Become An Attending Physician
Where do you want to work?
Working As An Attending Physician
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Unpleasant/Hazardous Environment
Stressful
Make Decisions
$165,000
Average Salary
What Does An Attending Physician Do
How To Become An Attending Physician
Physicians and surgeons have demanding education and training requirements. Almost all physicians complete at least 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and, depending on their specialty, 3 to 7 years in internship and residency programs.
EducationMost applicants to medical school have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees. Although no specific major is required, all students must complete undergraduate work in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English. Students also take courses in the humanities and social sciences. In addition, some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain experience in a healthcare setting.
Medical schools are highly competitive. Most applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant’s personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require applicants to interview with members of the admissions committee.
A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 or 7 years.
Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, psychology, medical ethics, and the laws governing medicine. They also gain practical skills, learning to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.
During their last 2 years, medical students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in diagnosing and treating illnesses in a variety of areas.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Physicians and surgeons need to be excellent communicators. They must be able to communicate effectively with their patients and other healthcare support staff.
Compassion. Physicians and surgeons deal with patients who are sick or injured and may be in extreme pain or distress. Physicians and surgeons must be able to treat patients and their families with compassion and understanding.
Detail oriented. Physicians and surgeons must ensure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment and medications. They must also monitor and record various pieces of information related to patient care.
Dexterity. Physicians and surgeons must be good at working with their hands. They may work with very precise and sometimes sharp tools, and mistakes can have serious consequences.
Leadership skills. Physicians who work in their own practice need to be effective leaders. They must be able to manage a staff of other professionals to run their practice.
Organizational skills. Some physicians own their own practice. Strong organizational skills, including good recordkeeping, are critical in both medical and business settings.
Patience. Physicians and surgeons may work for long periods with patients who need special attention. Persons who fear medical treatment may require more patience.
Physical stamina. Physicians and surgeons should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting or turning disabled patients. Surgeons may spend a great deal of time bending over patients during surgery.
Problem-solving skills. Physicians and surgeons need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments. They need to do this quickly if a patient’s life is threatened.
TrainingAfter medical school, almost all graduates enter a residency program in their specialty of interest. A residency usually takes place in a hospital and varies in duration, generally lasting from 3 to 7 years, depending on the specialty.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsAll states require physicians and surgeons to be licensed; requirements vary by state. To qualify for a license, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school and complete residency training in their specialty.
All physicians and surgeons also must pass a standardized national licensure exam. M.D.s take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). D.O.s take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). For specific state information about licensing, contact your state’s medical board.
Certification is not required for physicians and surgeons; however, it may increase their employment opportunities. M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training; the length of time varies with the specialty. To become board certified, candidates must complete a residency program and pass a specialty certification exam from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS).
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Attending Physician jobs
Attending Physician Career Paths
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Attending Physician 6.0 years
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Staff Physician 5.3 years
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Certified Physician Assistant 4.2 years
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Internal Medicine Physician 3.5 years
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Physician 3.3 years
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Clinical Physician Assistant 3.2 years
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Resident Physician 2.6 years
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Physician Assistant Student 1.5 years
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Medical Director 12.0%
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Physician 10.6%
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Resident 7.9%
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Internship 7.8%
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Assistant Professor 6.0%
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Fellow 5.9%
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Staff Physician 5.8%
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Clinical Instructor 5.2%
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Research Assistant 4.9%
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Director 3.8%
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Chief Resident 3.2%
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Chairperson 2.9%
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Resident Physician 2.9%
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Consultant 2.7%
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Medical Officer 2.5%
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Research Fellow 2.3%
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Medical Director 20.2%
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Physician 14.9%
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Assistant Professor 7.6%
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Staff Physician 5.5%
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Fellow 5.4%
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Consultant 4.4%
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Clinical Instructor 3.5%
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Director 3.4%
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Chairperson 3.3%
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Associate Professor 3.1%
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Hospitalist 2.7%
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Clinical Professor 2.5%
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Research Associate 2.4%
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Research Assistant 2.3%
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Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Attending Physician
Top Careers After Attending Physician
Attending Physician Demographics
Gender
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Male
54.5% -
Female
37.8% -
Unknown
7.7%
Ethnicity
-
White
60.5% -
Asian
20.4% -
Hispanic or Latino
11.5% -
Unknown
6.1% -
Black or African American
1.5%
Languages Spoken
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Spanish
34.4% -
Chinese
14.8% -
French
9.8% -
Russian
6.6% -
Mandarin
4.9% -
Hindi
4.9% -
Portuguese
3.3% -
Polish
3.3% -
Bulgarian
1.6% -
Urdu
1.6% -
Vietnamese
1.6% -
Norwegian
1.6% -
Lithuanian
1.6% -
Armenian
1.6% -
Macedonian
1.6% -
Persian
1.6% -
Bengali
1.6% -
Arabic
1.6% -
Ukrainian
1.6%
Attending Physician
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Attending Physician Education
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New York University
10.2% -
New York Medical College
8.7% -
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
6.3% -
University of Southern California
6.3% -
University of the Sciences
5.5% -
University of Illinois at Chicago
5.5% -
Harvard University
4.7% -
Drexel University
4.7% -
Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Montefiore Medical Center
4.7% -
Duke University
4.7% -
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
4.7% -
Brown University
3.9% -
Temple University
3.9% -
Wayne State University
3.9% -
University of Pennsylvania
3.9% -
Johns Hopkins University
3.9% -
University of South Florida
3.9% -
Oregon Health & Science University
3.9% -
University of Washington
3.1% -
Tufts University School of Medicine
3.1% -
Medicine 49.2%
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Public Health 5.8%
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Nursing 5.8%
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Business 4.2%
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Biology 4.2%
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Education 3.2%
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Clinical Psychology 3.1%
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Veterinary Science 1.7%
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Physician Assistant 1.7%
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Medical Technician 1.5%
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Management 1.4%
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Osteopathic Medicine 1.4%
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Pharmacy 1.2%
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Literature 1.0%
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Other
40.3% -
Doctorate
28.4% -
Masters
18.6% -
Bachelors
7.3% -
Certificate
3.3% -
Associate
1.5% -
Diploma
0.6%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Attending Physician
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Attending Physician Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPB Surgery Attending Physician | Charlotte Mecklenburge Hospital Authority | Charlotte, NC | Jan 01, 2015 | $360,000 - $561,600 |
| Attending Physician-Surgeon (Foot/Ankle; Trauma; & Spine) | Faculty Physicians & Surgeons of Llusm | Loma Linda, CA | Jun 30, 2016 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician | North Arkansas Pain Management, P.A. | Cherokee Village, AR | Jul 01, 2015 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician | North Arkansas Pain Management | Batesville, AR | Feb 11, 2016 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician, Gastroenterology | University Hospitals Medical Group, Inc. | Westlake, OH | Oct 17, 2016 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician, Surgeon | Faculty Physicians &Amp; Surgeons of Llusm D/B/A Loma Linda University FAC | Loma Linda, CA | Jan 02, 2016 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician, Anesthesiology | Pinnacle Mid-Atlantic Anesthesia Associates, PC | Easton, PA | Jan 07, 2016 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician, Anesthesiology | Pinnacle Mid-Atlantic Anesthesia Associates, PC | Vineland, NJ | Jan 07, 2016 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician/Gastroenterology | University Hospitals Medical Group, Inc. | Westlake, OH | Jul 01, 2015 | $350,000 |
| Attending Physician | Interfaith Medical Center | New York, NY | Apr 03, 2015 | $333,920 |
| Attending Physician | CHMC Surgical Foundation | Boston, MA | Jun 20, 2016 | $330,000 |
| Per Diem Attending Physician | Montefiore Medical Center | New York, NY | Jul 15, 2016 | $208,700 |
| Attending Physician IX-Neonatology | John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County/Cook County | Chicago, IL | Nov 14, 2016 | $208,116 |
| Attending Physician-Neonatologist | Winthrop University Hospital | Mineola, NY | Jan 07, 2016 | $207,500 |
| Attending Physician, Hematology-Oncology | John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County/Cook County | Chicago, IL | Oct 15, 2015 | $204,424 |
| Attending Physician | New York University School of Medicine | New York, NY | Jan 03, 2016 | $204,216 |
| Attending Physician | Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. | New York, NY | May 01, 2015 | $202,592 |
| Attending Physician | San Joaquin General Hospital | French Camp, CA | Jul 23, 2015 | $176,461 |
| Attending Physician (Internal Medicine) | The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital | Herkimer, NY | Oct 24, 2015 | $175,579 |
| Attending Physician | Northwell Health | New York, NY | Jan 07, 2016 | $175,000 |
| Attending Physician, Geriatrician | University Hospitals Medical Group, Inc. | Cleveland, OH | Apr 20, 2016 | $175,000 |
| Attending Physician | Faculty Physicians &Amp; Surgeons of Llusm D/B/A Loma Linda University FAC | Loma Linda, CA | Jan 31, 2016 | $175,000 |
| Associate Attending Physician | Mount Sinai Medical Center | Yonkers, NY | Jul 01, 2015 | $175,000 |
| Attending Physician (Geriatrics) | University Hospitals Medical Group, Inc. | Cleveland, OH | Jul 01, 2015 | $175,000 |
| Attending Physician | Montefiore Medical Center | New York, NY | Sep 22, 2015 | $175,000 |
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Top Skills for An Attending Physician
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Top Attending Physician Skills
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Research
- Practiced Internal Medicine and Pediatrics office and hospital based
- Core Faculty Department of Emergency Medicine
- Lead: Responsible for design, implementation, and analysis of various clinical research studies.
- Tended to approximately 20-25 inpatients per day with ongoing primary care.
- Monitored patients' vital signs during surgery as well as in the first stage of recovery.
Top Attending Physician Employers
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