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Urologist

There is a long history of ailments that have adversely affected the urinary system and male reproductive organs.  And due to increased artificial stimuli, these ailments are on the rise and the call for medical experts in these areas is louder than ever.  If you would like to accept the challenge of becoming one of those experts and if you have an inclination for Science, Math, and Health and have strong multitasking skills, dexterity, and imagination, then you should study medicine and become a Urologist.

Urologists are surgeons who diagnose, treat, and prevent infections, diseases, disorders, and injuries affecting the urinary tract of men and women (kidneys, uterus, urethra, urinary bladder, and adrenal glands) as well as the male reproductive organs (prostate, external genitalia, etc.).  Practically viewed as the males' equivalent to a Gynecologist, Urologists work in private practices, hospitals, and clinics and use open and laparoscopic surgery to help determine and treat disorders in the urinary and male reproductive systems.  Equipment used by Urologists include:  catheters, x-rays, lasers, fluoroscopes, cystoscopes, radium emanation tubes, and diathermy machines.

The duties of a Urologist include but are not limited to:  examining patients to determine the nature and extent of disorder or injury; documenting and reviewing patients' medical history; planning appropriate non-surgical therapies; prescribing medicine; counseling patients on lifestyle changes; removing cysts and tumors; repairing the ureter, bladder, and urethra; performing kidney transplants, vasectomies, and abdominal, pelvic, and retroperitoneal surgeries; treating male infertility, erectile dysfunction (ED), and ejaculation problems through surgical and non-surgical means; providing urological consultation to and collaborating with other Physicians as needed; referring patients to other specialists when medical condition exceeds scope of specialty; ordering and interpreting diagnostic test results to detect prostate cancer; performing brachytherapy, cryotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), or photodynamic therapy to treat prostate and other cancers; training and directing the work of medical and clinical staff; and conducting research and teaching at universities.

High school students interested in becoming a Urologist benefit from taking Biology/Anatomy, Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science, Health, Nursing, Nutrition, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus.  Students entering Pre-Medical Bachelor's of Science programs with no previous Urology training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program.  Upon completion of undergraduate studies, candidates must earn a 4-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an accredited medical school, complete 3 to 8 years of Urologic residency, and pass all parts of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) in order to practice as a licensed Urologist.  Licensure is required in all states, issued by each state, and depends on a selected sub-specialty. 

There are seven sub-specialties in Urology:  Oncology (cancer), Calculi (kidney stones, etc.), Infertility, Female Urology, Neurourology, Renal Transplant, and Pediatrics.  And because they work with urinary tract infections, erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, incontinence, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, urethral and kidney stones, and premature ejaculation, Urologists are also required to have an understanding of Internal Medicine and even Gynecology.  

Due to the growth and aging of the overall population and because of the need to backfill positions left vacant by the large number of "baby boomer" Physicians who have reached retirement age, employment of Urologists is expect to grow by 24 percent over the next decade.  Job prospects should be even better for those who are willing to practice in rural, low-income, inner-city, and other under-served areas.

Job Description

Median Salary & Range

​Median Salary:  $331,890

Salary Range:  ~$247,300 - $439,130+

College Majors & Attainment Routes

Colleges That Provide Above Majors

Available Scholarships

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);

The normal routes to becoming a Urologist have been to first attain a Bachelor's of Science degree in Pre-Medical, Microbiology, ​Biology or Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Physiology or Physiology Sciences, Anatomy, ​Chemistry (Pre-Medical or Pre-Professional concentration), Physics (Pre-Medical concentration), Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pre-Professional Education, or even Engineering Physics.

Urologists must complete 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of Urologic residency.  Applicants to medical school must have at least a Bachelor's degree and must submit transcripts, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score, and letters of recommendation.  While a specific major is not required, all students must complete undergraduate work in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.  Students often volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain experience in a healthcare setting and to build mentor/mentee relationships with established Urologists.

Colleges and universities that have Medical Schools and related majors are:  Howard University (Washington, DC); Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee); Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, California); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama); and Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina).