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