What is a chief resident and how to become one

Key steps to become a chief resident

1. Explore chief resident education requirements

   Most common chief resident degrees

   Doctorate

   54.5 %

   Bachelor's

   27.4 %

   Certificate

   9.2 %

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2. Start to develop specific chief resident skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Residency Program	22.23%
   Patients	16.13%
   Internal Medicine	11.44%
   Oral Surgery	8.46%
   Outpatient Clinic	7.29%

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3. Complete relevant chief resident training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New chief residents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a chief resident based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real chief resident resumes.

4. Gain additional chief resident certifications

   Chief resident certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific chief resident certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

   The most common certifications for chief residents include Family Medicine and Certification in General Surgery.

   More About Certifications

5. Research chief resident duties and responsibilities

   • Manage medically compromise patients under intravenous sedation and general anesthesia.
   • Manage resident and facility accounts, budgets, social security applications, and Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
   • Provide multidisciplinary care for patients with special needs and complex medical histories.
   • Revise existing and draft new hospital policies in the areas of radiology safety and privately own medical equipment.

6. Get chief resident experience

   Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a chief resident. The most common roles before becoming a chief resident include resident, internship team lead and research assistant.

7. Prepare your chief resident resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your chief resident resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a chief resident resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose from 10+ customizable chief resident resume templates

   Build a professional chief resident resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your chief resident resume.
   

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8. Apply for chief resident jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a chief resident job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams