Doctors go to school forever, not necessarily, but training requirements dictate at least 12 years of advanced education. The career of a physician requires advanced training and background experience, but the job is very rewarding. Doctors are expected to used a great deal of creativity and latitude in working with and treating patients. Doctors are also well compensated for their education and their services provided to patients. Doctors can work in a variety of healthcare settings in locations across the country.
Medical School. In order to begin a career as a physician, all must attend an accredited medical school. There are 125 accredited medical schools in the US that are represented by the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges). Students may not be able to receive certification if the medical school is not accredited. Admission into medical school is competitive, and requires a successful score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a complicated , four part examination that covers a broad range of science and medical topics, so it is important to prepare for the MCAT with a pre-medical undergraduate degree or similar such a biology or anatomy.
There are two ways that students can seek a career as a physician. The most prevalent path is the medical doctor or MD track. The other is Doctor of Osteopathy, or DO, which is very similar, but follows a slightly different approach to medicine. Both MD and DO degrees are accepted to begin advanced medical training.
Medical school takes four years to complete, with the first two years focusing on pre-clinical instruction, consisting of coursework and laboratory instruction. The final two years focus on clinical training where students work under the supervision of a hospital physician to gain hands on experience in a number of medical fields. Throughout medical school training, students take the United State Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) to show proficiency in medical practice. The USMLE is a three part exam, taken throughout medical training, which provides licensure upon completion.
Hospital Residency. In the final year of medical school, students apply for hospital residencies in a medical specialty. Each medical specialty has its own curriculum, and can take anywhere from three to eight years. Family practitioners take residency programs in family medicine, pediatricians take residency in internal medicine with additional training to become a pediatrician, and gynecologists and geriatricians take respective hospital residency training programs. The residency requirements of each type of physician varies depending on specialty, so it is important to know these specifications before starting educational training. Upon completion of residency, physicians are eligible for examination and licensure as required by respective medical specialty board. Hospitals residency programs are accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Fellowships. After completing a hospital residency and passing all board certification examinations, physicians are able to further advance their career and status by entering fellowship programs. There are fellowships available for many fields of medical practice. A fellowship places physicians with the most renowned physicians in a given field to provide extensive experience in the field. A fellowship may be a necessary course of training for certain specialties such as pediatrics or invasive cardiology.
If you are interested in becoming a physician, there is information available online about training for all medical specialties from Anesthesiology to Urology. It is important to know how long you must train in order to plan accordingly. There are many medical fields to choose from, all with their own unique methods and patient groups. The healthcare industry is ever growing and there will always be a need for qualified physicians.
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