How long does it take to become a doctor? Whats the easiest way to become a doctor? You may have already answered the question why you want to become a doctor, but now you need to understand the necessary time investment. It’s a long journey and we’re here to tell you all about it. In this blog, you will learn about the path you must take to become a physician, both before attending med school and after graduating.
Becoming a doctor is a long and challenging journey but also an extremely rewarding one. If you have a passion for science and helping people a medical career can provide lifelong fulfillment. However, before embarking on the path to become a physician, it’s important to understand exactly what the process entails.
In this article, we’ll break down the steps and timeline to become a doctor in the United States. We’ll cover the education requirements, training, exams and licensure you need to practice medicine. We’ll also explore medical specializations and other key considerations as you plan your career.
Overview: The Basic Process of Becoming a Doctor
The journey to become a doctor typically takes 11-15 years of education and training beyond high school. This includes:
-
4 years to complete a bachelor’s degree
-
4 years of medical school to earn an MD or DO
-
3-7 years of residency training in a specialty
Many doctors complete additional fellowship training lasting 1-3 years in a subspecialty area as well. And some choose to pursue research doctorates before or during this process.
In a nutshell, here are the basic steps to becoming a physician:
-
Earn a bachelor’s degree
-
Take the MCAT entrance exam
-
Apply to and attend medical school
-
Pass licensing exams like the USMLE
-
Complete residency training
-
Obtain state medical licensure
-
Consider board certification in a specialty
Next, we’ll explore each of these steps in more detail.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
The first step to becoming a doctor is completing an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. This usually takes students 4 years of full-time study.
Although your major doesn’t necessarily matter for medical school admission, typical pre-med majors include:
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Neuroscience
- Physics
No matter your major, you’ll need to complete a set of core science prerequisites. Common required courses are:
- Biology
- Chemistry (general and organic)
- Physics
- Calculus or statistics
- English
Some medical schools also require humanities and social sciences courses. Maintaining a competitive GPA in your bachelor’s program is crucial, as most students admitted to med school have GPAs of 3.7 or higher.
Taking the MCAT Exam
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is an essential exam that you’ll need to take before applying to med school. It evaluates skills and knowledge important for success in medical training.
The roughly 7-hour computerized test covers four sections:
- 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
Students typically take the MCAT during their third year of college or the summer after graduation. You can register for test dates on the MCAT website. It’s recommended to spend several months preparing through self-study or a prep course.
The average MCAT score for students accepted to medical school is around 512 out of 528. Aim to score competitively to boost your chances of admission.
Attending Medical School
The next phase is applying to and attending medical school, which takes another 4 years. There are currently 155 MD-granting medical schools and 36 DO-granting schools in the U.S.
When applying, you’ll submit your:
- MCAT scores
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Extracurricular activities and experiences
Once accepted, the first two years of medical school focus on classroom scientific study. Coursework covers topics like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws.
The last two years shift to clinical experiences, where students complete rotations in various specialties and interact directly with patients. This helps you start deciding what area of medicine to pursue.
At the end of school, you’ll earn either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Both degrees allow graduates to apply for residency training.
Passing Licensing Exams
To eventually gain medical licensure, you’ll need to pass a series of national licensing exams. Which exam path you take depends on your degree type:
For the MD route:
- United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1
- USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)
- USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills)
- USMLE Step 3
For the DO route:
- Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX) Level 1
- COMLEX Level 2 CE (Cognitive Evaluation)
- COMLEX Level 2 PE (Performance Evaluation)
- COMLEX Level 3
Many students take Step 1/Level 1 at the end of their second year and Step 2/Level 2 during their final year of med school. Step 3/Level 3 is usually taken during residency. These challenging exams assess your readiness for supervised clinical practice.
Completing Residency
After medical school, newly minted MDs and DOs enter residency training in their chosen specialty area. These supervised programs allow you to build hands-on skills and expertise.
Residency length varies by specialty, usually lasting 3-7 years. Some examples:
- Internal medicine – 3 years
- Pediatrics – 3 years
- General surgery – 5 years
- Neurological surgery – 6 years
The most time-intensive residencies that take up to 7 years of training include:
- Radiation oncology
- Vascular surgery
- Cardiothoracic surgery
Residency programs in highly competitive fields like dermatology, plastic surgery, and orthopedics often last 6 years as well.
Obtaining Medical Licensure
Toward the end of residency, you must obtain state medical licensure to start practicing medicine independently. The requirements are:
- Graduate from an LCME or AOA accredited medical school
- Complete accredited residency training in your specialty
- Pass Step 3/Level 3 of licensing exams
- Pass additional state-specific exams if required
Each state has its own governing medical board that handles granting licenses to doctors. This process must be completed whether you plan to apply for board certification or not.
Considering Fellowship & Specialty Certification
Following residency, many doctors pursue additional fellowship training in a subspecialty area like pediatric cardiothoracic surgery or maternal-fetal medicine. These usually last 1-3 years.
Fellowship allows you to gain expertise in a narrow field of medicine. Afterward, you can apply to become board certified in that subspecialty through the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Board certification can give you a competitive edge in securing a medical position or rising into leadership roles. It involves passing an exam and meeting other prerequisites set by the specialty board.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Doctor?
Now that we’ve outlined the full journey, let’s discuss the total time investment.
The fastest path is around 11 years:
- 4 years bachelor’s degree
- 4 years medical school
- 3 year family medicine residency
The longest path can take up to 15 years:
- 4 years bachelor’s degree
- 4-5 gap years for research degree
- 4 years medical school
- 6 years neurosurgery residency
- 2 years subspecialty fellowship
Choosing a less competitive specialty with a shorter residency length can help minimize the timeline. But most students should expect 12-14 years from starting college to completing all training.
The long road is worth it for the reward of becoming a licensed physician. With hard work and determination, you can achieve this challenging yet fulfilling career goal.
Key Factors That Impact How Long It Takes
Several factors contribute to how long the journey takes from pre-med student to practicing doctor.
1. Specialty Choice
One of the biggest factors is which medical specialty you decide to pursue, since residency length varies. Primary care fields like family medicine and pediatrics generally take 3 years, while surgical subspecialties often take 6-7 years.
2. Pursuing Research
Some students take 1-3 years during medical training to earn a research-focused master’s or Ph.D. This can add time, but also help secure competitive residencies.
3. Attending MD vs. DO School
DO students must take extra osteopathic manipulative medicine courses during med school, which adds some time. MD and DO paths are otherwise quite similar.
4. Pursuing Fellowships
Additional subspecialty fellowship training generally lasts 1-3 years beyond residency. Pursuing a fellowship adds time, but can help you land top jobs.
5. Failing Exams
If you fail USMLE Step exams or COMLEX levels, you’ll need to wait and retake them, delaying your progress. Staying on top of licensing exam timelines is key.
6. Taking Time Off
Some students take off up to 1-2 years between college and med school for personal reasons. While allowed,
Graduate School (+1-5 years)
Other research-inclined students can even go for a Masters or a PhD in a scientific discipline before applying to medical school. However, keep in mind that very few schools give preferential treatment to those who have a PhD. So if you are wondering whether graduate school can help you get into medical school, the answer is no. If you want to become a physician-scientist, you can cut a year or two by enrolling into an MD-PhD program.
Undergraduate Education: 3-4 years
Your preparation to become a doctor really begins when you start your bachelors degree. Medical schools in the US or Canada require applicants to complete an undergraduate degree before applying, so this step is necessary. Although most medical schools dont require applicants to major in science or other common medical majors, they do require you to complete university-level science coursework. The most common medical school prerequisites are biology, chemistry, physics, math and English.
During your premed years, you’ll also work on the extracurriculars for medical school, which are the activities and experiences that will help your medical school application stand out. Your undergraduate years are important for gaining experience in clinical health settings, participating in research opportunities, and serving your community.
Before you graduate, you’ll launch your medical school application timeline, which includes taking the MCAT, preparing your application materials and preparing for medical school interviews. Once accepted, you will enter the next four years of your journey towards becoming a doctor.
How long does it take to become a doctor?
How long does it take to become a doctor after medical school?
After completing medical school and receiving your physician’s license, you need to complete a minimum of three years in residency. Your residency prepares you for practicing medicine independently as a doctor.
How long does it take to complete medical school?
It’s possible to complete medical school in three years if you apply for an accelerated program and complete some of the requirements while earning your undergraduate degree. You could also earn your undergraduate degree in three years to reduce the amount of time spent completing your education.
What degree do you need to become a doctor?
Two kinds of degrees qualify you to become a doctor: a doctor of medicine (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree. Both degrees prepare future doctors to practice and train in the United States. For the first part of med school, students learn in classroom settings and labs, taking courses like anatomy, medical ethics and pharmacology.
How long is a medical school program?
school programs are four years. During the final year of medical school, students choose the type of medicine they will practice on the basis of personal interests, clinical experiences, and other factors and apply to residency programs.
