How Long Does it Take to Become a Private Practice Doctor?
Doctors in private practice, or in any field of medicine, put in many years of schooling and residency before they can work independently, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Schooling is also quite expensive, with 86 percent of graduates reporting being in debt. However, being a doctor is also well rewarded, both in job satisfaction and income.
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Post-Secondary Education
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Candidates for medical school must complete an average of four years of undergraduate school, according to BLS. Studies include English, math, biology, physics and chemistry. While a few candidates are allowed into medical school with only three years of post-secondary school completed, most already have a bachelor's degree.
Medical School
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Getting into medical school is no walk in the park. Admission is competitive, says BLS. School administrators consider not only transcripts but a candidate's score on the Medical College Admission Test, letters of recommendation and her character. There were 129 accredited medical schools as of 2010, and some are combining undergraduate studies with medical school, to reduce school time to six or seven years, instead of eight.
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Internship and Residency
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After graduating medical school, all doctors must begin residency, a form of on-the-job training under a physician that can last from three to eight years, says BLS. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine must also complete an internship, or unpaid training. This is usually done on a rotating, 12-month basis.
National Average Income
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As of 2010, doctors working in a private practice make an average of $153,000 a year, according to PayScale. Doctors with their own practices earn an average of $172,000 a year. Doctors who work as a part of a team report earning as much as $256,000 a year.
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References
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