Becoming a urologist is a long and challenging process. The first step is to get a bachelor’s degree in pre-med from an accredited university. You’ll need to complete the required coursework and then apply for medical school. You’ll spend four years in medical school, learning about the human body and how to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases.
After medical school, you’ll need to complete an internship and residency program before becoming certified by the American Board of Urology. After that, you’re ready to start practicing as a urologist!
How To Become Urologist
What does a urologist do?
Urologists are doctors who specialize in conditions of the urinary tract, adrenal glands and male reproductive organs. They treat organs such as the kidneys, bladder and urethra and conditions such as cancers, infections, overactive bladders, enlarged prostates and more. Some focus on one area of urology, such as urologic oncology (cancer), pediatric urology or male infertility. General doctors often refer their patients to urologists if they show signs of urinary problems. Urologist job responsibilities might include:
- Meeting with patients and getting their medical histories
- Placing catheters
- Diagnosing conditions using methods such as blood work, urine testing, ultrasound and X-ray
- Interpreting test results
- Performing surgeries to treat kidney stones, cancerous tumors, genital abnormalities or urinary tract obstructions
- Prescribing medications to treat infections
- Working closely with nursing staff and patients’ main doctors
- Communicating conditions and treatment plans with patients and answering their questions
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Average salary
Because most urologists are trained to perform surgery, they often earn very high salaries.
- Common salary in the U.S.: $219,265 per year
- Some salaries range from $33,000 to $578,000 per year.
Urologist requirements
Urologists spend at least 12 years earning their degrees and certifications to become medical professionals. They must pursue continuing education opportunities throughout their careers to stay certified. The typical requirements of a urologist include:
Education
All urologists must earn a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree. They typically choose a bachelor’s degree in a science field such as pre-medicine, chemistry or biology, which provides them with the required courses for medical school. They must then pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to get into medical school, which typically takes four years to complete.
Urologists spend the first couple of years of medical school in the classroom and the lab learning about topics such as anatomy, pathology, patient care, microbiology and biochemistry. In their final year or two of medical school, they begin getting hands-on experience through hospital and clinic rotations.
Training
After graduating from medical school, urologists spend at least five years completing their residencies. They apply for an accredited residency through a program such as the National Resident Matching Program. During this period, urologists typically get one to two years of surgical experience and three or four years of urology training.
Urologists who want to specialize in a field such as urologic oncology, male infertility or pediatric urology might complete a one- to three-year fellowship following their residency. Fellowships provide medical professionals with more training and research opportunities in a certain subspecialty.
Throughout their careers, urologists should stay up to date on new surgical techniques and equipment, as well as the latest research on urinary tract and related disorders.
Certifications
Urologists can choose to become board-certified after completing their residency. Certification shows that a urologist has received a certain amount of training and has the knowledge to practice urology safely and effectively. Urologists can earn certification with the following organizations:
American Board of Urology (ABU)
This organization offers board certification in general urology as well as its subspecialties. To become certified, urologists must have completed their residency and passed a qualifying exam. They then spend 16 months gaining clinical experience before taking a final exam. Urologists must complete a certain number of continuing education hours every two years to keep their certification.
American Urological Association (AUA)
Urologists can become AUA members to show their commitment to furthering their knowledge and education. The AUA offers board-certification preparation courses, access to research journals and continuing education opportunities.
American College of Surgeons (ACS)
Urologists can become fellows with the ACS to receive ongoing education, leadership training and other career resources. To join, they must have at least a year of practice experience, plus board certification.
To practice legally, urologists must also have a state medical license, which they can receive by meeting education requirements and passing an exam.
Skills
As medical professionals, urologists must have a variety of skills, including:
- Compassion: Urologists should care about helping people and have empathy for patients who might be in pain and discomfort.
- Problem-solving: These professionals need to be able to consider a patient’s medical history and clinical signs, order the appropriate tests and assess the results to come up with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Professionalism: They must behave professionally and ethically, particularly because they treat conditions in sensitive and private areas of patients’ bodies.
- Communication: Urologists should have the verbal skills to clearly explain complex medical terms in easy-to-understand ways to patients, families and other professionals.
- Decision-making: They should be able to make treatment recommendations that are in the patient’s best interest. They might also have to make quick decisions mid-surgery.
- Stamina: Urologists should have the energy and physical ability to be on their feet for long periods. They might have to work long hours.
Urologist work environment
Urologists can work in hospitals, university medical centers, urology centers or private practices. They spend their time in the office consulting with patients, doing surgeries in the operating room or performing tests and nonsurgical procedures such as X-rays and urinalysis. They often use specialized equipment and technologies such as lasers and laparoscopes.
Many urologists work long hours and some weekends and might be on call for emergencies. While their work environment can be fast-paced and stressful, the job can be rewarding.
Urologists work with a team of nursing staff and collaborate with other medical professionals, such as patients’ primary care doctors, emergency room doctors and, during surgery, anesthesiologists.
How to become a urologist
Urologists follow a strict and challenging path to becoming licensed medical professionals. They often spend more than a decade gaining the education and training they need to practice. Follow these steps to become a urologist:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
Complete an undergraduate degree in pre-medicine or a science field such as chemistry or biology. These courses will give you the foundation for your medical degree.
2. Take the MCAT
Most students take the MCAT exam in the spring of their junior year of college. You must pass this nearly eight-hour standardized test to apply for and get accepted into medical school.
3. Get a medical degree
Earn a four-year medical degree to gain the basic medical knowledge and skills you will need to be a urologist.
4. Complete a residency
After graduating from medical school, you must spend another five years as a urology resident in a hospital setting. Here you will work with patients and learn surgical skills specific to urology.
5. Do a fellowship
While not required, you might choose to complete a fellowship in the urology subspecialty of your choice. These typically take another one to three years. You can search for urology fellowships through the AUA or the National Institutes of Health.
6. Get board-certified
Certification with the ABU can give urologists more job opportunities and greater earning potential. Many employers prefer to hire urologists who are board-certified, which requires completing a residency and a certain number of training hours, plus passing an exam.
7. Apply for a state license
Contact your state medical board to learn about medical licensing requirements in your state of practice. You will need this license to practice legally.
8. Apply for jobs
You can apply for urologist jobs after completing your residency, fellowship or board-certification. Look for positions in hospitals, private practices or specialty clinics.
