A Medical Geneticist is a specialist that consults patients about various genetic disorders and assists in family planning. A medical geneticist can also participate in research related to human genetics.
Suggested Reading: Other Types of Physicians
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How to become a medical geneticist?
In order to become a medical geneticist, one should:
- Maintain a high GPA in classes on biology, chemistry, physics, and math;
- Complete a 4-year Bachelor degree in:
- Genetics;
- Biology or pre-med training;
- Molecular Biology;
- Biochemistry
- Genomics
There are two possible career tracks afterward:
Researcher Track:
- Get a graduate degree in genetics (masters followed by a Ph.D. in human genetics/medical genetics). It would take approximately 6 years (2 years for the Master’s degree and at least 3 years for the grad school to obtain a Ph.D.);
- Complete a 2-year ABMG-accredited fellowship in:
- Clinical, biochemical genetics;
- Laboratory genetics and genomics (LGG);
- Get certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) as a clinical laboratory geneticist;
Medical Professional Track:
- Pass the Medical Colleges Admissions Test (MCAT);
- Join a licensed medical school and make sure to take advanced courses in pathology, anatomy, and microbiology. The study at the medical school last four years, including internship;
- Pass the 3 stages of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE);
- Join an accredited medical school and complete the 4-year course of study, including the internship rotations;
- Join a 3-year residency in a primary medical specialty:
- Internal medicine;
- Pediatrics;
- Obstetrics and gynecology;
- Clinical/medical genetics;
- Get certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG);
- You can get additional training in:
- Medical biochemical genetics (1 year);
- Clinical molecular genetics (1 year);
Average Salary Range for Medical Geneticists
In the United States, the average salary for a medical geneticist ranges between $57,000 and $125,000 depending on the area of work.
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BioExplorer.net. (2024, December 15). How To Become A Medical Geneticist?. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/how-to-become-medical-geneticist.html/.
BioExplorer.net. "How To Become A Medical Geneticist?" Bio Explorer, 15 December 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/how-to-become-medical-geneticist.html/.
BioExplorer.net. "How To Become A Medical Geneticist?" Bio Explorer, December 15 2024. https://www.bioexplorer.net/how-to-become-medical-geneticist.html/.
Key References
- “Geneticist Job Description | Geneticist Training and Education Requirements | Healthcarepathway”. Accessed November 30, 2019. Link.