Doctors are responsible for people's lives as well as their general health and well-being. As a result, you must undergo many years of training to become a doctor.
Below, we've listed all the steps you'll need to take in order to become a licensed doctor in the United States.
What Is a Doctor?
Medical doctors have advanced degrees in the medical field. They may diagnose and treat patients and typically work within a specialty.
There are many, many fields of medicine and many types of doctors.
- Cardiologists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing heart conditions and those that affect blood vessels, such as strokes and heart attacks.
- Dermatologists specialize in conditions and disorders of the hair, skin, and nails. They may further specialize in areas like pediatrics or oncology.
- Emergency medicine physicians are generalist physicians who work in emergency settings like the emergency room.
- Family medicine physicians are generalist physicians who address a range of everyday conditions.
- Neurologists tackle issues within the brain and nervous system.
- Obstetricians and gynecologists, better known as OB/GYNs, treat conditions of the female reproductive system and manage pregnancy and childbirth.
- Pediatricians work with children. They may further specialize within the pediatrics specialty.
- Surgeons perform operations. Many surgeons specialize, such as neurosurgeons.
All doctors, regardless of their specialty, follow a similar educational path to become licensed and able to practice.
To become a doctor, you must undergo several years of training. We've broken down all the steps for you below.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
Before you can start medical school, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree. This is an undergraduate degree that typically takes four years.
There's no specific undergraduate degree required for medical school, but some medical schools may require you to have already taken specific courses.
To ensure that you meet medical school requirements, a degree in health sciences is usually best. Some schools offer pre-med programs specifically to prepare students for med school.
Other excellent undergraduate degree options include:
- biology
- biochemistry
- health care
- physical science
Step 2: Take the Medical College Admission Test
Most medical schools require you to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized test offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
The test is computer-based and is made up of four sections. These are:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Your final score can range from 472 to 528. While there is no official score that guarantees you admittance to medical school, most applicants try for a 510 or above.
If you're unhappy with your score, you're allowed to take the MCAT up to seven times total.
Step 3: Apply to Medical School
Once you have an MCAT score you're happy with, you can start applying to medical school. A list of accredited medical schools is available through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
To make life easy, the AAMC offers a centralized medical school application processing service called the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
Unfortunately, the rest of your application process may not be so easy. Medical schools often require essays, letters of recommendation, and in-person interviews.
Overall, in the 2022/2023 school year, 42% of medical school applicants were admitted into a program. To help your chances, it's a good idea to apply to multiple schools.
Step 4: Go Through Medical School
Medical schools are typically four-year programs. You can earn a Doctor of Medicine, which is a traditional medical doctoral degree, or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, which is often more holistic.
Medical school includes didactic education, which is typical classroom education with lectures and assignments. This portion usually covers a wide range of topics related to medicine.
In the later years of medical school, you'll be doing immersive clinical rotations. You'll rotate through different medical departments and observe and assist the medical teams there.
Step 5: Take the USMLE or COMLEX-USA
The United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE, is the test medical doctors must take.
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) is the test for Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.
Both tests are three-step standardized tests. To take the first two parts of the USMLE, you must be enrolled in or a graduate of a LCME-accredited medical school.
To take the first part of the COMLEX-USA, you must have completed at least one year of study at an accredited college of osteopathic medicine. For level two, you must have completed two years.
For both tests, you cannot complete the final section until you have graduated from medical school.
Step 6: Complete Post-Graduate Training
Upon graduating from medical school, you'll begin post-graduate training in your chosen specialty. You're an employee of the hospital and are being paid, though not as much as established doctors.
You'll start with a residency program. These programs range from three to seven years depending on the specialty you choose.
During residency, you'll be working under the supervision of an experienced attending physician. You'll observe and take notes, and may be able to perform simple procedures if the patient consents.
After residency, some doctors go on to a fellowship. This is typically for those who want additional training in a specific sub-specialty.
You must be licensed before taking on a fellowship.
Step 7: Obtain Licensure
Licensure requirements vary between states and specialties, but all states require that you've passed the final step of the USMLE or COMLEX-USA.
You may also need to verify your credentials and pass a background check.
Generally, you can't obtain licensure unless you've been in postgraduate training for at least a year. Check your state board to see what's required.
Take the Steps to Become a Doctor
To become a doctor, you'll need to obtain an undergraduate degree and a doctoral degree, pass multiple exams, and fulfill post-graduate experience.
Follow the steps above, and you can start your journey to becoming a doctor today.