Qualifications Needed to Become a Doctor
No matter what their specialty is, doctors hold a crucial responsibility in promoting and preserving good health throughout the world. Due to the large responsibility, the education needed to become a doctor is long and rigorous. Medical establishments want to be sure that only the most qualified candidates are making it through doctor-training programs. Having a highly educated doctor will help reduce the risks of life-threatening errors when practicing medicine.
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Undergraduate Education
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Before prospective doctors can apply for medical school, they must complete at least three years of undergraduate education; most students go on to complete their four-year bachelor's degree. While there are plenty of premedical programs in colleges and universities, it is not a requirement to major in pre-med as an undergraduate. Typically, students major in science or math to help prepare them for medical school.
Medical School
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After completing their undergraduate education, prospective doctors must attend medical school. Medical programs choose only candidates with stellar undergraduate grades and high recommendations from advisers and professors. Students spend the first two years of medical school in a class or laboratory setting, learning the scientific, mathematical and medical foundation they will need in order to succeed as doctors. During this time, students also learn how to take a patient's medical history and how to conduct an examination and diagnose illnesses. During the final two years in medical school, students spend their time rotating among different medical specialties and working in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of a trained medical professional.
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Residency Program
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Once prospective doctors have completed medical school, they must enter a residency program. For a year, residents work as "interns" before moving on to become full residents. Depending on the program and the specialty, residency programs can last from two to six years.
Licensing
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The American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) are in charge of licensing for many specialty areas. Doctors who wish to practice outside of general medicine must become licensed in their chosen specialty. The two organizations cover different specialties and each specialty has different requirements. In general, several years of specialty training is required as well as supplemental examinations.
Personal Characteristics
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While all of the formal education is important, doctors should also have certain personal qualities. They must be patient and nurturing. They must have a good bedside manner and the ability to multitask without become frazzled. Doctors should also be emotionally stable and be able to make sound decisions under the pressure of emergencies. These abilities cannot be taught in a classroom, and a prospective doctor must already possess them to succeed in the medical field.
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