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To become an immunologist in the US, you typically earn a bachelor’s degree, graduate from medical school, complete a residency in internal medicine or pediatrics, and then complete an allergy and immunology fellowship.
As a medical student or resident, there are many options available to you. Before settling on immunology, make sure to weigh all of the possibilities and consider the pros and cons of each. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine how passionate you are about the program:
Passion and dedication are required in the field of immunology, so it’s crucial to understand how you feel about it before applying. Speaking to professionals, shadowing, and volunteering in allergy and immunology settings are great experiences that will help you make your decision.
Most medical schools in the United States require applicants to have completed a bachelor’s degree. Your undergraduate major for med school doesn’t necessarily matter, as long as you are able to take the necessary prerequisite courses for medical school. The common required courses for medical school are:
You should research prerequisites early so you can build a course schedule that supports both medical school admissions and MCAT preparation.
Most US medical schools require the MCAT. You should take the exam after completing key prerequisite courses and dedicating several months to studying.
The MCAT plays a major role in admissions decisions, so a competitive score can significantly improve your chances of acceptance.
After completing prerequisites and taking the MCAT, you must apply to medical school through the AMCAS (for most MD programs) or AACOMAS (for DO programs) with the following application materials:
Medical schools also often request a video or in-person interview to make their final decisions.
If you want expert guidance throughout the medical school admissions process, Inspira Advantage can help you create a strategic school list, build a competitive application strategy, strengthen your essays, and maximize your chances of acceptance.
Once you’ve been accepted into a program, you can complete your DO or MD degree at an accredited osteopathic or allopathic medical school.
Most programs structure training as:
During medical school, you can explore immunology-related fields through rotations and electives in internal medicine, pediatrics, rheumatology, pulmonology, and allergy.
To become a licensed physician in the US, you must pass national medical licensing exams during medical school and residency. Most MD students take the USMLE, while DO students take the COMLEX-USA (and some also take the USMLE for residency competitiveness).
Students typically complete Step 1 and Step 2 during medical school and take Step 3 during residency.
After medical school, you must complete residency training in either:
These residency programs provide the clinical foundation required for allergy and immunology fellowship training.
During residency, you will also complete licensing exams required for medical practice.
After residency, you must complete an allergy and immunology fellowship, which typically lasts 2 years in the US. Fellowship training prepares you to diagnose and treat immune system disorders, including allergies, asthma, autoimmune conditions, and immunodeficiency diseases.
During fellowship, you gain advanced training in:
After completing a fellowship, physicians typically pursue board certification through the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI). Board certification demonstrates advanced expertise and is often preferred or required by employers.
Many immunologists also maintain certification in internal medicine or pediatrics through the ABIM or ABP, depending on their residency background.
To practice independently, you must obtain a medical license in the state where you plan to work. Licensing requirements vary by state, but most require completion of medical school, residency training, and required licensing exams.
Immunology specialists in the US report a median salary of $294,900 in 2026.
Here’s a closer look at the salary range of immunologists:
It typically takes 13 to 14 years to become a physician immunologist, including 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2 years of allergy and immunology fellowship training.
Before specializing in allergy and immunology, you must complete a bachelor’s degree and graduate from medical school with an MD or DO. You then complete a residency in internal medicine or pediatrics (usually three years) before entering a two-year allergy and immunology fellowship, which adds extra training time compared to many other specialties.
You should become an immunologist if you enjoy science-heavy medicine and complex problem-solving and want to combine clinical care with a deep understanding of how the immune system affects nearly every part of the body.
Immunologists often work in outpatient clinics and spend much of their time diagnosing difficult cases, developing long-term treatment plans, and educating patients on managing chronic symptoms. Many immunologists also collaborate with other specialties, including rheumatology, pulmonology, dermatology, hematology, and infectious disease.
This specialty can be especially rewarding if you enjoy individualized patient care, long-term follow-up, and staying closely connected to evolving medical research. However, immunology may feel less fulfilling if you prefer procedure-heavy specialties or fast-paced emergency environments.
Yes, immunology can be a great career if you enjoy science-driven medicine, complex diagnoses, and long-term patient care. Immunologists treat conditions like allergies, asthma, autoimmune disease, and immune deficiencies, which makes the specialty both intellectually challenging and clinically impactful.
Immunology can also offer strong job stability because many regions in the US face a shortage of trained allergy and immunology specialists.
No, some immunologists are medical doctors (MD/DO) who treat patients through allergy and immunology training, while others are PhD-trained scientists who focus on immunology research in labs, universities, biotech companies, or government institutions.
If an immunologist provides clinical patient care and diagnoses immune-related conditions, they are a licensed physician.
Yes, immunologists are in demand in the US. Organizations such as the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) have reported a shortage of allergy and immunology specialists, and demand is expected to increase as chronic allergic and immune-related conditions become more common.
Yes, you can become an immunologist with a PhD, but this path usually leads to research rather than clinical patient care. PhD-trained immunologists typically work in academic labs, biotechnology companies, government agencies, or nonprofit research institutions, where they study immune system function and develop new therapies or vaccines.
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Physician, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
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