What Is an Embryologist and How to Become One
Table of Contents
What Is an Embryologist?
Embryologists focus on the science of human or animal reproduction. As an embryologist who practices in a clinical setting, you help patients overcome difficulty conceiving through procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF). You meet with patients to discuss their health history and suggest a plan for fertility treatments. In an academic setting, your primary responsibilities include researching discoveries and innovations in fertility studies and procedures and teaching students about the field. You conduct experiments, review other embryologists’ published work, and write papers and case studies of your own.
How to Become an Embryologist
To become an embryologist, you need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field followed by a master’s degree in clinical science or reproductive science. What you do next depends on your chosen career path. For clinical embryologist jobs, you must earn a medical degree, pass the medical board exams, and complete a residency before being qualified to practice embryology on your own. To work in academia or do research for private companies, you do not need to go to medical school, but most employers require a doctorate in the field.
