The path to becoming a medical doctor is a long, structured process defined by years of intense education, training, and examination. It requires a significant personal and financial investment, demanding sustained focus and dedication. This guide provides a roadmap, breaking down each phase from undergraduate studies to optional sub-specialization.
Complete an Undergraduate Degree
The journey to becoming a physician begins with a four-year undergraduate degree. While many aspiring doctors major in a science like biology or chemistry, medical schools do not require a specific major. Admissions committees look for applicants who have pursued their interests and demonstrated academic excellence across various subjects.
A primary academic component of the undergraduate experience is completing prerequisite coursework, which forms the scientific foundation for medical school. This includes one year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, all with a laboratory component. Many schools also require or recommend courses in English, mathematics, biochemistry, and psychology.
A high Grade Point Average (GPA) is a primary factor in medical school admissions. Committees use GPA, particularly the science GPA from biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses, as an initial screening tool. While there is no official minimum, a competitive application requires a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Gain Relevant Experience and Prepare for the MCAT
Beyond academics, medical schools seek candidates who demonstrate a commitment to medicine through relevant experiences. These activities provide insight into patient care and help develop competencies like empathy and communication.
Clinical Experience
Direct exposure to patient care settings is necessary. This can be achieved by volunteering in a hospital or clinic, or by working as a medical scribe, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Shadowing physicians across different specialties is also beneficial, offering a realistic view of a doctor’s daily responsibilities.
Research Experience
Engaging in research, either in a lab or clinical setting, demonstrates an applicant’s understanding of the scientific method and evidence-based medicine. Participation can range from assisting with experiments to contributing to data analysis or co-authoring a publication.
Volunteering/Community Service
A sustained commitment to service, both within and outside of medicine, is valued by admissions committees. Medical-related volunteering reinforces a desire to help in a healthcare capacity. Non-medical community service demonstrates altruism and helps develop the interpersonal skills needed to care for diverse patient populations.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice exam required for admission to nearly all U.S. medical schools. It assesses problem-solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of science concepts needed for the study of medicine. The exam is divided into four sections.
A high score is a primary factor in admissions, and thorough preparation over several months is common. Each section is scored from 118 to 132, for a total score ranging from 472 to 528. The four sections of the exam are:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Apply to and Attend Medical School
After completing an undergraduate degree and the MCAT, applicants apply to medical school through centralized services. These services streamline the submission of materials to multiple institutions. The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is used for allopathic (M.D.) programs, while the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) is for osteopathic (D.O.) programs.
The primary application includes a personal statement explaining the motivation for pursuing medicine, a section detailing all clinical, research, and volunteer experiences, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
After the primary application is verified, schools send secondary applications to selected candidates. These include school-specific essays for applicants to demonstrate their fit with a program. Following this review, competitive applicants are invited for interviews, which may be one-on-one or in a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format.
Medical school is a four-year program divided into two phases. The first two preclinical years focus on foundational sciences like anatomy and physiology in a classroom setting. The final two clinical years consist of rotations, or clerkships, through specialties like internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics. During these rotations, students work directly with patients under physician supervision.
To progress toward licensure, students must pass two exams during medical school. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 covers foundational sciences and is taken after the preclinical years. USMLE Step 2 assesses clinical knowledge and is taken during the third or fourth year.
Complete a Residency Program
After graduating from medical school, physicians cannot yet practice independently and must enter a residency program. This is a period of postgraduate training in a specific medical specialty, such as pediatrics or internal medicine. During residency, they practice under the supervision of senior physicians to develop their skills.
Securing a residency position begins in the final year of medical school. Students apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), a system similar to AMCAS. The application requires a personal statement, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and USMLE scores. After interviews, both applicants and programs create rank-order lists of their preferences.
The rank-order lists are submitted to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), which uses an algorithm to place applicants into residency positions. This event, known as “The Match,” occurs annually on the third Friday of March. The Match determines where a graduate will complete their training.
Residency duration varies by specialty. Primary care specialties like family medicine or pediatrics are typically three years long. Surgical specialties require longer training; for example, general surgery is five years and neurosurgery is seven. During this time, physicians are called residents, and their training year is denoted as PGY-1 (post-graduate year one), PGY-2, and so on.
A final licensing exam, USMLE Step 3, is taken during the first or second year of residency. This two-day exam assesses a physician’s ability to apply medical knowledge and clinical science for the unsupervised practice of medicine. Passing this exam is the final step in the USMLE sequence.
Obtain Licensure and Board Certification
After completing the required stages of education and training, the final steps to becoming an independent, practicing physician involve obtaining two distinct credentials: a medical license and board certification. While often discussed together, they serve different purposes and are issued by separate entities.
A medical license, granted by a state medical board, gives a physician the legal authority to practice medicine in that state. Requirements include graduating from an accredited medical school, completing at least one year of postgraduate training, and passing all three USMLE steps. Because licensure is state-specific, a physician must obtain a separate license for each state where they wish to practice.
Board certification is a voluntary process demonstrating expertise in a medical specialty. It is granted by a specialty member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). To become certified, a physician must complete an accredited residency, hold an unrestricted medical license, and pass a comprehensive examination. Though not legally required, most hospitals and insurance providers require board certification for employment and reimbursement.
Consider a Fellowship for Sub-specialization
For physicians who wish to become experts in a specific area, the path can continue with a fellowship. A fellowship is an optional period of advanced training in a subspecialty within a broader field. This training can lead to careers in academic medicine, research, or highly specialized clinical practice.
For example, an internist might pursue a fellowship in cardiology to become a cardiologist. A general surgeon could undertake a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery to operate on the heart and lungs. Other examples include a pediatrician pursuing a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology or a radiologist sub-specializing in neuroradiology.
Fellowship training adds one to three or more years to a physician’s education. During this time, the physician is known as a “fellow.” Fellows are fully licensed and have more autonomy than residents, often taking on complex cases while engaging in research and teaching. While optional, a fellowship is necessary to practice in many specialized fields.