Health Articles
Becoming A Doctor

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Becoming a doctor involves:

Undergraduate Education - Four years at a college or university,
usually with a strong emphasis on basic sciences, such as biology,
chemistry, and physics.

Medical Education - Four years at one of 125 accredited U.S. medical
schools. After completing medical school, students earn their doctor of
medicine degrees (M.D.s) and are considered doctors, although they do
complete additional training before practicing on their own.

Residency Program - Through a national matching program, newly
graduated M.D.s enter into a residency program that is three to six years or more of professional training under the supervision of senior physicians. The length of residency training varies depending on the specialty chosen.

Fellowship - Two or more years of additional training in a subspecialty is an option for some doctors who want to become highly specialized in a particular field.

License - All practicing doctors must have a medical license to
practice medicine. They apply for the permanent license after completing a series of proficiency exams by the end of their medical training. The license is issued by the professional regulations agency in the state where they practice.