Since September 2021, there have been over 1 million active physicians in the United States. As the onslaught of COVID-19 persists, the medical field still needs more doctors for a country with a population of over 331 million. The American Association of Medical Colleges predicts that by 2032, the US will be short of over 122,000 physicians. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of practicing doctors had already been dwindling.
Clinician burnout is prevalent among doctors, with 40% of physicians experiencing symptoms of burnout once a week. The pandemic aggravated doctors’ harsh work routines, pushing many to reduce their hours of work or opt for early retirement. However, amid various COVID variant mutations and failing health protocols, the number of medical school applicants saw a 30% increase since 2010-2011. Over 100,000 students enrolled in medical school in 2020.
Joining the ranks of professional doctors is a long and arduous journey, but with enough determination and a thorough plan, you, too, can become a doctor of the next generation. This article will walk you through a step-by-step guide to becoming a professional doctor in the United States.
How to Become a Doctor in the USA
Step 1. Complete Your Undergraduate Education
The first step to kickstarting your way to becoming a doctor in the United States is completing at least a four-year undergraduate degree program before proceeding to four years of medical school and three to seven years of residency. Medical school does not require medical school hopefuls to choose an undergraduate degree that is heavy on the sciences.
Surprisingly, you are free to take any degree you desire. However, it is highly recommended that you take pre-med classes to stay current in medical school. These include English, calculus, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology courses.
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Step 2. Review and Pass the MCAT
Medical schools in the United States use the Medical College Admissions Test to assess applicants suitable for their programs. It’s a comprehensive evaluation test of an aspiring medical student’s abilities and knowledge in this field. The Association of American Medical Colleges, or AAMC, has a calendar showing when the MCAT will be and when registration is due.
You have a maximum of seven attempts to take the MCAT. These include three times in a given testing year and four attempts in two successive years. Not only that but failure to appear for the exam or opting to void the exam will also be counted against your total number of attempts. Regardless, it’s best to allot some time daily to prepare for the MCAT, as crammed studying cannot handle this test. The MCAT is your gold ticket to medical school, so give it your all and pass the examination.
Step 3. Apply for Medical Schools
Yes, you read that right — schools. Aside from your transcript of records from your undergraduate days and passing the MCAT, another step to becoming a doctor in the U.S. is to enroll in a medical school. However, most medical schools have low acceptance rates. This fierce competition for admissions should encourage you to apply to multiple schools as much as possible.
While there is no rush to enroll, it is best to jot down the medical schools you want to apply for. Some of the most popular medical schools in the United States include Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Chicago. Moreover, whenever you are ready to send in your applications, be careful when filling out the American Medical College Application Service, or AMCAS. It is your sole application document for all the medical schools you will apply to.
Some medical schools may also assess your interpersonal and communication skills through interviews, so impress the panel with thought-out answers to their questions to leave a lasting impression on them and increase your chances of passing. Furthermore, if you want to specialize in research, a research-oriented school will bring you one step closer to the laboratory. Primary care specialists, on the other hand, deal with hands-on patient care and treatment.
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Step 4. Pass the First Two Parts of the National Licensing Examinations
Whether you choose to become a medical doctor with an M.D. degree or a doctor of osteopathic medicine with a D.O. degree, you will have to pass the licensing examinations. M.D. students will take the United States Medical Licensing Examination or USMLE. Meanwhile, D.O. students must take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States or COMLEX-USA.
They can also take the USMLE, where the licensing examinations are divided into three parts. Experts highly recommend that medical students take the first two portions of the exam while still in medical school. The first portion will be an exam assessing the student’s understanding of fundamental medical knowledge during their second year in medical school. The second one will evaluate their ability to use that knowledge while supervising patient care through a written test and an acting exercise with simulated patients.
Step 5. Enroll in a Residency Program
When students reach their fourth year in medical school, they will start looking into specialty options they are passionate about, such as anesthesiology or ophthalmology. Applying for a residency program is another essential step to becoming a doctor in the United States. To apply for residency in the United States, you will most likely participate in the National Resident Matching Program.
So, if you are looking into specializing in a highly competitive field like neurological surgery, you may have to utilize a matching program explicitly catering to that medical specialty.
Step 6. Complete Medical School and Begin Your Residency
As soon as you get your medical degree, it means that you are officially a doctor. Congratulations! It is time to embark on a new journey as a medical resident. Residency typically runs for three to seven years in the United States. Before you can open your clinic, you must first serve as a resident. U.S. doctors working in residency work full-time and are also paid in full.
Step 7. Pass the Final Part of the National Licensing Exams
As your medical residency program nears completion, you can focus on passing the third and final part of the national licensing examination. Whether the USMLE, the COMLEX-USA, or both, these national licensing examinations will determine your qualifications to perform as a doctor effectively. Moreover, within the student’s third year in medical school, you can already select internships in several medical subspecialties, such as pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, radiology, and more specific medical fields.
Step 8. Earn a General Medical License
In the United States, a general medical license degree is among the minimum requirements for a doctor to practice medicine. Medical licensure ensures that you, as a doctor, have a credible medical background and can diagnose patients under your jurisdiction. Licensure is a mandatory procedure, whereas board certifications are a voluntary process.
Step 9. Work Towards Tour Board Certifications
Unlike medical licensure, board certifications are entirely up to your preference to accomplish. Board certifications are specific to the specialties or subspecialties that you practice. Each certification comes with its own set of requirements. Generally, board certifications consist of rigorous written exams and the occasional oral examination.
The American Board of Medical Specialties facilitates board certifications. Upon passing your boards, you will be recognized as a diplomate of that certifying board. There are 24 certifying boards in the United States, all of which evaluate doctors’ skills and abilities to deliver safe services to their patients within the zone of their specialty.
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Pursuing a medical career is more than just the money and prestige it brings to your name, as you will have to dedicate years of hard work to studying and improving your choice of medical specialty. With all the recent doctor shortages, work hours and burnout in the medical field are typical among doctors. However, nothing is more rewarding than becoming a person who helps people feel better and expresses gratitude for trusting you with their health.
We hope this article on steps to become a doctor in the USA was helpful. To learn more information about studying abroad, specifically in the United States, feel free to check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
