How to Become a Physician

Video Transcript

"To become a physician is a long process. A minimum of 11 years. The first step of which is to attend a four year college or university. You, most premed students will major in a science discipline. However that is not necessary. If you do not major in a science discipline however you do need to make sure that you complete the basic science prerequisites. That would be a year of chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, a year of physical sciences and two years of biological sciences. Medical school is a very competitive process. And applying requires a strong candidate really with a GPA of 3.75 or above. And strong scores on what's known as the MCAT, the medical college admissions test. All applicants to medical school must take this exam. It focuses on physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning and writing. The medical schools use this information, the GPA, the college you attended and your MCAT scores in ranking the applicants. Those who they feel are strong applicants to their school they will grant an interview. Which is a big deal in the applications process. You really want to put your best foot forward and shine on the interview process. To apply to medical school there is a standardized service that most medical colleges in the United States use. It's called MCAS. And you can actually apply to one or all of the participating medical schools through the MCAS system. Once you are selected as a candidate for medical school you can matriculate. Those who are wait listed however, which means they didn't make the first draft, will sometimes obtain a seat in a medical class if one of those who were selected opts to go to another school. Once you begin your medical education the first two years are typically reserved for didactic training in the health sciences. At the end of that first two years you will have to sit for what's known as the United States Medical Licensing Exam step 1. And this tests your basic knowledge of health science, disease theory and treatment modalities. The second two years of medical school focus primarily on learning clinical skills. It's here that you learn the art of medicine. And at the end of that two years you must pass what's known as the USMLE step 2 which tests your basic competency in clinical knowledge and skills. Upon finishing your four years of medical school you're granted a degree. Either an MD in the course of an allopathic school or DO in the case of an osteopathic school. Either way MD or DO your scope of practice is the same in the United States. Now we're eight years into your medical education but you're not yet ready to practice as an independent physician. You must next complete what's known as a residency program. Now most residency programs are also applied for through a standardized national program called the National Match. There are a few however such as urology or neurology that have their own residency programs. But once you're matched to a residency program you can expect another three to eight years of graduate medical education depending on your specialty. It's here that you as a physician can really specialize in a particular area of medicine. If you want to become a family practitioner for instance or a pediatrician the residency is typically three years. Whereas if you want to become a surgeon it's a minimum of five years. Now upon completion of your residency program you can sit for a state licensing exam in the state in which you wish to practice and you can become an independent practicing physician. However some will wish to do some additional training known as a fellowship. Particularly those who are interested in a clinical sub specialty or an academic career will complete a fellowship before they enter into practice."