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How long does it take to be a doctor

I ask this because I want to be a doctor and I want to know how long it takes. #doctor #nurse #dentistry #surgeon #dental

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Amber’s Answer

Hello there!


Congratulations on such an ambitious goal. If you mean a medical doctor, you will need to:



  1. Earn an undergraduate degree, either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. Typically this takes 4 years, though some people take up to 5 years.

  2. Go to medical school. Most students apply to medical school during the last year of their undergraduate degree, and go straight to medical school after finishing. Medical school is another 4 years.

  3. Once you graduate medical school, you are technically a doctor but still need more training! You will work as a resident (which is basically a doctor who is new and so works under the guidance of more experienced doctors). These programs are typically 4 years. But, you do get paid for doing this job, just not as much as an experienced doctor.

  4. Some people pursue what is called a fellowship after their residency. These are typically 1-2 years, and are for people who want to specialize in some particular field of medicine. Again, you are paid for your work during this time, but you're still learning.


So, overall, at least 8 years after high school to become a doctor, plus at least 4 years as a resident.


Good luck to you!
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Alexa’s Answer

Hey! You first need to go to college and take all your pre requisites. Usually people obtain a bachelors degrees like biology, chemistry, etc to ensure you take all the pre requisite classes. Some people that went to college for something else, like business, have the option of attending a post- bacc program to take these classes.

After college, you apply to medical school which is 4 years, you then need to attend residency. The speciality you pick will affect the amount of years it takes to reach your goal.

So overall 8 years of school, and 4 years +/- for residency.
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Gary’s Answer

Hi,
Here is a link to some good information on becoming a Dr...I also pasted in some of the specific information about requirements below: http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/doctor.htm


To become a doctor one must attend an accredited medical school for four years and then complete a three to eight year internship or residency program depending on the specialty one chooses. Currently the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredits MD programs. DO programs receive accreditation from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). In February 2014 these organizations along with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) announced they had agreed to a single accreditation system for graduate medical education programs in the US (Unified GME System to Bring MDs and DOs Under One Roof. AMA Wire).


Good luck!
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