What Do You Need to Become a Dermatologist?

Dermatologists specialize in skin disorders and conditions.

Dermatologists diagnose and treat skin, hair and nail disorders in patients, conducting skin analysis, taking tissue and blood samples and doing lab work. Treatment options administered by dermatologists include surgical and nonsurgical methods as well as cosmetic procedures such as botox injections and dermabrasion. Individuals who are interested in pursing a career in this field should expect to complete the educational, testing and training requirements in about 10 years.

High School Preparation

High school students who see dermatology as their career path can get an early start on college prerequisites by enrolling in advanced-placement science courses such as biology, chemistry and physics. Students should also consider volunteer work at a hospital or medical office to become familiar with general medical practices.

College

The first educational requirement for an aspiring dermatologist is to obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The most common undergraduate majors for premedical students are math or science, although this not a requirement. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree program, the Medical College Admissions Test must be passed. An applicant's MCAT scores and grade point average will be strongly considered when applying to medical school.

Medical School

Once accepted by a medical school, students begin a rigorous four-year study program focusing on various aspects of medicine, such as the clinical and biomedical sciences. During the second year, the first part of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination should be taken. The second part of the USMLE is typically taken during the fourth year.

Residency

Once a candidate has successfully completed medical school, she must complete a residency to learn the hands-on aspects of being a physician and receive additional dermatology-specific training in clinical care. This is done by providing consultations and conducting inpatient rounds.

The third and final part of the USMLE is typically taken during the first year of a residency training program. During a residency, those candidates who intend to become dermatologists will elect to receive specialized training in dermatology. Upon completion of the residency, they must take and pass the board certification exam administered by the American Board of Dermatology. Candidates must successfully complete all training, exam and educational requirements before becoming a board-certified dermatologist.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physicians and Surgeons
• Diploma Guide: Dermatologist Career Overview

Resources

• The American Board of Dermatology