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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 4/25/24
Once you have made up your mind to pursue your dream of becoming a physician, the next question you may be asking yourself is, “How long does it take to become a doctor?” Read on below to learn more about the timeline of becoming an MD.
You must have heard that the process of becoming a doctor is a very time-consuming one. You are likely aware that it will take years to become a doctor, but let’s find out exactly how many years it takes before you can finally practice.
You should prepare to invest at least 11 to 12 years of hard work before having a secure, rewarding, and lucrative career.
Choosing this career requires a lot of time, effort, and discipline. Doing well in school, attending all the right classes in college, and acing the MCAT are a few of the many things you must do.
Perhaps you chose to become a doctor at a very early stage in life, or maybe you decided quite later while studying or working in a completely different field. These two situations require two different routes: the traditional route and the non-traditional route. Let’s talk a little bit more about these two routes:
Suppose you are someone who decided to enter medical school just after you finished your undergraduate program; you are a traditional medical school applicant and can take the conventional route to become a doctor.
Since you have made this decision beforehand, you know the requirements. You will know what courses to take throughout your college. In such cases, you should apply to med school either in the spring or summer before your senior year. This way, you can start your medical college right after your graduation.
However, if you want to take some time off between college and medical school, that’s understandable. Many students tend to take one or more gap years to prepare for the MCAT or gain experience.
Taking a gap year has become so common that it is now considered one of the traditional routes. Thus, whether you take a gap year or proceed to medical school directly after college, you will follow the traditional route.
On the other hand, if you decide to take a few gap years before attending medical school, you fall under the non-traditional student category. For you, it might take more time to become a doctor. Various students follow this route before actually becoming a doctor.
Students who fall under this category are students who initially did not think of attending medical school. These students may not have completed the medical school requirements during undergraduate school. People who realize later that they want to pursue a medical career might need to devote extra time to fulfill all the prerequisites.
Another example of people who might have to go through the non-traditional route are people who haven’t been in college for some years now and are working. They could be working either in the medical field or in an area entirely unrelated to medicine. These people have decided to attend medical school instead of continuing their current career path. These people are called career changers.
The main question that arises here is this: How long does it take to become a doctor if you follow a non-traditional route? There is no straightforward answer to this, but you will need to put in extra time and effort since it could be an entirely new field for you.
Like any professional school path, becoming a doctor requires you to have an undergraduate degree before matriculating to a medical school. Thus, before attending medical school, you need to have a four-year degree. You should aim to do well in high school and acquire a strong GPA to secure competitive university attendance.
Medical schools usually prefer students who have a good foundation in science and prior healthcare experience. You can gain this experience by volunteering in any hospital or healthcare environment, shadowing, or working in a clinical role.
It is necessary to study subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics before applying to medical school. Taking these subjects will provide you with a better insight into your interest in the topics and help you pursue a career in this field. You will also need a sound knowledge of these topics to do well on the MCAT.
Inspira's application specialists can ease the burden of the overwhelming application process by keeping you on track and guiding you through each component, all the way until you receive your first med school acceptance letter!
Medical school is rigorous, but it's where your journey to becoming a doctor truly takes shape. The first two years, known as the preclinical phase, are focused on building a strong foundation in science and medicine. You'll study anatomy, physiology, and other core subjects while developing clinical reasoning through lab work and simulations.
In the final two years, you'll shift from classroom learning to hands-on training through clinical rotations. These rotations immerse you in different specialties and allow you to apply what you've learned with real patients under the supervision of experienced doctors.
During medical school, you'll also take the first two steps of the USMLE, crucial exams that play a role in future residency placement. While the journey is demanding, it's also full of discovery, growth, and the deepening of your commitment to medicine.
Once you have completed medical school, the next step for you is to complete a residency program. A residency program is essentially an internship for new doctors. This program lasts for three to seven years, depending on the specialty you choose.
For example, if you choose family medicine, your residency will be three years long. On the other hand, if you decide on neurosurgery, it will be seven years.
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) helps you apply for residencies in the United States. A computer algorithm helps to match your preferences and the program’s preferences.
Residency is where you gain hands-on experience and begin practicing medicine under supervision. It can be demanding, with long hours and high-pressure situations that test your knowledge and resilience, but it brings you one step closer to your goal.
After residency, you may choose to pursue a fellowship, an optional one to three year program focused on research and advanced training in a subspecialty.
Once you complete the intern year of residency successfully, you are all set to practice medicine independently. You just need to pass an exam— Step 3 of the USMLE.
By this point, you’ll have already completed Step 1 and Step 2 CK, and your clinical training will help you tackle Step 3, which focuses on your specialty and tests applied medical knowledge rather than rote memorization.
Reviewing exam criteria and taking practice tests will sharpen your readiness. Once you pass, you’ll be able to practice medicine independently in the state where you took the exam.
The amount of time, effort, and discipline required to become a doctor might cause you to question your choice throughout the course. You are not alone if you think to yourself, “Is becoming a doctor worth it?”
Almost all people who aspire to become a doctor have had this thought at least once. You must have heard that hard work always pays off. In the end, is it true in the case of becoming a doctor too? There is no doubt that becoming a doctor takes most of your 20s from you, but the rewards of this sacrifice — both tangible and intangible — are vast.
In terms of tangible rewards, working as a physician is one of the best-paying jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, doctors earn a median salary of $239,200 per year, although compensation can be higher for more competitive specialties.
In terms of intangible rewards, you should keep in mind that each day you improve the lives of so many people. You would be responsible for making positive changes in people’s lives, and this makes the profession so satisfying. Above all, the pride that comes when you wear your white coat is unbeatable and one of the world’s best feelings.
As mentioned above, the average time required to become a doctor is around 11 to 12 years. If most prospective MDs begin their journey at 18, they will be around 30 when they begin practicing independently, although taking a gap year or a longer residency can prolong this process.
It is possible to become a doctor before turning 30, but it is particularly challenging. So, let’s explore what steps you need to take to become an MD before you turn 30.
Every MD program requires an undergraduate degree, so choose a bachelor’s program and focus on your studies. Any delays in graduation or changes in undergraduate focus can delay your plans. Taking a gap year before completing your bachelor’s degree will also cause delays. So, choose the right undergraduate program and stick to it.
Several BS/MD programs can be completed in three years, which is one year faster than most undergraduate programs. A few courses, like Penn State’s Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program, also enable you to complete your bachelor’s in three years and dive into four years at med school.
After completing your bachelor’s, choosing the right medical school and program is essential. Medical school typically takes four years to complete. But several MD programs offer three-year programs, including the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Residency choice is an essential deciding factor in how long it takes to be a doctor, as its length varies between specialties. While some residency lengths are shorter than others, your decision should be motivated by an interest in the specialty, not just the length of the residency. However, if you want to shorten how long it takes to become a doctor, consider a medical specialty with a shorter residency duration.
For example, a pediatrics residency may only take three years to complete, whereas an orthopedic surgery residency may take five. Consider the table below, which outlines several residency lengths:
Calculating how long it takes to become a doctor depends on how quickly you complete each of the key steps, including your undergraduate degree, med school, and residency. Although this process takes time, the total years required to become a doctor can be shortened if you plan and work hard. The list below outlines how to become a doctor as quickly as possible:
Knowing how long it takes to be a doctor can be off-putting, but the rewards are exceptional. We’ve outlined several questions and answers below to help you decide if becoming a doctor is worth it and answer questions such as “How long does it take to get your MD?”
You need to devote around 11 to 15 years to become a doctor. The time includes an undergraduate degree (four years), medical school (four years), and a residency program (three to seven years).
If you take the traditional route to become a doctor with no gap years, you’ll begin medical school around 22-23 and will become a doctor by the age of 29-33.
These days, many people take the non-traditional route to become doctors, and there is no minimum or maximum age limit for entering medical school.
The median salary of a doctor is over $230,000 per year. Although, the pay varies greatly by specialty.
Yes, if you need time to prepare for medical school, you can take a gap year after graduation. It will not affect your chances of getting into the school. It may even help if you take the time to become a more competitive applicant.
All colleges have different policies regarding the validity of the prerequisites. You should check with your medical school about their policies; however, most prerequisites are valid for five years.
Becoming a doctor takes so many years because it is a profession that involves a lot of responsibility. Doctors need a license before practicing this profession. You can get a license only when you have enough years of training and experience.
Prospective MDs usually spend four years completing their bachelor’s degree and four years at med school before completing their residency requirements.
Medical school graduates can begin professional, independent practice after completing their residency requirements, necessary fellowships, and the USMLE. This process can take as little as three years or just under 10, depending on your chosen medical specialty.
When you sign up for medicine as your career, you also sign up for a significant amount of time and effort. Becoming a doctor can indeed take more than 11 years. But at every step of this journey, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, and when you have your medical license, white coat, and a stethoscope around your neck, you will realize it was all well worth it!
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