How to become a doctor

Doctors work on the front lines of patient care, identifying medical problems and prescribing treatments. They are master problem solvers, talking to and examining patients to get necessary information. Based on this, they decide on the tests needed to diagnose and treat the medical issue.

Many doctors cite a desire to help others as a major motivator for entering the profession. Some have had formative experiences–either positive or negative–as a patient, inspiring them to become a doctor. Others say their curiosity about science led them to this career. Most doctors agree that helping patients to become healthier is one of the most rewarding parts of their job.

What are the different types of doctors?

There is a specialist for nearly every organ system in the human body, from the brain and spinal cord (neurology), to the lungs (pulmonology), to the heart (cardiology), to the digestive system (gastroenterology). The following are some common types of doctors:

• Family practitioners see patients of all ages for chronic disease management or prevention
• Pediatricians specialize in treating children under age 18
• Geriatricians treat older adults over age 60
• Internists focus on treating illness and injury in the internal organ systems
• Emergency physicians work in ER departments, providing care in life-threatening and other emergency medical situations
• Anesthesiologists administer anesthesia and other forms of sedation prior to surgery, as well as continuous medical assessment during

8 steps to become a doctor

Becoming a doctor takes many years of study, but the work is highly rewarding. If you are interested in becoming a physician and helping to save lives, here we detail the steps needed to get you there.

Step 1: Get an undergraduate degree

The first step in becoming a doctor is to earn a bachelor’s degree. Many students choose to major in health sciences, biology, or a related science discipline. Some colleges offer a pre-med track or degree to students interested in going to medical school. The curriculum includes all of the necessary coursework to make them eligible.

One big misconception is that it is necessary to complete a pre-med degree program to go to medical school. In fact, you can major in anything – math, political science, philosophy. That being said, many medical schools have core course requirements. Depending on the school and program you are applying for, prerequisite courses may include:

• 2 semesters of biology with a lab component
• 2 semesters of chemistry with a lab component
• 2 semesters of physics with a lab component
• 1 semester of math
• 2 semesters of English

The above courses fulfill the requirements for most medical schools. However, additional coursework can assist students in preparing for the rigor of medical school. Other classes that may be helpful include:

• human anatomy and physiology
• microbiology
• cell biology
• genetics
• psychology
• statistics
• developmental biology
• bacteriology and immunology
• developmental biology

Is a master’s degree in medicine worth it?

A master’s degree in an area related to medicine may provide a competitive edge during the admissions process. The downside is that earning a master’s degree incurs more costs, and delays entry into medical school by 1-2 years.

Popular options for master’s degrees include a master’s in public health (MPH), or a master of science (M.S.) in biology, chemistry, or a related discipline. Students interested in a management or administrative position within a hospital may choose to earn a master’s of business administration (MBA) — before a medical degree. A master’s degree program may also be beneficial if you wish to do research or enter academia.

There are also special master’s programs, or SMPs, which are specifically designed to help students prepare for medical school. These confer a master’s degree and are often feeder programs into specific medical schools. Students with an unrelated bachelor’s degree, or who graduated with poor grades, can improve their chances of acceptance into medical school with one of these programs. The downside is this can be expensive.

» Read: Alternative careers for healthcare professionals

Examples of careers that are open at the master’s level include:

Step 2: Pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

Almost all medical schools require applicants to pass the Medical College Admission Test. This rigorous exam includes content areas thought to be important for success in medical school. The MCAT is a multiple-choice exam consisting of the following 4 sections:

• biological and biochemical foundations of living systems (59 questions)
• chemical and physical foundations of living systems (59 questions)
• critical analysis and reasoning skills (53 questions)
• psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior (59 questions)

The exam format is a mixture of multiple-choice and stand-alone questions. It is administered in a computerized format at exam centers around the country. You may attempt the exam no more than 3 times in a given year.

MCAT scores for each section range from 118 to 132. Together, these create a composite score that ranges from 472 to 528. In addition, candidates receive a percentile score that shows how they performed relative to other test takers. For example, a score in the 80th percentile means that you scored higher than 80% of other test takers.

Step 3: Apply to medical school

Students often begin to consider the medical school application process during their junior year of college. Experts often recommend applying to 15 to 20 medical schools to increase the likelihood of acceptance. Factors to consider when researching medical programs include:

MD vs DO degree

The majority of U.S. medical schools offer the medical doctor (M.D.) degree. Some offer a doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) degree. Graduates of either degree can be licensed to practice medicine in the United States. The M.D. takes a more traditional approach to medicine, while the D.O. focuses on a more holistic, mind-body-spirit approach to patient care. D.O. programs often focus heavily on preventative care, and many people with this degree pursue family medicine.

» Read: Decision fatigue: how to manage during the admissions process

Accreditation status

In most states, students need to complete an accredited program to be eligible for licensure.

Teaching style

Different programs have different modes of teaching, grading requirements, and curricula. This information is typically found on a program’s website.

Cost

Costs vary by program. In-state tuition at a state school is typically less expensive than out-of-state tuition or private school.

The majority of schools conferring an M.D. use a centralized application system called the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Programs conferring the D.O. degree typically use the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). These services streamline the application process. You will be asked to upload academic information, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, essays, and transcripts.

» Read: Alternative ways to pay for college

Applications through AMCAS and AACOMAS should be completed in May or June of the year before you intend to begin medical school. After schools review your materials, they may invite you to complete a secondary application. This typically includes additional essays addressing specific prompts. Most schools conduct interviews in September-December. Offers of admission may come as early as October, though many schools may not make final decisions until the following May. Students must inform a medical school of their decision to attend by May 15th. Classes usually start in August or September of that year.

Step 4: Complete medical school

Most medical schools divide training into 2 segments. The first 2 years are pre-clinical years, focused on coursework in biology, physiology, chemistry, anatomy, and other core domains. Years 3 and 4 are clinical years, where students complete clinical rotations or clerkships. These offer hands-on experience, allowing students to interact with patients, take medical histories, and conceptualize problems.

Part of medical school is completing standardized exams to test your knowledge and competency. The primary exam is the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), which has 3 parts. Medical students take part 1 of the USMLE after their second year of medical school, and part 2 after their fourth year. Candidates earning a D.O. degree may take the COMLEX exam instead, which focuses on similar content areas.

Step 5: Complete a residency

In the United States, residency placement is determined through a match process system. Medical school students apply for programs, interview, and order their preferences. The programs do the same, and an algorithm determines placement on “Match Day.”

A medical residency lasts 3 to 7 years. It comprises on-the-job supervised training, often in a hospital setting. Residents see patients under the supervision of an attending physician. They diagnose problems, prescribe treatments, and write reports.

Residents tend to work long hours, often working 60 to 80 hours per week, though this depends on specialty area. They typically sit for the third USMLE exam at the end of their first year of residency.

The average salary of first year medical residents is $59,279. This salary increases with each year of residency. So, for example, the average salary in the seventh year is $75,728.

Step 6: Get a state license and become board certified

All physicians must be licensed to practice medicine. Licensure requirements tend to differ by state. Generally speaking, applicants must have graduated from an accredited M.D. or D.O. program, passed their licensing exams (USMLE or COMLEX), and successfully completed a residency program.

Step 7: Complete a fellowship (optional)

After residency, most doctors take jobs in primary care, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, or family practice.

Some can become specialists without further training, based on their specialty focus during residency. Others may need to complete a fellowship. This 1-3 year program is similar to residency, and allows participants to hone in on a specific niche.

Step 8: Get board certified

Becoming board certified is not always necessary, though some jobs may require it. Board certification demonstrates advanced competency in a specialty area. It typically requires one or more exams that test knowledge and skills in a particular specialty.

There are more than 25 board certifications available in the United States, and a given doctor can earn board certification in more than one specialty area. These specialties include:

• anesthesiology
• dermatology
• emergency medicine
• family medicine
• internal medicine
• medical genetics and genomics
• obstetrics and gynecology
• pathology
• pediatrics
• plastic surgery
• radiology

Doctors who have completed a fellowship and fulfilled the necessary board certifications are truly specialists in the field. Such positions demand a lot of responsibility. Specialists also receive higher salaries. For example, the average annual salary of a radiologist is $313,005.

Doctor salary and demand

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, there were more than 700,000 doctors in the United States in 2020, and job growth is expected to increase by 3% over the next decade. This is slightly slower than average compared to other fields. Most new jobs in medicine are expected to come from the replacement of retiring workers, or those who choose to leave the profession.

How to pay for medical school

Medical school is expensive, costing on average $54,698 a year. Exact prices vary, with public schools costing an average of $49,842, and private medical schools $59,555.

Most students require financial aid to afford these costs. The first step is to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA considers your income and savings to determine your eligibility for financial aid. Aid may take the form of unsubsidized loans, or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans. Medical schools may also offer some aid in the forms of scholarships, grants, or loans.

There are also loan forgiveness programs, which can erase some, or all, of medical school debt. For example, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program offers up to $50,000 toward loan repayment in exchange for 2 years of service at an approved site.

» Read: Student loan repayment options

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, forgives the balance of a loan after 10 years of qualifying monthly payments. Doctors employed at government or non-profit organizations may be eligible for this loan forgiveness program.