How to become a doctor

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

Many doctors cite a desire to help others as a major motivator for entering the profession, while others claim that medicine sparks their scientific curiosity. But besides being a rewarding career – both intellectually and interpersonally – it is also a lucrative one, prompting many students to set off on the long path to becoming a doctor.

It is a road that is as challenging as it is appealing. To help you break this long journey down into manageable components, we explain the 8 main steps to become a doctor.

What are the steps to becoming a doctor?

Becoming a doctor can take anywhere from 10 to 15 years or even longer, but the work is highly rewarding. Still interested in how to become a doctor? We detail the steps needed to get you there.

Interested in other medical careers? Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner

Step 1: Get a bachelor’s degree

About 4 years

The first step to 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 to students interested in going to medical school. The curriculum includes all of the necessary coursework to make them eligible for most med schools.

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 said, many medical schools have core course requirements. Depending on the school and program you are applying for, prerequisite courses may include several semesters each of biology, chemistry, math, physics, as well as English.

Taking classes in human anatomy, microbiology, cell biology, genetics, psychology, statistics, bacteriology, and immunology could also increase your chances of getting into med school. They will also help you prepare for the MCAT exam.

Step 2: Pass the MCAT

During undergrad

Next comes your first major exam. 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:

1. biological and biochemical foundations of living systems
2. chemical and physical foundations of living systems
3. critical analysis and reasoning skills
4. psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior

Most aspiring doctors aim to take the MCAT in their sophomore or junior year of undergrad. Since you’ll be tested on your knowledge of science, it makes sense to take it after you’ve completed several college-level science courses. However, be sure to take the MCAT early enough to get your scores before June of your junior year. This will give you enough time to apply for med school.

Alternatively, if you want to take a gap year between undergrad and medical school, you can take the MCAT your senior year.

Step 3: Apply to med school

During undergrad

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.

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 need to upload academic information, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, essays, and transcripts.

Med school applications are due by 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.

» Read: What are post-bacc pre-med programs?

Step 4: Complete med school

About 4 years

Most medical schools divide training into 2 segments.

Years 1 and 2 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.

» Read: Deconstructing U.S. News med school rankings

Step 5: Complete a residency

3–7 years

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”.

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 60 to 80 hours per week – though this depends on the specialty area. They typically sit for the third USMLE exam at the end of their first year of residency.

The average salary for 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

Several months

All physicians must be licensed to practice medicine. Licensure requirements tend to differ by state. Generally speaking, applicants must fulfill the following conditions:

• Graduate from an accredited M.D. or D.O. program
• Pass their licensing exams (USMLE or COMLEX)
• Successfully complete a residency program
• Submit an application to the state medical board, along with their documents and a background check
• Pay a licensing fee

Some states may require an additional state medical licensing exam as well as an interview.

Step 7: Complete a fellowship (optional)

1-3 years

After residency, you can start working as a general physician. However, many doctors wish to specialize – be it for intellectual, personal, or economic reasons (specialists are paid more). Although some doctors can become specialists without further training based on their focus during residency, most doctors who wish to specialize will need to complete a fellowship.

This 1-3 year program is similar to residency, but it allows participants to hone a specific niche. Note that being a “fellow” is very prestigious, and positions are only offered to top candidates. During your training as a fellow, you will be able to work as a consulting or attending physician.

Fellowships for certain specializations take a longer than others.

Step 8: Get board certified (optional)

Several months

Board certification is a voluntary process that allows doctors to demonstrate their expertise in a medical specialty or subspecialty.

Becoming board certified is not always necessary, though some employers may require it. Board certification demonstrates advanced competency in a specialty area. The board certification examination typically consists of written and oral parts, and it may also include a practical assessment of clinical skills.

There are more than 25 board certifications available in the United States, and a given doctor can earn board certification in more than 1 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.

What types of doctors are there?

There is a specialist for nearly every organ system in the human body, from the brain and spinal cord (neurology), to the lungs (pulmonology), heart (cardiology), and 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.

Average salary of a doctor

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the average doctor salary in 2021 was $208,000 per year.

There were more than 761,700 doctors in the United States in 2021, and job growth is expected to increase by 3% over the next decade. This is slightly slower than average compared to other fields.

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.