Portrait of happy young female doctor standing in hospital corridor. Caucasian woman working in healthcare center.
In 2021 only 42% of the candidates who applied got accepted into medical school.
People who want to get medical jobs have to go through rigorous training and years of education. And with such a long way to go, it can be confusing how to get there.
Does a career path in medicine interest you? Keep reading to learn how to become a doctor.
High School
The pathway to medical careers actually starts in high school. It’s not as crucial, but good grades and good study habits will make sure you’re capable of surviving the next steps of your academic journey.
Undergrad
You need to get into university and complete a bachelor’s degree. This usually takes three or four years, depending on your course load. There is no set degree requirement, but pre-med or biology subjects will be beneficial.
The MCAT
The MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test. You have to take this test after completing your undergraduate degree to be able to apply to medical school.
While you can study for this test alone, it’s incredibly difficult to pass. It’s recommended that you find study groups and take prep courses. You can take the test up to three times per year.
Medical School
Once you’ve passed the MCAT, you can apply to medical school. Getting into a medical school is dependent on the combination of your undergrad grades and your MCAT result.
It’s a good idea to apply through the American Medical College Application Services. Through them, you apply to every medical school in the country. This boosts your chances of successfully being admitted.
Medical school is a postgraduate degree that usually takes four years to complete. Here you learn all the basics you need to know to practice medicine and specialize.
This is also the stage where you’ll start building your personal medical equipment inventory. To start building it up, you can shop here.
Medical License Examination
Before you can start your residency, you need to pass the first two phases of the US Medical License Examinations. These phases happen while you’re in medical school. The final phase happens after medical school.
Residency
Residency is where you gain experience in a specialty as one of the many different types of doctors. You can work with patients and assist doctors.
A residency usually takes three or four years.
State Medical License
This is the final part of your training to become a doctor. This is the third part of the US Medical License Examination and usually happens in your final year of residency. Each state has different requirements for this test, so it’s important to prepare.
Once you pass this stage, you’re officially allowed to practice medicine in your state!
Know How to Become a Doctor
Now you know how to become a doctor and live your dream of working in healthcare! It’s a long road to becoming a doctor, but worth it when you have a passion for it.
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