How to Train to Become a Doctor
It takes between 11 to 16 years of post-secondary education and training to become a licensed physician. Physicians practice preventive and restorative care in a wide variety of medical specialties, including obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, psychiatry, general medicine, pediatrics and family practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, general doctors earn an average of $186,044 annually, while specialty physicians earn an average annual salary of $339, 738.
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Things You'll Need
- Bachelor's degree
- Medical school diploma
- Medical license
- Completed residency program
- Board certification
Instructions
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Earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Most pre-med students major in biology or chemistry, but this isn't necessary. Majoring in liberal arts, fine arts or the humanities can make a medical school applicant seem well rounded and able to relate to and empathize with future patients. Despite their majors, students must make sure to take the prerequisite coursework required for admission to their chosen medical school; for most medical schools, this includes English composition, biology, physics, chemistry (organic and organic) and statistics.
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Assume a leadership role in extracurricular activities. Medical schools want to see that applicants are able to prioritize their schedules, complete tasks under pressure and delegate responsibility, because all of these skills are integral to having a successful career in medicine.
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Gain experience in the health care field. As a prerequisite to working as a doctor, students should gain some medical experience while earning their bachelor's degree. Future physicians can spend their summers volunteering in a laboratory or medical facility, working as a certified nurse assistant or employed as an emergency medical technician.
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Take the Medical School Admissions Test (MCAT). Most U.S. medical schools require students to submit their MCAT scores for admissions consideration. The MCAT test students on four areas: physical sciences, verbal reasoning, biological sciences and writing. Students should take the MCAT during their junior year of undergraduate studies; in case their scores are less than satisfactory, students have time to re-attempt the exam.
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Apply to medical school. Although admissions requirements vary, most medical schools look for students to fulfill the following requirements: a "B" or better grade point average, a cumulative MCAT score of 30 (out of a possible 45), letters of recommendation from professors, employers, mentors and advisers, a insightful personal essay and an interview with the admissions review board.
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Attend medical school. Future doctors have the option of attending an allopathic or osteopathic school; graduates of allopathic schools are awarded MD (Medical Doctor) degrees, while osteopathic school graduates are awarded a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. Both degree programs provide students with classroom and laboratory instruction, and teach them how to observe, diagnose and treat illness in every body system. During the final two years of medical school, students rotate through various clinical specialties, practicing supervised patient care, including internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics.
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Complete a hospital residency and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination. Even though medical school graduates are conferred the title of MD or DO, they are still required to complete a hospital residency to gain specialized training. During the first year of residency, doctors must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) to obtain a license to practice medicine. Residencies can last from three to eight years, depending on the specialty; residents are paid a small salary and work under the close supervision of an attending licensed physician.
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Pass a board certification exam. Physicians who have completed a hospital residency are required to become board certified by the certifying body of their specialty.
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References
- Photo Credit doctor's treatment image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
