What is the process for becoming a doctor?

Answer 1

The following timeline lays out the steps you must take to prepare for admission: 1. Decide on medicine

2. Complete undergraduate science requirements

3. Get volunteer/work experience in health-related fields

4. Consider a broad course selection

5. Develop staff/faculty advisors

6. Prepare for the MCAT

7. Take the MCAT exam

8. Submit transcripts and application materials

9. Monitor application completion/distribution

10. Interview if invited Undergraduate Studies: While a Bachelor's degree is not a requirement for admission into all medical schools, more than 99% of accepted students in 1999 had one. Until recently, nearly all pre-med students majored in Chemistry or Biology. Today students with all kinds of majors are being accepted. In fact, a recent study shows, "acceptance rates range from 45 percent in biology to 48 percent in nonscience and 55 percent in physical sciences. There is an apparent trend among admissions officers to encourage potential applicants to medical school to consider nonscience majors during their college years." (Fruen) The changing face of medicine is looking for "people" people, not just academic superstars as in years past. You are better off majoring in Philosophy and maintaining a 3.9 GPA (grade point average) than majoring in Biology and only getting a 3.5. So by all means study what you are interested in and what you're good at because admissions committees are looking for well-rounded candidates who have studied a variety of subjects while in college. However, there are still some very specific requirements for admission into most US medical schools, they are: * One year of General Chemistry with lab * One year of Organic Chemistry with lab * One year of Biology * One year of Physics * College level math While these courses are pretty standard, medical schools do vary slightly in their admissions requirements. Even if you are a junior in high school, it won't hurt to take a look at the requirements for the medical school you are most interested in attending and plan your undergraduate program accordingly. The biggest variance seems to be math. Some schools want to see a year of calculus, while others only require one college-level statistics class and others have no math requirement at all. Many schools are beginning to expect undergraduate course work in biochemistry and/or genetics. Again, check with the admissions office of the schools you are interested in for specific requirements. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): Upon completion of the mandatory course work, the next big hurdle you will face is the MCAT. The MCAT is the first of many major exams that you will have to pass on your way to becoming a practicing physician. All but one major US medical school uses results from this test to select candidates. The MCAT is offered in April and August of each year. It is a good idea to take the exam in April of your Junior year of college so you can have your results back in time to begin applying to med school in the summer. Most programs begin taking applications in the summer a year prior to fall admission. If you do poorly you can re-take the test in August, but doing so will probably delay your admission into medical school by a year and shouldn't be considered unless you are sure that you can increase your scores significantly. Many students take prep courses before sitting for the exam and find them helpful. However, the courses are quite expensive and if you are good at studying on your own, you can probably do as well without them. The prerequisite courses mentioned above all help prepare you to pass this test which consists of four sections: MCAT scores are based on the four parts of the MCAT exam: Physical Sciences (PS), Verbal Reasoning (VR), Biological Sciences (BS), and the Writing Sample (WS). * For PS, there are 77 questions, with a scoring range of 1 to 15. * For VR, there are 60 questions, with a scoring range of 1 to 15. * For BS, there are 77 questions, with a scoring range of 1 to 15. * For WS, there are 2 questions, with a scoring range of J to T. Try MomMD's MCAT resources to learn more about the test. Or visit the AAMC Medical College Admission Test page. Acceptance Statistics: There are two different types of physicians that we think of as "Doctors". The MD degree is granted from allopathic medical schools and the DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) is granted from Osteopathic schools. Training and curriculum is very similar between the two, with the main difference being that Osteopaths learn skeletal and muscular manipulation (similar to Chiropractors) to complement traditional medical treatment. Both are recognized and board certified by the American Medical Association. Although Osteopathic schools have lower requirements for GPA and MCAT scores, their acceptance rate is lower because there are less positions available. Also of note is that tuition for Osteopathic schools is generally higher since most of the programs are private. Following is information compiled in 2005 (* figures are for 1999) for acceptance to US allopathic medical schools. As you can see, only about 4 out of 10 applicants are accepted. US Medical Schools (Allopathic) * 125 schools * 37,304 applicants * 17,004 entrants * 42.4%* acceptance* 48.5% women * 11.3%* US under-represented minorities * 11.7 applications/applicant* * 59% Public/41% Private* Average Matriculant Scores

MCAT * VR 9.7 * PS 10.1 * BS 10.1 * WS P GPA * Sciences 3.56 * Total 3.63

* Adapted from: Pfizer Medical Manual, 1999 and AAMC FACTS Gaining Experience: It is very important to get exposure to the healthcare industry prior to applying to medical school. Admissions committees want to see that you have been exposed to the unique stresses of handling medical crises and that your desire to become a physician is grounded in actual knowledge of the job. Volunteering at a local hospital or clinic is a good idea, but your experience should be patient contact rather than just typing or filing. Having recommendations from doctors or nurses who have worked with you in a clinical setting is a major boost to your overall application. Obtaining a license as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Certified Nurses Aid (CNA) and either working or volunteering in those capacities is an excellent way to gain experience.

Answer 2

Physicians go to medical school and obtain specialized residency training to become board-certified in their field of medicine. Medical school (at least in the U.S.) is four years and residency is 3+ years depending on the specialty.

Answer 3

In order to become a medical doctor, you must go through the proper certification. You require post-secondary education in most countries before you can pursue graduate studies in the field of medicine. After graduating from medical school, you must complete a residency program where you will be trained in the workforce as a medical doctor. After passing all exams and completing a residency placement, you will become a medical doctor.

Answer 4

To become a doctor, you need to complete a certain educational and training path. Here is an overview of the steps you can follow to become a doctor:

Get a bachelor's degree: In most cases, you will need to complete a bachelor's degree program before you can apply to medical school. It is not necessary to major in a science-related field, but you will need to complete certain prerequisite courses, such as biology, chemistry, and physics.

Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT): The MCAT is a standardized exam that is required for admission to medical school in the United States. It tests your knowledge of the physical and biological sciences, as well as your verbal reasoning and writing skills.

Apply to medical school: Medical schools in the United States are highly competitive, and the admissions process is selective. You will need to apply to medical schools and go through their individual admissions processes.

Complete medical school: Medical school typically takes four years to complete. During this time, you will complete coursework and clinical rotations in a variety of medical specialties.

Obtain a medical license: After you graduate from medical school, you will need to pass a licensing exam in order to practice medicine in your state. This exam, called the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), is a three-step exam that tests your knowledge and skills as a doctor.

Complete a residency program: After you pass the USMLE, you will need to complete a residency program in a medical specialty of your choice. Residency programs typically last three to seven years, depending on the specialty.

Obtain board certification: After you complete your residency, you may choose to become board certified in your medical specialty. This involves passing another set of exams and demonstrating a high level of knowledge and skills in your specialty.

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Answer 5

you have to go to tafe for 5 years and then your ready to become a doctor

Answer 6

You have to study hard and get the grades you need to become a doctor..