IF YOU WERE BORN IN A HOSPITAL IN the United States, chances are that you met a pediatrician for the first time the day you were born. Most babies are examined by a pediatrician within the first 24 hours after birth for the purpose of predicting long-term health. That visit is just one of many to come - children are cared for by pediatricians from birth until young adulthood. The profession of pediatrician can be one of the most rewarding careers in medicine, both financially and patient wise. The average pediatrician earns around $175,000 a year. Those with subspecialty certification can earn twice that. In addition to enjoying a comfortable living, most pediatricians choose this career path because they love working with children. They get to help children every day. Unlike some medical professionals, most of their time is spent in actual direct contact with kids, diagnosing, treating, examining, and preventing diseases and injuries specific to young patients. It is not always easy. The work requires an extra level of patience and understanding to deal with children who may be too young to describe how and why it hurts, as well as their parents who may be frightened and under stress. The road to becoming a pediatrician is a long one. After four years of college and four years of medical school, there is still another three years to go before a new doctor can practice pediatrics. This final three years of training, known as a residency, is when the doctor learns through hands-on experience how to handle specifically those medical conditions related to infants and children. Only after completing a residency, is a doctor eligible to become certified and start practicing as a pediatrician. Once the medical license is obtained, the fun part of becoming a pediatrician begins. New doctors can choose whether they want to practice in a small office setting, or in a hospital or with a large group, or even open their own private practice. Learning how to become a pediatrician is the first step in the process. To find out more about a career in this rewarding growing field, read on.