Becoming a Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a long yet rewarding journey that requires years of hard work and dedication. But how exactly do you become a doctor, and how long does it take to get there? Before we dig too deeply into that, let’s take a step back to look at what MDs do and what makes a great one.
What Is a Doctor of Medicine?
An MD is a licensed physician who diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent serious illnesses, injuries, diseases, and conditions. They can work in hospitals, clinics, government agencies, and more. They perform physical exams, order diagnostic tests, and develop appropriate treatment plans for their patients. While some MDs may perform surgery, not all of them do.
MDs are responsible for improving health outcomes at both the individual and community levels. Depending on where they choose to practice, they could even impact health on a global scale. They teach patients how to lead healthier lives, advocate on their patients’ behalf, and champion health policies that can improve patient outcomes.
What Qualities Make a Great Doctor?
While medical knowledge is important to being a good doctor, rounding out your technical expertise with soft skills can make you a great one.
It’s easy for physicians to see only the diagnosis and not the patient sitting in front of them. Clinical strengths—combining interpersonal skills with hard skills—put the focus back on the patient and empower them to advocate for themselves, ask questions, and make informed health decisions. Things as simple as explaining complex information in layman’s terms and actively listening to your patient’s concerns can help build a rapport, put them at ease, and improve their overall experience. Being able to quickly assess symptoms, think critically about what could be impacting your patients, and decide which tests to run can help you decide the best treatment plan.
Resilience is another must-have, as medicine can push you to your limits emotionally, mentally, and physically. Between long work hours and emotionally demanding cases, it’s important to remind yourself why you’ve chosen this field when you need a reason to keep going.
What Type of Doctor Can I Become?
With more than 200 medical specialties and subspecialties in the U.S., you can take your pick of what kind of doctor you want to become. If you’re interested in working with children, you may be interested in becoming a pediatrician. If you want to focus on reconstructing anything above the neck, becoming a plastic surgeon might be worth looking into.
Some medical specialties include:
- Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pathology
For a full list of medical specialties and the related subspecialties you can pursue, visit the American Board of Medical Specialties.
As a medical student, you’ll complete clinical rotations across multiple medical specialties. So, if you’re unsure what kind of doctor you want to become going into medical school, you’ll broaden your experience in your third year and explore specialties that interest you further in your fourth.
How Do I Become a Doctor of Medicine?
The steps to becoming an MD are pretty straightforward:
- Complete premedical courses while earning a bachelor’s degree.
- Complete an MD program.
- Earn licensure and complete your residency program.
- Start working.
Step 1
Generally, you’ll need to complete premedical courses while earning your bachelor’s degree. As long as you’ve taken (and passed) the prerequisite courses, you generally don’t have to pursue a specific major. While prerequisite courses may change by school, at Ross Med, applicants are expected to complete:
- Two semesters of inorganic or general chemistry (with labs)
- Two semesters of organic chemistry (with labs)
- Two semesters of general biology or zoology (with labs)
- One semester of physics (with lab)
- One semester of college-level math
- Two semesters of English
Throughout their undergraduate studies, applicants will also need to:
- Take the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®).
- Gain clinical experience.
Extracurricular activities aren’t required, but participation in them can strengthen your application. It also allows you to build a rapport with mentors who can write recommendation letters for you once you apply to MD programs.
This step generally takes four years to complete.
Step 2
Next, you’ll need to complete an accredited Doctor of Medicine program. The first two years of medical school will focus on building your foundation in medical sciences. Before proceeding to your third year, you’ll need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 1.
The last two years reinforce everything you’ve learned while helping you gain firsthand experiences providing patient care through clinical rotations. In your final year, you’ll apply to residency programs and take the USMLE® Step 2CK.
This step generally takes four years to complete.
Step 3
During the first year of your residency program, you can take the USMLE® Step 3 to earn your medical licensure or you can wait until you complete that first year. However, you’ll need to earn licensure before the second year of your residency program.
How long your residency takes to complete depends on your medical specialty, but generally it can take anywhere from three to seven years. For a detailed breakdown of residency length by specialty, check out How Long Is a Medical Residency.
You can pursue certification through the board of your chosen medical specialty once you complete your residency. You can also pursue a fellowship after completing your residency if you’re interested in a subspeciality, but that’s optional. If you pursue that path, it can add anywhere from one to three years to your timeline.
Step 4
Once you’ve earned your licensure and a certificate in your preferred specialty, you can start practicing medicine.
Start Your Medical Journey
Although it can take a minimum of 11 years to become a doctor, the journey is well worth it if you’re committed to the medical field. By the end of this process, you’ll be a fully trained, competent, and compassionate physician who can provide quality care for diverse patient populations.
It’s a long road, but with the right support and mindset, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a physician. When you’re ready, so are we. Apply to Ross Med today!
