How long does it take to become a pediatrician if you add summer classes?

Answer 1

Firstly you need a medical degree which can take up to 4 years full-time in a postgraduate degree and 5-6 years full time in an undergraduate degree depending on which university you attend. New South Wales Bachelor of Medicine/Surgery takes 6 years and Newcastle takes 5 years full-time, both are undergraduate and you can apply for them straight after the HSC. Sydney University takes 4 years full-time, but it is a postgraduate course which means you need to have completed a university degree prior to starting your medical degree.

After that comes internship or postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) - your first year as a junior doctor. After the completion of your PGY1 you can then apply to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) for entry into their physician training program. Physician Training takes of a minimum length of 6 years full time and is divided into 3 years basic and 3 years advanced training. You need to pass one written exam and one clinical exam to progress from the basic trainee to advanced trainee stage.

Therefore, if you pass all your exams within the 3 years of being a basic trainee it will take you 7 years after medical school to become a qualified paediatric physician. On average it takes most people a couple years longer as about 40% fail their first attempt of the medical or clinical exam and it may take them some time to find a job position for their level of training eg. as an advanced paediatric physician trainee.