicine or science major, these programs are good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.

On-the-job training

While in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.

After medical school, you complete a residency program in pediatrics. Residency usually lasts four years. Residents usually work in hospitals. After your residency, you take additional exams to become board certified.

Military training

The military provides advanced training for doctors. However, it does not provide the initial training to become a doctor. Scholarships for advanced medical training are available in return for a required period of military service.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements . You need a very strong background in math and science to become a doctor. Take as many math and science courses as you can.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Food and Nutrition
• Foreign Language
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Many pediatricians begin work by joining a group practice or clinic. Some go to work for the hospital where they completed their residency.

The hiring process begins with a background check of the applicant. Employers evaluate past work experience and malpractice lawsuit records. The applicants are interviewed by several of the doctors from the facility they are applying to. Employers look for applicants with good communication skills. They look for pediatricians who can relate to many different people that come to the practice for care.

Some employers, especially government, may prefer bilingual applicants.

#King Co. job website 2/10/10 lh.

Costs to workers

Pediatricians who join professional associations may pay membership fees and annual dues. They may also attend courses, seminars, and workshops to update their knowledge and keep up to date on changes in their field.

Pediatricians who have borrowed money to pay school expenses have large debt payments for the first few years after graduation. The average debt for medical students who graduated in 2018 was $196,520 with 83% percent owing at least $100,000. Malpractice insurance is expensive. To enter private practice, practitioners must invest in equipment, office space, and staffing costs. Estimated costs range from $75,000 to $100,000 or more

#Updated debt info from American Medical Association website data Leo forwarded to me; updated malpractice figures from Medical Economics site: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Exclusive-malpractice-survey-Holding-pattern/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/699489,  3/21/11, cj. No new data here yet--left as is. Lh 2/27/12. Updated debt info 3/17/15 with Oct. 2014 Fact card that Leo printed from AAMC.org/FIRST site, cj.

#Updated malpractice data from: http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/modernmedicine/modern-medicine-feature-articles/malpractice-premiums-continue  and AMA debt info from: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/medical-student-section/advocacy-policy/medical-student-debt/background.page  4/11/13 cj. Updated debt info from AAMC First 2016 debt card linked to from this page https://students-residents.aamc.org/financial-aid/ 12/12/16 cj. Updated debt info 4/5/19 cj.

Licensing/certification

Pediatricians must be licensed by the State of Washington as either medical or osteopathic physicians. Licensing requirements include:

• a good moral character;
• physical and mental capability to safely perform the duties of a physician;
• completion of a four-year doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine program at an approved medical school;
• one year (osteopathic physician) or two years (medical physician) approved post-graduate training;
• completion of four- (medical physician) or seven- (osteopathic physician) clock hours AIDS education; and
• passing a national written exam.

For more information on the US Medical Licensing Exam, call 215.590.9500 or go to the National Board of Medical Examiners  website.

Osteopathic doctors must complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years and medical doctors must complete 200 hours of continuing education every four years.

Licensing fees vary ranging from $491 (medical physicians) to $391 (osteopathic physicians) for the application. The annual renewal fee for osteopathic physicians is $441 and the biannual renewal fee for medical physicians is $657. The combined fee for an application and state exam for osteopathic practitioners is $516. The licensing and the renewal fees generally include an access fee for health-related online library journals and publications and a Washington physician health program surcharge.

For more information on medical doctors, contact:

Washington Medical Commission 
PO Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
360.236.2750

For information on osteopathic doctors, contact:

Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7865
360.236.4700

#Checked licensing info, added CTW content, no changes to lic fees, 3/8/11, cj. Yeah lh 6/12. No change from what is in tag insert file, 4/16/13, 3/17/15, 12/13/16, 4/5/19 cj

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Pediatricians, General 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer, years of experience, and hours worked. The doctor's skill, personality, and professional reputation also affect wages. Self-employed pediatricians generally earn more than those who are not self-employed.

Pediatricians usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan. 

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Doctors' offices
• Hospitals
• Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

Growth for this occupation will be slower than average. Despite the increase in population, advances in technology allow more patients to be seen each day. Also more people see nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Pediatricians who are willing to move to rural and underserved areas should have little trouble finding a job.

Other resources

American Academy of Pediatrics 
345 Park Boulevard
Itasca, IL 60143
800.433.9016

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine 
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301.968.4100

American Board of Pediatrics 
111 Silver Cedar Court
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919.929.0461

American Medical Association 

American Medical Association - Medical Student Section 

American Osteopathic Association 
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
800.621.1773
312.202.8000

Aspiring Docs Website from the American Association of Medical Colleges 

The Student Doctor Network 

Washington Osteopathic Medical Association 
PO Box 1187
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
425.677.3930

Washington State Medical Association 
2001 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2700
Seattle, WA 98121
800.552.0612
206.441.9762

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Pediatricians, General (29-1065.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

• Pediatrician (070.101-066) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Physician

Holland occupational cluster

• Investigative/Social/Realistic

COPSystem

• Science Professional
• Service Professional