Paediatrician

Paediatricians diagnose and treat health conditions that affect babies, children and young people.

Potential salary: £40,000 starter to £145,000 experienced per year
Typical hours: 40 to 48. Working pattern: evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota.
Career area: Health and care
Where they might work: You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre or in the community. Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding. You may need to wear a uniform.
A typical task: assess children who are ill, injured or have disabilities
Subjects that may help: at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences
Typical route: To become a paediatrician you'll need to complete:
Interest area used here: Health and laboratory science, Helping and teaching

Career actions

What you might do

assess children who are ill, injured or have disabilities
refer patients to specialist consultants for tests
prescribe medication, surgery or therapies
explain diagnosis and treatments to parents and children
write patient notes, monitor progress and produce medical reports
supervise and train junior medical staff

Could this suit me?

Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.

knowledge of medicine and dentistry
sensitivity and understanding
counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
thinking and reasoning skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
customer service skills

More skills

the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
excellent verbal communication skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Routes into this career

University route

To become a paediatrician you'll need to complete:
a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council
a 2-year foundation programme of general training
specialist training which takes a minimum of 8 years
A medical degree normally takes 5 years to complete. Some courses have the option to include an extra year if you want to study a subject further. This is called an intercalated year.
You might be able to study a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances or if you have not studied enough sciences. Check with the admissions department where you want to study.
If you already have a degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine. There’s lots of competition and entry requirements vary, so check with the admissions department where you want to study.
When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) .
It tests the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.
Medical schools will also expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.
You'll usually need:
at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences
3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
equivalent entry requirements
student finance for fees and living costs
university courses and entry requirements
University Clinical Aptitude Test

University courses that could lead to this career

These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.

Medicine
Direct qualifying route. Paediatrics is postgraduate training after a medical degree.

Explore university routes

Apprenticeship or vocational route

You might be able to do a doctor degree apprenticeship which will take around 5 years to complete.
The apprenticeship is recognised by the General Medical Council .
You could then progress to the foundation course of general training before completing the specialist training.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
equivalent entry requirements
guide to apprenticeships

Career progression

With experience you could:
become a senior consultant, once you're on the General Medical Council Specialist Register
lead a team or manage a department
become medical director for an NHS trust
move into teaching students, trainee doctors and other healthcare professionals
As a specialist or senior consultant you can expect to earn a much higher salary.

Registration and requirements

you'll need to register with the General Medical Council

pass enhanced background checks

Subjects that may help

Subject guidance

at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences
3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry