How Long Does it Take to Become a Doctor

Guidance counselors always tell high school students that seeking a career in medicine is not one to take lightly since it will take quite a long time and entail a lot of hard work. So really, how long does it take to become a doctor? Normally, the academic route will entail 12 years of study after the student finishes high school. But most agree that preparation for medical school starts in high school, with aspirants focusing on getting better than average grades, especially in science subjects like chemistry and biology.

After high school, careful selection of a bachelor's degree will go a long way in increasing a student's chances of getting into medical school. Core subjects like organic chemistry, microbiology and biochemistry will be very helpful. Again, it's better to get good grades in these courses as they will be carefully considered upon application for admission to med school. A GPA of at least 3.3 is usually good enough. Admission teams will also consider actual experience in a healthcare setting (probably as a volunteer in home for the aged or in a hospital) to ascertain how much of an interest in the field the student has. Actual exposure to patients will also tell medical school admissions staff that the student already has an idea of what kind of pressures an actual doctor goes through on the job. After this, how long does it take to become a doctor?

Still quite a way to go, it seems. Upon finishing a bachelor's degree, the aspirant will then have to take and pass the entrance exam for medical school called the MCAT. When the MCAT results are available, the student then begins the application process. This will include submitting several letters of application and recommendation, writing essays, and sitting for interviews. The process is time consuming and entails quite a sum of money as each application will require a fee, and more applications mean more chances of acceptance.

Once accepted, how long does it take to become a doctor still? Another 4 years in medical school will be required, during this time the student has to study anatomy, physiology and pharmacology among other subjects. It is also during this time that med students will be exposed to training in clinics and hospitals, getting to know the different specialties of medicine, like internal medicine, psychiatry, family medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. After 4 years of med school, how long does it take to become a doctor? After med school, the student will have to be "matched" to a residency program (through another batch of tests and interviews). Now a doctor in training, the student is called an intern during the first year of residency. Typically it will take another 2 -3 years before the residency program is completed depending on the specialty.

After residency, another 2 -3 years will be spent by the doctor for a fellowship in a highly specialized area of medicine. A final test will then have to be taken for the doctor to be certified. How Long Does it Take to Become a Doctor [l]