Skip to Main Content

Preventive Medicine Physicians

Employment Prospects

Employers

Approximately 390,680 physicians and surgeons, all others not listed separately by the Department of Labor, are employed in the United States. Preventive medicine physicians work in primary and managed care organizations. They work in hospitals, private and group medical practices, public health clinics, nursing homes, universities, and government agencies, among others. Some are self-employed in their own or group practices.

Jobs for preventive medicine physicians are available all over the world, although licensing requirements may vary. Developing countries have high demand for medical professionals of all types. Conditions, supplies, and equipment may be poor and pay is minimal, but there are great rewards in terms of experience. Many doctors fulfill part or all of their residency requirements by practicing in other countries. 

Starting Out

Preventive medicine physicians must have an M.D. or D.O. degree, pass a licensing examination, have a one- or two-year internship, and a two- to three-year residency. It can take many years before a preventive medicine physician is ready to start practicing in the field. Many receive job offers from the hospital or health care facility in which they complete their residency. Some get their start in federal and state agencies. Ask your school's career services office for assistance with finding job opportunities. Other ways to find job listings include searches on professional associations' Web sites, such as the American College of Preventive Medicine, https://careers.acpm.org/jobseekers, as well as sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Simply Hired, among others.

Related Professions