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