About Career Planning for Obstetricians
Working as an obstetrician entails more than just delivering babies. Most obstetricians also work as gynecologists and provide comprehensive reproductive medical care for women. Some obstetricians double as family practitioners who provide routine care for the entire family while also being able to welcome new members of those families. In all of these scenarios, obstetrics can be a financially rewarding medical career. The average salary for beginners in the field is around $200,000.
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Demands
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Most obstetricians have private practices where they see their patients. Part of their work is also in hospitals where the babies are delivered. Because babies rarely have set schedules for entering the world, obstetricians are often on call and may have to drop everything to help a patient. These physicians also provide other types of care, including testing for sexually transmitted diseases, routine pelvic examinations, fertility treatments, birth control and hormone replacement therapy during menopause. On average, an obstetrician works 40 to 60 hours per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Preprofessional Training
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To become an obstetrician, you must complete approximately 12 years of training. Your career plans should begin at the undergraduate level. Although a premed degree is not required, you should have a strong science background, including biology and chemistry, before applying to medical school. Because only 126 medical schools are available in the United States, competition for positions is tough. If you are accepted, you will spend 2 years in labs and classrooms learning more science, including biochemistry, anatomy and pharmacology. The final 2 years will have you in rotation under the supervision of physicians.
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Postgraduate Training
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After you graduate from medical school, you must complete a residency for obstetrics. Almost all graduates will complete a residence, but the length of this postgraduate training varies depending on what you want to specialize in and where you choose to become a resident. For obstetricians, 4 years is the average. You must apply for a residency program, complete an interview process and be selected. During the 4 years of your residency, you are paid, although your pay is lower than that of a fully licensed physician.
Licensing Requirements
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Once you complete the training to become an obstetrician, you must be licensed in your state. That requires passing an examination and completing your residency. While some states will accept a medical license from another state, most require you to take their licensing examination. Additionally, you must take another examination if you want to become board-certified in your specialty area. You may also be required to take additional courses or attend seminars on recent medical advancements to maintain your medical license.
Job Prospects
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While the salary for obstetricians is significant, the training required to become a privately practicing physician in this specialty is difficult. The bright side is that the demand should increase through 2016 as more practicing ob-gyns retire. Obtaining your license in multiple specialties, including family medicine or pediatrics, could also be useful at expanding your practice.
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