To become a pediatric nephrologist, one must complete medical school, a pediatrics residency, and a pediatric nephrology fellowship. Strong science skills are required, and the process takes at least 14 years.
A person can become a pediatric nephrologist by completing medical school, a residency in pediatrics, and a fellowship in pediatric nephrology, which is the study of kidney diseases and disorders in children. Some physicians complete two specialties in adult and pediatric nephrology. It is more standard to become a pediatric nephrologist only, rather than specializing in treating adults and children.
As with all medical specialties, the beginning of the path to becoming a pediatric nephrologist is getting good grades in high school that will allow people to get into a reputable college. Medical students in many places must complete four years of college before being accepted to a medical school. This model is slightly different in the UK, where graduate work and medical school are combined.
The US, Canada, and many other regions require students to have a bachelor’s degree, and many have chosen to major in medicine, but others can major in one of the other sciences, such as biology or chemistry. Strong science skills, no matter what the highest, are required to pass the Medical School Admission Test, required and considered by most medical schools as part of an application.
After earning a four-year degree and being accepted to medical school, people study for three years before completing a fourth-year internship. On completion, students can be licensed to practice medicine. To further specialize in pediatric nephrology, in the internship year, students must apply for residencies in pediatrics. These are generally three years in duration and give beginning physicians the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in pediatric medicine in a practice and study environment.
Many pediatricians decide they would like to specialize further, and one option is to become a pediatric nephrologist, focusing primarily on treating children with a variety of conditions that affect the kidneys. To participate in this subspecialty, physicians will need to apply to fellowship programs trained in this area. Even in countries as large as the US, the number of programs is relatively small, and students will need strong recommendations from those who oversee their pediatric residencies to be selected as a Pediatric Nephrology Fellow.
In this final step to becoming a pediatric nephrologist, students will spend an additional three years of practice and study. The scholarship provides students with many opportunities to practice medicine and gain knowledge before they receive board certification. Like many of the pediatric specialties, it takes a long time to become a pediatric nephrologist. With degree work included, students will spend at least 14 years to earn this specialization.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
