An endocrinologist is, first and foremost, a medical professional. So, to become an endocrinologist, a person needs to:
- Complete a Bachelor degree that includes Biology, Organic Chemistry, and Physics courses;
- Pass the MCAT exam for medical school;
- Graduate from the medical school;
- Obtain a medical license;
- Complete a 3-year residency in pediatrics, internal medicine, or gynecology;
- Join a fellowship program that specializes in general endocrinology;
- One may also join an additional program that prepares one for a more specialized field, like pediatric endocrinology or endocrinology of cancer;
Obtain certification in endocrinology. One has to be certified by either of these organizations:
- American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM);
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).
It is also essential to participate in continuing medical education (CME) and collect a certain number of study hours;
- Presently, there is a high demand for professional endocrinologists in the United States;
