Medical doctors work each and every day to save lives, prevent traumas and help those in need to enjoy a higher quality existence. It’s a difficult job featuring incredibly long hours, unending stress and major physical, mental and emotional trials. Doctors are often well compensated for their extraordinary work, but before they’re ever allowed to see a patient they’ll put in as much as a decade in higher education. Some people get into the medical field with a goal of being in service to others, but there are those that have a very specific specialization in mind. One of the most rewarding areas a medical professional can focus on is becoming a pain management doctor. That work involves alleviating chronic pain due to genetic malformations, major traumas or the standard recovery following a significant surgery. It requires constant learning, and the ability to listen to the needs of an individual. If this specialization has drawn your attention, here is a quick look at the qualifications for becoming a pain management doctor.

As with all journeys into the medical field, this specialization will begin at college. You’ll need to attend a four year university, and the more prestigious the program, the better your chances. Some schools offer an actual pre-med major, but more often than not you’ll have to major in a related field. You could study biology, chemistry or even applied sciences. It doesn’t really matter, just as long as you take care of all of the prerequisite classes you’ll need for medical school. College is a time of experimentation and fun, but make sure you buckle down when necessary. You won’t be able to get into a good medical school unless you have outstanding grades at this level.

When nearing graduation you’ll turn your attention to medical school. The process of applying and acceptance isn’t easy, and you’ll have to take a graduate exam and do quite well at it. Apply to a range of schools, but push yourself with a good program if at all possible. Prepare yourself with quality extracurricular activities, and try to do some volunteer work at a local medical facility if you have the opportunity. Once in medical school you’ll be completely overwhelmed with work. This is one of the harder graduate programs there is, and you can expect to commit a full four years to getting your medical degree.

After graduation you’ll have to be certified, at which point you can begin practicing as a medical doctor. Now is the time to focus on a specialization in pain management. You can work while pursuing this, but you’ll need another four years before you can officially specialize. Look for quality programs in neurology, anesthesiology, orthopedics or physiatry, which will all lead you down the pain management pathway. You’ll have another solid course load to navigate, with residency as well. Much of the work will be gaining real world experience with patients, and you should expect to average 70+ hour work weeks.

Now you’re ready to finally specialize in pain management. After you graduate with the specialty you’ll have to pass an exam to be certified. This is given by the American Board of Anesthesiology, and while it’s no cakewalk, after all of that work you should be fully prepared. Remember that you’ll need separate certifications in each state, so if you start to practice pain management in Los Angeles and then move out of California, you’ll need an additional certification.