Pediatrics

Pediatrics

Pediatrics, also spelled paediatrics, refers to the medical field dedicated to the healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents. A healthcare professional specializing in this area is called a pediatrician or paediatrician.

The training path for pediatricians varies worldwide. Depending on the jurisdiction and the university, medical degree programs may either be undergraduate-entry or graduate-entry.

Undergraduate programs, typically lasting five or six years, have been the norm in the Commonwealth countries. Graduate-entry courses, common in the USA and lasting four or five years, require applicants to have completed a prior three- or four-year university degree, often in sciences but not exclusively.

Upon completion, medical graduates hold a degree specific to their country and university, qualifying them for licensure or registration under the local laws. Pediatricians then undergo further specialized training, which can span from four to eight years or more, depending on the jurisdiction and level of specialization. Training for primary care pediatricians is generally shorter than for hospital-based specialists.

While entry-level degrees are usually consistent across medical disciplines, in certain jurisdictions, pediatric specialization may commence prior to degree completion. The structure of pediatric training can also vary, with some jurisdictions initiating pediatric training immediately after graduation, with governmental oversight that may differ by region.

Similar to other medical professionals, pediatricians are considered members of a learned profession due to the rigorous training requirements and the unique ethical and legal responsibilities associated with their practice.