Your Guide to Becoming a Doctor with an MD Degree
Learn more about pursuing and working with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
Navigating the steps to becoming a medical doctor can be challenging. That’s why we have broken down your journey from a high school student to a practicing physician, answering questions like how long does it take to become a doctor, how long is a medical residency and what is a fellowship?
This blog post will explore the path to earning your MD degree and achieving a successful career in medicine. Learn how to become a doctor today!
Why Choose an MD Degree?
Before we provide a detailed breakdown of each step on the journey to becoming a medical doctor, it is essential to highlight the different paths professionals can take to enter the medical field.
Most doctors complete a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from an accredited medical school, while others pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. While there are subtle differences in the programs, including licensing exams and approaches to treatment, MDs and DOs are both medical professionals who can earn licenses to prescribe medication and practice medicine throughout the U.S. and Canada.
According to a 2020 census by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), over 90% of doctors in the U.S. hold an MD degree, highlighting an MD degree as a gateway to a successful medical career.
In addition to its global recognition and popularity, aspiring doctors pursue MD degrees for various reasons, including its prestige and reputation among medical professionals and the public, diverse career opportunities, job security due to the high demand for healthcare professionals and the rewarding nature of being a doctor.
Steps to Becoming a Physician with an MD Degree
The path to becoming a medical doctor is very structured, with each step being important for aspiring doctors to realize their professional ambitions. There are no shortcuts to becoming a practicing physician, and the journey requires commitment, discipline and resilience to succeed.
So, what are the steps to become a fully licensed medical doctor?
1. High School Preparation
The first step of the journey begins in high school when you are just starting to explore how to become a doctor. At this stage, it is important to explore your passion for medicine by studying science-related subjects, including biology, chemistry and physics.
Alongside your studies, you should spend time researching, volunteering and shadowing healthcare professionals, to gain valuable real-world experience before pursuing an undergraduate degree.
2. Pursue a Pre-Med Undergraduate Degree
Pre-med students should select an undergraduate major that aligns with medical school. Whether to pursue a pre-med or science-related undergraduate degree is a big decision you will make at this stage. However, it is important to note that as long as you meet the requirements for prerequisite courses, you can pursue an MD degree with any bachelor’s degree.
While biological science is the most popular pre-med major for aspiring physicians, due to its focus on physiological functions, other students pursue majors in fields like humanities, social sciences, health and engineering.
Pursuing voluntary roles and health-related extracurricular activities during your undergraduate degree is advisable to enhance your medical school application.
It may also interest you to learn that certain pre-med programs allow future medical doctors to bypass their undergraduate studies entirely. These are recommended for students who are completely sure that they want to practice medicine and do not feel the need to explore multiple fields during undergrad. These deliver multiple benefits, including notable time and cost savings due to the accelerated nature of the pre-med pathways.
3. Take the MCAT exam
One of the main prerequisites for U.S. students applying for medical school is taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is developed and conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Your MCAT score is a key factor in medical school admissions, with each school having a minimum score requirement for acceptance.
Students usually take the MCAT exam during the third year of their undergraduate program. It consists of standardized multiple-choice questions that measure problem-solving skills and medical knowledge. Therefore, it is essential to prepare for the MCAT exam to ensure you get the score you need to be accepted into medical school and secure the most extensive merit-based scholarships.
4. Apply to Medical School
The low acceptance rate and academic success requirements make applying to medical school one of the most daunting steps of the journey to becoming a practicing medical doctor.
Medical schools are very competitive, making appropriate MCAT scores and high grades essential. The medical school application process requires students to submit a personal statement, academic transcripts, MCAT scores (for U.S. students) and letters of recommendation. Candidates must also participate in an admissions interview. Applications are typically submitted via the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), a centralized database used by medical schools throughout the U.S or via a school’s application portal.
Many factors must be considered when applying for medical schools, including research opportunities, affiliated hospitals for clinical rotations and the school’s location. Students should carefully research and evaluate their options before applying and attending medical school interviews.
5. Complete the MD Program
Whether you pursue an MD or DO program, you must complete at least four years of medical school, split evenly between Basic Science and Clinical Medicine. Basic Science encompasses classroom and laboratory-based learning, while Clinical Medicine, also known as clinical rotations, involves hands-on training across various medical specialties with exposure to patients in hospital environments.
Medical students take two of the three national licensing exams during medical school, with MD students sitting for the first two sections of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The final licensing exam is taken during or after residency training.
6. Choose a Specialty and Complete Residency Training
Medical students typically decide their preferred specialty during the final year of medical school, with options ranging from obstetrics/gynecology to pediatrics to surgery. Medical students must then apply for residency programs at hospitals and medical centers in their chosen specialty via the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
So, how long is medical residency? Depending on the specialty, students can spend three to seven years in residency programs. During this time, they practice medicine and provide direct care to patients under the guidance of fully qualified doctors.
7. Licensing and Fellowship
After passing the third and final USMLE licensing exam and completing a residency program in your chosen medical specialty, you will officially become a licensed doctor and can apply for board certification. However, many doctors also complete fellowships in a subspecialty to deepen their knowledge and enhance career opportunities.
What is a fellowship? Medical fellowships are optional and vary in duration depending on the specialty. They offer additional training in a subspecialty and are highly coveted in the medical field. Fellowship training occurs after completing residency.
Challenges and Rewards
Pursuing an MD degree and becoming a medical doctor is a rewarding journey with various challenges along the way. However, the potential benefits often outweigh the challenges of becoming a licensed physician for those who are truly passionate about care.
Let’s explore some of the challenges and rewards students experience while earning their MD degree.
Challenges:
Academic workload
The heavy academic workload can prove difficult to manage for medical students, with complex coursework in subjects like physiology and anatomy featured alongside regular examination prep. MD programs have demanding schedules containing frequent exams and long study hours.
Work-life balance
Due to the demanding nature of an MD program, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent work-life balance. With long study hours and on-call shifts during clinical rotations, following a routine can prove challenging, which can affect your personal life.
Emotional stress
Facing high-pressure situations regularly requires mental strength and emotional resilience. Medical students are frequently put under significant stress due to the exposure to the front line of medical care.
Rewards:
Personal fulfillment
One of the main incentives for students pursuing a medical degree is the self-fulfillment of making a positive difference in many lives by contributing to public health and well-being. Individuals often pursue an MD degree to fulfill their personal goals and passion for medicine.
Lifelong learning
An MD degree sets the stage for lifelong learning as a doctor. Medical professionals must be aware of the latest health trends and treatments available to patients, which requires frequently updating their skills and knowledge. This continuous learning helps you develop an evolving skillset to maximize your overall performance.
Career opportunities and stability
An MD degree opens the door to diverse career opportunities in the medical field. With various specialties to explore, research opportunities and leadership roles, medical doctors have many exciting career prospects. Job security and financial rewards are also attractive aspects of becoming a doctor due to the high demand for medical skills and knowledge.
Tips for Aspiring Doctors
When researching how to become a doctor, you will likely come across various professionals offering advice for those looking to enter the medical field. We have listed a few top tips for aspiring physicians below:
Gain experience in the medical field before a medical degree
Volunteering at hospitals and medical centers, shadowing doctors and engaging in health-related extracurricular activities showcase your commitment to developing your understanding of the medical field and help you gain valuable experiences and skills before pursuing a medical degree.
Preparation for entrance and licensing exams is essential
Entrance exams like the MCAT and licensing exams like the USMLE are integral to becoming a doctor. Therefore, preparing for these exams early by taking MCAT practice tests, reviewing strengths and weaknesses, and seeking guidance from others is important.
It is important to note that MUA offers USMLE preparation throughout your time in the MD program, as it is built into the curriculum. We are committed to helping you succeed on this all-important series of exams.
Don’t underestimate the importance of developing soft skills
With the technical overload during an MD program, it is easy to overlook essential soft skills for doctors, including communication, problem solving and empathy. These skills are important for aspiring doctors to develop, especially during the early stages of their careers.
Stay motivated by goal-setting and celebrating every milestone
Due to the long and challenging journey to becoming a fully licensed medical professional, motivation is key for aspiring doctors. Adopting a growth mindset, regularly setting goals and celebrating every milestone along the way, from passing the MCAT exam to the residency match, are some ways to maintain motivation.
Pursue an MD Degree at MUA
Now that you know how to become a doctor and what the journey ahead entails, it’s time to explore how we at MUA can help you succeed in medicine!
We proudly offer an internationally accredited MD program that features expansive education and hands-on training, individualized support and regular access to dedicated faculty. Located on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean, our MD students spend Basic Science on our 10-acre campus before proceeding into rotations in the U.S. and Canada.
Learn more about our diverse and accepting community of future physicians by checking out this alumni testimonial:
Then contact us for more info or begin your application today!
FAQs About an MD Degree
There are multiple stages on the path to becoming a practicing medical doctor. Below are the main steps aspiring doctors can follow:
- High school preparation
- Pursue an undergraduate degree or pre-med program
- Take the MCAT exam (U.S. students)
- Apply to medical school
- Complete the MD program
- Choose a specialty and complete residency training
- Licensing and potentially fellowship
After earning your degree, you are officially an “MD.” However, after completing a medical degree, graduates must still complete residency training and become licensed in order to practice medicine independently.
At some stage, all students exploring the medical field will ask: How long does it take to become a doctor? The standard path requires a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by a four-year MD program and then residency training. With residency training varying in length depending on the specialty, choosing specialties like Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, which last three years, would be the shortest path to becoming a practicing physician.
The medical school application process requires students to submit a personal statement, academic transcripts, MCAT exam scores (U.S. students), letters of recommendation and proof of English language proficiency (if applicable). There are also standard pre-medical requirements for admission, including prerequisite courses in chemistry, biology and English. Learn more about MUA’s admission requirements here.
