How To Become A Nephrologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a nephrologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Like many other medical terms, the word "nephrologist" comes from Ancient Greek. "Nephros" in Ancient Greek means kidney, so a nephrologist is a person who studies and treats kidney conditions. Luckily, even though the word comes from Ancient Greek, treating kidney problems has changed drastically since the time of togas.

A nephrologist treats all kinds of kidney conditions, from mild, temporary infections to permanent kidney disease, requiring patients to stay on dialysis for the rest of their lives. Without nephrologists, people with kidney problems would not be able to flush waste and toxins out of their bodies, which the kidneys are normally supposed to do.

A nephrologist is a kind of doctor, which means that they need to have the same qualifications that all medical doctors do. This includes a bachelor's degree, a diploma from medical school, and several years of residency. To become a nephrologist specifically, a person needs to complete a fellowship in nephrology and get certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

ScoreNephrologistUS Average

Salary

10.0

Avg. Salary $252,156

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 24.29%

Black or African American 4.99%

Hispanic or Latino 9.36%

Unknown 4.42%

White 56.77%

Gender

female 47.37%

male 52.63%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Key steps to become a nephrologist

Explore nephrologist education requirements

Most common nephrologist degrees

Bachelor's

28.7 %

Doctorate

27.6 %

Certificate

18.4 %

Start to develop specific nephrologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Internal Medicine	74.63%
Hypertension	14.23%
Private Practice	5.11%
Hemodialysis	2.69%
PD	1.57%

Research nephrologist duties and responsibilities

Well verse managing patients on peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis.
Research and update billing policies as changes are make by CMS.
See patients of chronic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, hypertension and other kidney relate disorders.
Coordinate and organize post-deployment healthcare assessment (PDHA) standard operating procedures for subordinate units in Iraq.

Prepare your nephrologist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nephrologist 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 nephrologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Nephrologist Resume templates

Build a professional Nephrologist 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 Nephrologist resume.

Apply for nephrologist jobs

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

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

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