Urologist: Job Description and Information About Becoming an Urologist

Urologists have earned bachelor's degrees, usually in a scientific field, completed four years of medical school and residencies typically lasting five or more years. Urologists may specialize in internal medicine or surgery.

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Career Definition: Urologist

Urologists are specialized physicians who diagnose and treat conditions of the urinary tract and male reproductive systems. The American Urology Association, www.aua.org, has identified seven sub-specialty areas that include pediatric urology, male infertility and urological oncology, among others. Urologists typically work in private practices, hospitals or clinics.

How to Become an Urologist

Required Education for a Career in Urology

All Urologists have completed postgraduate educations at medical schools. The entry requirements for medical school include at least three years of college, though nearly all entering students have bachelor's degrees in a field like Chemistry or Biology. After medical school, Urologists complete residency requirements in their specialty. These residencies typically take a minimum of five years, according to the American Urology Association, www.aua.org. Certification as an Urologist requires passing a board exam in the specialty.

Skills Required for a Career as an Urologist

Urologists must consistently update their practice based on new medical technologies, requiring that they commit to being lifetime students in their field. Serving as an Urologist can frequently require working long and irregular hours.

Career and Economic Outlook for Urology

The U.S. Department of Labor, www.bls.gov, expects that the demand for M.D.s, including Urologists, will be very good over the next decade. Internal medicine specialists with more than one year practicing in their specialty, including Urology, earned a median salary of $166,420 in 2006, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov. Surgeons with more than a year of experience, including those surgeons specializing in Urology, earned over $282,504.

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