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What is needed, as far as degrees and time, to become an expert on specific medical fields?

I'm currently a Senior at my high school and will be graduating in the Summer of 2014. I am very interested in the medical field. I've been looking at the Obstetrician and Gynecologist fields, but I'm also interested on the X-Ray Technician position. What I would like to know is what is requiredf to become an OB and / or Gyn and an X-Ray Technician. I'd like to know the time I would be studying, the amount I would be paying to study annually and what kind of degrees and classes I must take in order to specialize in either of those fields. Your answer is appreciated. #college #medicine #college-major #medicine-education #obstetrician #gynecologist

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Catherine’s Answer

To become an OB/Gyn:



  1. First of all, you need to get a bachelor's degree, preferably a Bachelor of Science degree at an accredited 4-year university.

  2. You apply to medical school.

  3. Once you get in, you will study and work to earn your M.D. degree (Doctorate of Medicine). This takes 4 years. During this time, it will be important that you do well in your OB/GYN clinical rotation (the time that you are assigned to learn in the OB/GYN) and also to choose at least one sub-internship in the field prior to applying for residency. At the end of these 4 years, you are officially a doctor. If you want to become a specialized doctor, like an OB/GYN, you have to train more.

  4. You will apply for residency, which is additional training time that you need to become an expert in OB/GYN.

  5. Once you get in, you will spend 4 years getting paid for your work and learning for free. You will earn a relatively low salary ($45,000 annually) and care for patients under the supervision of more senior physicians. After that, you are officially an OB/GYN!

  6. If you want to be an OB/GYN that works with cancer patients and performs surgery, you will also complete a three-year fellowship after finishing OB/GYN residency.


4-year Bachelor's degree: $105,092 average tuition at private school and $28,080 average at public school.
4-year Medical degree: $190,000 average at private institutions and $160,000 average at public institutions


To become an X-Ray Technician:



  1. Get at least an Associate's degree from an accredited institution (this usually takes 2 years).

  2. Get certified. These programs take about 6 months.


One year Certificate Program - $2,500-$10,000 annually
Two year Associate’s Degree - $4,000-$12,000 annually
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Michele’s Answer

To become an X-Ray tech it takes about two years and costs the amount of a two year community college (Depends where you live/go how much that is


Not to put down x-ray in any way but..it takes about the same time and money to become an ultrasound tech, or a Nuclear Tech, or a few other imaging type specialists.. but pays less and usually does not have the greatest hours comparatively.. Do you think you would like X-ray better than other two year specialties?


Maybe do a search of two year medical degrees? There are a lot of great paying things in the medical field you can do affordably in a short time and then pursue the long term, higher educational fields like the OB GYN etc..
It also might expose you to specialties you are not aware of.


Also, if you want to be a physician you should sincerely look at things you would love to do and the differences in how they work.. i.e. do they work long hours and take lots of call but make the same amount of money? If you love one over the other that shouldn't matter but you should go into it with your eyes open :-)
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