How many years of school do you have to go through to become a doctor?

Answer 1

The common path to practicing as a physician requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3 to 8 additional years of internship and residency. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians.

For the source and more detailed information concerning this subject, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below.

Answer 2

The usual number of years required to become a doctor is eight years. a person wanting to become a doctor would spend 4 years Pre-med, and an additional 4 years in a medical school perfecting the area of medicine they are studying. Further schooling may be necessary to learn new procedures or be recertified for practicing medicine.

In lieu of what the above poster said, most doctors today attend a 4 year college to obtain a degree in either Biology, microbiology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, philosophy, or advanced maths. While premed is still an option, it is now looked highly upon to take one of the above mentioned courses. After that, a doctor must attend 4 years of medical school study their desired field of medicine. Once those four years are completed, the trainee then must enter an internship at a hospital for a year where you work 10-12 hours a day and are on call every third day (you sleep at the hospital and are ready for emergencies around the clock). Once the internship is completed, a doctor then enters a residency for 2-3 years under another doctor. If you will be doing surgery, you must enter a surgical residency. Alas, the doctor then enters a 2-3 year fellowship under the field of medicine he/she desires (for instance, renal medicine if they are going to become a nephrologist). Once this entire schedule is complete, the doctor can then begin a practice. However, most doctors (especially medical diagnostic and treatment specialists who are specialized) must then complete about 50 hours of schooling YEARLY to keep their information and studies up to date. It is rigorous, but it is also rewarding.

Answer 3

Well, in the United States, you have to complete four years of medical school, pass the necessary board examinations, and if you want to specialize in a certain medical field, you go into residency. The duration of the residency depends on what medical specialty you've decided to pursue. Some residency programs can be 3 years while others are up to about 7 years. There are some physicians that decide to specialize even more after residency and do a fellowship and that is often another year or two of training. I hope that answers your question!

Answer 4

4 years of medical school.

Usually you need 4 years of college to get into medical school (but there are programs that require less).

After medical school you need at least 1 year of internship to get a license but nearly all doctors do 3-10 years of training after medical school depending on their specialty.

Answer 5

It depends on what type of medical degree you are referring to. If you are referring to a physician (MD) then read the following.

The common path to practicing as a physician requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3 to 8 additional years of internship and residency. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. Education and training. Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation-4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 years rather than the customary 8 years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. Students also take courses in the humanities and the Social Sciences. Some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions. The minimum educational requirement for entry into medical school is 3 years of college; most applicants, however, have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees. There are 146 medical schools in the United States-126 teach allopathic medicine and award a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; 20 teach osteopathic medicine and award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive. Applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test, and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant's character, personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require an interview with members of the admissions committee. Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. During their last 2 years, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics, learning acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of illness. Following medical school, almost all M.D.s enter a residency-graduate medical education in a specialty that takes the form of paid on-the-job training, usually in a hospital. Most D.O.s serve a 12-month rotating internship after graduation and before entering a residency, which may last 2 to 6 years. A physician's training is costly. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2004 more than 80 percent of medical school graduates were in debt for educational expenses. Licensure and certification. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. To be licensed, physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of graduate medical education. Although physicians licensed in one State usually can get a license to practice in another without further examination, some States limit reciprocity. Graduates of foreign medical schools generally can qualify for licensure after passing an examination and completing a U.S. residency. M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training, depending on the specialty. A final examination immediately after residency or after 1 or 2 years of practice also is necessary for certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The ABMS represents 24 boards related to medical specialties ranging from allergy and immunology to urology. The AOA has approved 18 specialty boards, ranging from anesthesiology to surgery. For certification in a subspecialty, physicians usually need another 1 to 2 years of residency. Other qualifications. People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to serve patients, be self-motivated, and be able to survive the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians also must have a good bedside manner, emotional stability, and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Prospective physicians must be willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances. Advancement. Some physicians and surgeons advance by gaining expertise in specialties and subspecialties and by developing a reputation for excellence among their peers and patients. Many physicians and surgeons start their own practice or join a group practice. Others teach residents and other new doctors, and some advance to supervisory and managerial roles in hospitals, clinics, and other settings. For the source and more detailed information concerning this subject, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below this answer box.