To become an obstetrician, you’ll need to earn a medical degree from an accredited school and complete a residency in obstetrics and gynecology. Then, you can take the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s certification exam.
Obstetricians are physicians who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and the treatment of women’s reproductive systems. They are experts in prenatal care, labor, delivery, postpartum care, family planning, gynecological problems such as menstrual disorders or infections like yeast infections or STDs like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Obstetricians work with patients throughout their lives from puberty through menopause. They can also help patients who want to get pregnant or are having trouble getting pregnant with fertility treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
The most common type of medicine practiced by obstetricians is office-based medicine where they diagnose and treat patients with common conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs), vaginal infections/yeast infections/trichomoniasis etc., endometriosis or fibroids during menstruation cycles using medication based on symptoms/family history/physical examination findings/lab results etc.,
How To Become Obstetrician
What does an obstetrician do?
Obstetricians are medical practitioners and trained surgeons who offer specialized care to women during pregnancy, delivery and after delivery. They seek to diagnose, prevent or treat any conditions that arise during the gestation period. Most of these professionals are also specialists in female reproductive health and gynecology, often becoming obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN). They perform the following duties:
- Meeting with patients for monitoring during the pregnancy, labor and postpartum stages
- Conducting timely interventions like episiotomies, assisted delivery or induced labor and cesarean deliveries
- Overseeing the childbirth process and leading nurses and other medical personnel assisting the delivery
- Performing corrective and preventative surgeries, such as hysterectomies, those that repair the female reproductive organs and those that remove harmful growths
- Diagnosing female reproductive conditions, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and others
- Ordering additional testing or referring patients to specialists for treatment on medical conditions impacting the reproductive system, including cancer screenings
- Conducting fertility treatments and providing resources and guidance to patients and their partners
Average salary
Salaries for these medical professionals typically depend on their years of experience, where they’re employed and their geographic location. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link.
- Common salary in the U.S.: $194,277 per year
- Salaries range from $54,000 to $527,000 per year.
Obstetrician requirements
Becoming an obstetrician typically requires a combination of the following.
Education
These professionals need to first complete a four-year undergraduate degree program. Many choose a pre-medical professional track and pursue degrees in biology, chemistry, genetics, physics, or physiology. In undergraduate studies, aspiring obstetricians spend most of their science coursework in lectures and hands-on lab modules. They also earn a well-rounded education in general education subjects, such as humanities, liberal arts and social sciences. They also commonly spend the last two years preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is required to get into medical school.
After completing undergraduate studies, aspiring obstetricians proceed to medical school. Gaining entry to this level is competitive, and many colleges ask for several documents, including transcripts, letters of recommendation and MCAT results. At this level, the focus of studies is on medical-related subjects like anatomy, pathology, or biochemistry.
Like the undergraduate level, the medical school program takes four years to complete. They typically spend the first two years taking courses and sitting for exams that cover more advanced medical knowledge and terminology. Their final two years are typically spent completing general clinical rotations and are often required to complete rotations within OB-GYN practitioners. This medical school program then ends in the completion of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
Training
After earning their M.D., they proceed to a practical hospital-based program known as residency. The program takes four years, and it is where students focus their practice in obstetrics. An experienced physician guides in various medical scenarios, including labor and delivery, triage and postpartum experience. Some residency programs also expose the learners to high-risk patients that require complex medical procedures, which occurs during the last two years.
At the end of the program, learners are expected to have gained experience in several areas, including inpatient and outpatient care, diagnosis and treatment, reproductive wellness, performing and interpreting diagnostic ultrasounds and performing pregnancy-related interventions like induced labor.
After the conclusion of the residency program, qualified obstetricians pursue further hands-on training through active practice, like hospital employment or private practice, or pursue fellowship opportunities.
Certifications
Obstetricians are required to be licensed in the state in which they practice. During or after residency, they must complete the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), which consists of oral and multiple-choice questions. Sometimes, students may be required to complete all stages of the examination and get a license before embarking on the residency program.
While not compulsory for licensing, obstetricians need to get additional certifications, such as proof of expertise in a specific subfield, such as reproductive endocrinology and infertility, fetal therapy, female pelvic medicine, reconstructive surgery, gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, urogynecology or family planning.
For certification, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Physician Specialties offer certifications in various subspecialties. To earn them, these professionals complete fellowships after residency to practice with patients impacted by those specified medical conditions. Certificates are usually valid for six years, and applicants must complete further examinations to maintain certification.
Skills
Like other careers, an obstetrician needs a combination of both hard and soft skills. The following skills are generally needed to build a successful career.
Communication skills
A good physician should be capable of discussing complex medical details, terminology, procedures and conditions into information patients can understand. Effective communication enables these professionals to provide adequate and comprehensive care.
Compassion and empathy
Like other healthcare careers, obstetricians often require strong compassion skills to help patients feel comfortable during challenging medical situations. Empathy enables these professionals to connect with patients besides actively listen to patients’ concerns and discomforts.
Problem-solving skills
Complex medical situations require effective and efficient solutions. A good obstetrician must be capable of correctly identifying symptoms to make a proper diagnosis and offer suitable treatment options. They should also be able to anticipate the impacts of treatment to determine healing timeframes.
Attention to detail
Attention to patient medical history and symptoms enables obstetricians to make a proper prognosis. Also, being thorough during treatments and surgeries can ensure patients are adequately cared for and can heal.
Leadership skills
Obstetricians need to be natural leaders to perform their duties effectively. Handling situations like surgery takes a multidisciplinary team, which needs a stable team leader to conduct a successful operation.
Obstetrician work environment
These health care professionals typically work in settings such as hospitals, clinics, birthing centers, surgical centers, private practice and other medical facilities. On most occasions, they work for irregular and long hours a day. For instance, a surgical procedure or childbirth might take several hours. Depending on their employment type, they may work specific shifts or be on-call for patients. Like many other medical professions, their work environment is often fast-paced and high pressure to ensure care is provided efficiently and with the highest level of detail.
How to become an obstetrician
These are the common steps in following this medical career path:
- Earn a science-based bachelor’s degree. Consider a four-year undergraduate degree in medical science or pre-medical professional track in majors such as biology and chemistry. Be sure to complete lab modules to gain hands-on knowledge of the human body.
- Pursue medical school. Find a medical school program that fits your goals and personal interests. Complete advanced coursework in anatomy, biology, chemistry and patient care. Gain hands-on experience and refine communication skills during clinical rotations.ram.
- Earn licensure. Take the UCMLE during medical school to assess your medical practitioner knowledge. Apply for a medical license in the state where you plan to practice. In most states, you need a license before you can start your residency program.
- Complete residency. Gain the experience needed to practice effectively in obstetrics. The program typically takes four years and gives you supervised training with patients impacted by several reproductive health conditions. Spend this time considering further obstetric specialty.
- Meet board certification requirements. While unnecessary, board certification by the ABOG proves you have specialized in a particular subfield of obstetrics. Some employers may insist on hiring certified personnel.
Obstetrician job description example
We are a multi-specialty, state-of-the-art, tertiary care community hospital with a capacity of more than 400 beds. Our maternal unit is undergoing significant upgrades that require additional experienced staff. We are looking for a dedicated Senior Obstetrician to join our team. The successful candidate will perform the following responsibilities:
- Provide quality care related to gynecology and obstetrics, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Ensure the application of validated clinical policies, tools, protocols, and guidelines related to gynecology and obstetrics to reduce clinical risks.
- In collaboration with colleagues, oversee the collection of quantitative and qualitative gynecological data and use it to improve gynecological results and knowledge.
- Thoroughly examine and formulate treatment plans for expectant women, particularly those with known medical conditions like asthma.
