Becoming a doctor takes significantly more education than most jobs.
Careers in the field of health care are expected to grow faster than most jobs from 2008 to 2018, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you want to become a doctor, you're going to have to go through approximately 11 years of schooling. Most medical students usually leave college with large debts from student loans. However, their high salaries after obtaining a job often make these loans easy to pay off. If you have a natural love for helping people, becoming a doctor might be the right job for you.
Podiatrists
Podiatrists treat foot problems such as ingrown toenails, bunions, heel spurs and foot injuries. The median annual wages of podiatrists as of May 2008 was $113,560, according to the BLS. Podiatrists must obtain a license after completing at least three to four years of undergraduate school and completing a four-year podiatric program. Podiatrists typically work between 30 and 60 hours a week in a small private practice or clinic. They often have administrative assistants working for them. Podiatrists may require x-rays to help diagnose an ankle or foot injury. Podiatrists usually have the advantage of treating fewer emergencies than the average doctor.
Pediatrician
Pediatricians provide medical treatment for children who are ill, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. Pediatricians usually do their undergraduate work in either chemistry or biology. After undergraduate school, pediatricians must complete four years of medical school. After medical school, a three-year residency must be completed before specializing in pediatric medicine. The median salary for pediatricians as of May 2008 was $152,240, according to the BLS. The top 50 percent earned approximately $152,000 while the bottom 10 percent earned approximately $84,000.
Oncologists
Oncologists are responsible for treating patients with cancer, according to Stateuniversity.com. The median annual salary for oncologists is approximately $257,000. Some oncologists choose to specialize in fields such as medical, pediatric, radiation or gynecological oncology. Oncologists typically use chemotherapy to treat cancer patients, but surgical oncologists use surgical methods to remove cancer cells. An aspiring oncologist must first complete four years of undergraduate school, usually in biology or chemistry. After that, four years of medical school must be completed followed by a three-year residency program.
Tags: four years, medical school, undergraduate school, years undergraduate school, 2008 according
