How Long Does It Take To Become a Doctor? (2023)
You might be wondering how long it takes to study to become a doctor if you’re planning to pursue a career in the medical field.
Going down this alley is a long journey and reaching a decent level might take close to a decade, but it’s considered fruitful because of its high employment opportunities. This article covers every aspect of the medical school journey in an elaborate way.
Being a doctor is much more than just treating patients, it takes a whole lot of passion and sympathy to be successful in the field. Doctors are highly respected and demanded professionally, and while it takes a long and tiring journey to become one, it’s arguably worth it. You can specialize in numerous medical fields depending on your interest, such as neurology, physiatry, surgeon, cardiology, etc.
What Duration Does It Take To Be a Doctor?
The first requirement to get a medical degree is completing a four-year undergraduate degree program and then after passing the MCAT attending four years of medical school.
The next step is living as a resident doctor for about three to seven years. Lastly, you must take your state-approved licensing exam (the United States Medical Licensing Examination) for authorization. This is the primary path to becoming a licensed doctor, which takes almost 10 to 14 years.
What Physician Has the Briefest Schooling?
A general practice or general physician doctor probably has the shortest schooling. However, it also requires one to complete two years of residency after a mandatory four-year medical school degree which still takes around 6 years.
They are also called family doctors and perform ordinary examinations and treat common conditions.
Doctor Salary and Career Scope
No other career is as respected or in demand as becoming a doctor. They interact with and treat different patients daily, bringing happiness to lives by curing and saving people. Healthcare is a booming field worldwide, with hundreds of hospitals in every city, each requiring numerous licensed doctors.
So, guaranteed employment is the most significant advantage of becoming a doctor, which the Bureau of Labour Statistics predicts to grow by 4.5% in the coming years. Moreover, physicians make a handsome salary annually, which is higher than most of the other professions.
State | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Texas | $258,144 to $358,058 |
California | $293,700 to $407,300 |
Arizona | $260,000 to $360,600 |
Miami | $249,801 to $346,501 |
Hawaii | $248,254 to $300,000 |
Is Becoming a Physician Hard?
Yes, it’s hard to become a physician, primarily because of the effort & time it takes. Moreover, the field requires intense studying and passion, taking up to ten years from the start of college to becoming a licensed physician. There are numerous types of physicians, all with distinctive characteristics, but the road to becoming a doctor is just as challenging irrespective of the area of practice you choose.
What’s The Easiest Physician To Become?
When we talk about the easiest Physician to become, it means that it’s only relatively easier than other medical specializations. This doesn’t mean it’s easy per se.
Easiest Medical Profession
Type of Doctor | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|
Plastic Surgeon | $348,412-$526,000 |
Cardiologist | $438,000-$459,000 |
Radiologist | $381,450-$413,000 |
Dermatologist | $314,799-$427,599 |
General Surgeon | $373,400-$416,000 |
Family Medicine | $164,000-$236,000 |
Urologist | $401,000-$427,000 |
Pediatric | $177,254-$211,000 |
Orthopedic | $405,239-$511,000 |
Psychiatrist | $233,000-$275,000 |
What Is The Hardest Doctor To Become?
Here we’ve jotted down some of the most challenging medical professions you can opt for if you have what it takes. Usually, the hardest also means the most lucrative in the medical field.
What Does It Take To Be a Doctor?
Becoming a doctor is a lengthy journey, but it’s certainly worth it in the end. Being a doctor does not only require education; firstly, you must have a strong interest and passion in the medical field; otherwise, it will get tiring and tedious. Second, you must have empathy for the patients, it takes patience and kindness to be a good medic.
Third, you should be curious about the patient and the disease to learn more about the evolving science. Lastly, it takes almost a decade to become a licensed doctor.
At What Age Can You Become a Doctor?
Education is never bound to age, regardless of any field you undertake. There’s no restriction of a certain age to pursue a medical career, you can become a doctor in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s. However, the usual age when people become licensed doctors is in their mid or late 30s if they start their medical studies at 23-24 years of age.
Here we’ve tried to answer one of the most frequently requested questions our readers want to be answered.
How many years are required to become a physician?
The usual path to becoming a licensed doctor takes almost 10 to 14 years. You need to achieve your four-year undergraduate degree first and then attend medical school for four years. After graduation, one must stay three to seven years as a resident and later pass the state-approved licensing exam.
How long do doctors go to school?
After receiving your bachelor’s degree by graduating from an undergraduate program, the next step is entering medical school. Medical schools generally take four years which comprises a full-time study, including classwork and clinical rotations. Medical school is the base for learning applied skills in numerous medical areas.
How Long Does It Require To Be a Physician?
A person who graduated with a medical degree is called a general practice physician. It takes four years of an undergraduate degree program and four years of medical college. This credential limits the opportunities as they have no specialty. It takes a further three years of training for someone who wants to pursue a specialty, such as family practice.
How Long Does It Take To Be an MD On Average?
MD is a master’s or postgraduate medical degree. You are eligible for MD only if you have completed your four-year MBBS degree. After that, it is necessary to pass the Medical college admission test MCAT to start your four-year MD degree.
Is Becoming a Doctor Harder Than Engineering?
Yes, medicine is considered more challenging and time-consuming than engineering. Not only the medical study is complex and voluminous, but it harder to get into medical school. The competition is higher in becoming a doctor; moreover, it takes almost a decade to become a licensed doctor.
Can An Average Student Become a Doctor?
Yes, it is entirely possible for an average student to pursue a career in the medical field. To perform well and give adequate time and interest to their studies is the basic step they need to take. Your marks do not make you a good doctor, but your skills and practice do.
What Are the Disadvantages Of Being a Doctor?
There are a few cons to becoming a doctor, such as.
1. Medical schools require extremely high financial investments
2. It requires nearly a decade to be a licensed doctor
3. Dealing with patients all day long might get hectic and lead to emotional stress
Becoming a doctor takes many years but rewards you equivalent to all your efforts in the end. It is a glooming and respectful career in high demand and offers vast employment opportunities.