1. Bachelor's Degree (4 years): You'll need a four-year undergraduate degree, typically with a strong pre-med curriculum including courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry.
2. Medical School (4 years): After completing your bachelor's degree, you'll need to attend medical school, which takes four years.
3. Residency in Pediatrics (3 years): Following medical school, you'll complete a three-year residency specifically in pediatrics to gain the necessary clinical experience and training.
4. Fellowship (Optional, but common): Some pediatricians pursue fellowships (1-3 years) to specialize further (e.g., neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric oncology). This is not required to become a pediatrician but is common for sub-specialization.
Therefore, the minimum time commitment to become a pediatrician is 11 years (4 + 4 + 3) after high school. If you include a fellowship, it could take 12-14 years. A master's degree is not part of the path to becoming a pediatrician.