Is there a doctor in the house? If there isn’t, there may be one soon!
More than 700,000 Americans work as doctors, and the industry will add over 24,000 more by 2030. This may make becoming a doctor seem easy.
In reality, it’s difficult to get a medical degree, let alone a license. Before you start looking at colleges, you need to know a few things.
What classes should you take to become a doctor? What standardized tests are you required to take? How can you develop experience, even before you graduate?
Answer these questions and you can figure out how to become a doctor in no time. Here are five steps you need to pursue.
1. Get Your Bachelor of Science Degree
Most healthcare careers require a bachelor’s degree. You should try to pursue a pre-med major, but you can major in biology or chemistry as well.
Do not forget about taking humanities courses. You need to know how to communicate with peers and follow ethical guidelines. Try taking a public speaking course and attending lectures in medical ethics.
2. Develop Work Experience
While you are at college, you should try to get at least one job in a medical setting. Volunteering at a nursing home or community center helps you develop your medical skills and give back to your community.
You can also try shadowing doctors at hospitals or clinics. This lets you learn directly from experienced professionals, and you may get experience in handling medical supplies.
3. Take the MCAT
Once you’ve graduated, you can take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). It’s a multiple-choice test that assesses your knowledge of biology, critical reasoning skills, and psychology. You must answer 230 questions, and the test can take up to eight hours.
You should prepare for the exam for several months before you take it. You should buy study guides and perform a few practice tests to see if you are learning well.
4. Get Into Medical School
Medical school is difficult to get into. You need a good GPA from college, strong workplace credentials, and a high MCAT score. Look at a few different schools in case you get rejected from your top choice.
Once you’re at school, you should take your classes seriously. Think about an area you can specialize in and pursue resources in that specialty.
5. Participate in a Residency
A residency involves working at a hospital or clinic for three or more years. You may perform examinations, record patient information, and shadow other doctors. Try to familiarize yourself with the latest medical technology, including syringe needle kits.
If you’re interested in starting a medical practice, you should obtain a medical license as soon as possible. Fill out your application forms for a license once you are done with your residency and start looking for money.
Start Becoming a Doctor
The sooner you start becoming a doctor, the better. You need to get a bachelor’s degree, preferably in pre-med or biology. While you take your classes, you should get an internship or a volunteer position at a local medical facility.
After graduation, you can take the MCAT. If you do well on it, you can apply to medical school and learn about different types of doctors. Pick a specialty you want to pursue and then find a residency in that specialty.
Keep your options open just in case. Read more guides to medical careers by following our coverage.
