How To Become An Epidemiologist?

Do you want to know how to become an epidemiologist and choose a career path in epidemiology and want to know, then let me help you with it? Here I will explain every important piece of information that you should know related to the epidemiologist. I will describe the requirements that you will need to fulfill for becoming an epidemiologist. You will come to understand the education, responsibilities of the epidemiologist, salary of an epidemiologist, etc. Here you will also know how long does it take to become an epidemiologist professional. So let us start with how to become an epidemiologist.

How To Become An Epidemiologist?

The steps for how to become an epidemiologist are given in the following. Read them carefully before going into details about every step.

1. Get A Bachelor’s Degree.
2. Get Required Work Experience.
3. Complete Master’s Degree.
4. Receive Certificates.
5. Practice As An Epidemiologist.

For you below, I have mentioned these steps in detail which will give you a full idea about becoming an epidemiologist. Please read them carefully till the end as you will come to know about every important point without missing anything.

Steps To Become An Epidemiologist In Detail:

Below are the steps that you will need to do for becoming an Epidemiologist. We have explained every step in detail in the following.

• Get A Bachelor’s Degree

To become an epidemiologist you will need to get a bachelor’s degree. The studies you can complete in how to become an epidemiologist are like biostatistics, nursing, health sciences, etc. Some of the other student’s complete degrees in chemistry, biology, and public health. You should complete your bachelor’s degree as it will provide a base for the completion of further studies. You will need the right bachelor’s degree for becoming an epidemiologist. A master’s degree is a must for specializing in epidemiology. Completion of a bachelor’s degree will help you in taking admission to the master’s degree.

• Get Required Work Experience

You will need experience working as an epidemiologist. After the completion of the academic level studies, you will need to do an apprenticeship for purpose of required work experience. You can complete it in some of the institutions that provide facilities for internships and practical experience for students. This work experience will help you get various epidemiologist positions as there are various roles for an epidemiologist. You will need at least one year of experience before applying for the job of an epidemiologist. Check what kind of position you want and get that much experience for achieving that position in the epidemiology field.

• Complete Master’s Degree

You will need to complete your master’s degree in epidemiology for becoming an epidemiologist. A degree in master of science or Master of Public Health is required for becoming an epidemiologist. You can go for a dual degree in this medical field for completion of your degree of doctorate. Most of the courses of MPH have studies related to community health, environmental health, biostatics, etc. With the help of these courses, you will learn about data analysis and testing knowledge that epidemiologists should have. While completing the degree you will also need to complete research and project for practice purposes.

• Receive Certificates

You will receive certificates from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. You get this certification that will represent that you are ready for professional work as an epidemiologist. However, it is a commitment to your career and infection prevention. You will also have some other public health certifications that will improve your knowledge and application of epidemiology in further jobs and roles.

• Practice As An Epidemiologist

You will need to practice as an epidemiologist after you get your Master’s degree. You will be able to apply for many of the entry-level posts of the epidemiologist job. Many of the people can go for practice in government institutions and organizations. You can also work in private places. You should expect to lead a team of scientists and researchers to make innovative discoveries in the field of public health and infectious diseases as you continue to progress in your career.

Duties Of An Epidemiologist

Here are some of the duties of an epidemiologist. Please read to know what are the responsibilities of the epidemiologist.

• Epidemiologists need to analyze information data and search out conclusions.
• They need to plan for future health emergencies.
• They will need to develop reports and details of possible threats.
• They have to send data to policymakers and health professionals.
• They should communicate regarding public health with professionals.
• They need to administrate several projects at a time.
• They have to create and manage public health services programs.
• To obtain more data and information they need to develop studies.

Skills Of An Epidemiologist

Below we have mentioned the requirements of an epidemiologist.

• Training experience of about two years is required by them.
• They should have good knowledge of presentation skills.
• They should be able to solve complicated problems.
• Good knowledge and experience in public health management should be there.
• They must be able to capture every detail.
• They should not miss any point.
• They must be able to do public health research and studies.
• They should know about the statistics.
• They must be able to manage and handle several projects at a time.
• Communication regarding public health with professionals should be done properly by them.

Time Required For Becoming An Epidemiologist

You will require about 6 to 12 years for becoming an epidemiologist. Below we have mentioned the time required for completion of the training, courses, degree, etc. So let us see it in the following:

1. Time of four years will be required for completing your Bachelor’s Degree.
2. Two years of the training program.
3. Time of two years will be required for completing your Master’s Degree.
4. While practicing in clinical settings Master’s degree will require four years of study and completion of a three or four years residency program.

How To Become An Epidemiologist For The CDC?

To become an epidemiologist for CDC you will need the following requirements to be fulfilled. Let us check out what are they.

1. You will require a Bachelor’s Degree.
2. Complete your apprenticeship.
3. Get your Master’s Degree completed.
4. Receive Certifications that are required.
5. Practice As An Epidemiologist for specialized experience.
6. Completion of a training program of two years.

Epidemiologist Salary

If you are seeking a job as an epidemiologist, then you will also need to know what is the salary of an epidemiologist? It is said that epidemiologists on average earn up to 50000 $ per year. The basic salary of the epidemiologist starts from 40000 $ and may go up to near about 100000 $ as per the position and experience.

FAQ

How Many Years Does It Take To Become An Epidemiologist?

You will require about 6 to 12 years for becoming an epidemiologist. Read the following to know about it.

1. Time of four years will be required for completing your Bachelor’s Degree.
2. Two years of the training program.
3. Time of two years will be required for completing your Master’s Degree.
4. While practicing in clinical settings Master’s degree will require four years of study and completion of a three or four years residency program.

What Degree Do You Need To Be An Epidemiologist?

While becoming an epidemiologist you will need a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. To complete it you will also need a bachelor’s degree as a basic requirement. In general, to be an epidemiologist you will need to complete a master’s degree in public health that is MPH or with a related field to it. You can also complete the doctorate graduation in

epidemiology or medicine for more experience.

How Much Money Does An Epidemiologist Make?

An epidemiologist on average earns up to 50000 $ per year. The basic salary of the epidemiologist starts from 40000 $ and may go up to near about 100000 $ as per the position and experience.

Do Epidemiologists Go To Med School?

Yes, epidemiologists go to med school. As the epidemiologist need to complete their master degree and bachelor degree. Some of the epidemiologists complete their doctoral degrees for the post of a medical epidemiologist. They have to complete their specializations which are related to medical studies and public health services.

Do I Have To Earn A Master’s Degree To Become An Epidemiologist?

According to the BLS, epidemiologists typically need to have a master’s degree from an accredited university or college. This public health profession requires extensive knowledge of biostatistics, medicine, public health policy and social sciences. There are a range of relevant master’s degrees you can pursue, but you likely will not be able to work as an epidemiologist without a master’s degree.

How Do I Start A Career In Epidemiology?

A career in epidemiology typically begins with a bachelor’s degree in biology, medicine or other biological science. Epidemiologists then typically obtain a master’s in public health focusing on biostatistics, behavioral studies, immunology, health services and administration and epidemiological methods.

Are Epidemiologists In High Demand?

Furthermore, the BLS projects the need for epidemiologists will grow by 26-percent between 2021 and 2031, resulting in approximately 800 new jobs on average every year. This is much higher than the five-percent job growth the BLS projects for all jobs combined during the same period [2].

How Hard Is It To Become An Epidemiologist?

Epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. They may have a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field, and some have completed a doctoral degree in epidemiology or medicine.

Conclusion

In the above article, you read about how to become an epidemiologist. You came to understand the career and jobs of an epidemiologist. I explained every important piece of information that you should know related to the epidemiologist. You got an idea about the duties and requirements for being an epidemiologist. I described what education is required for an epidemiologist? What time is required for becoming an epidemiologist? Etc. You will get help as this was a useful article with good information. While reading this article you now are knowing about how to become an epidemiologist.