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Doctors go to school forever, not necessarily, but training requirements dictate
at least 12 years of advanced education. The career of a physician requires
advanced training and background experience, but the job is very rewarding. Doctors are expected to used a great
deal of creativity and latitude in working with and treating patients. Doctors
are also well compensated for their education and their services provided to
patients. Doctors can work in a variety of healthcare settings in locations
across the country.
Medical School. In order to begin a career as a physician, all must
attend an accredited
medical school. There are 125 accredited medical schools in
the US that are represented by the AAMC (American Association of Medical
Colleges). Students may not be able to receive certification if the medical school is not
accredited. Admission into medical school is competitive, and requires a
successful score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a
complicated , four part examination that covers a broad range of science and medical topics,
so it is important to prepare for the MCAT with a pre-medical undergraduate degree
or similar such a biology or anatomy.
There are two ways that students can seek a career as a physician. The most
prevalent path is the medical doctor or MD track. The other is Doctor of
Osteopathy, or DO, which is very similar, but follows a slightly different
approach to medicine. Both MD and DO degrees are accepted to begin advanced
medical training.
Medical school takes four years to complete, with the first two years focusing
on pre-clinical instruction, consisting of coursework and laboratory
instruction. The final two years focus on clinical training where students work
under the supervision of a hospital physician to gain hands on experience in a
number of medical fields. Throughout medical school training, students take the
United State Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) to show proficiency in medical practice. The
USMLE is a three
part exam, taken throughout medical training, which provides licensure upon
completion.
Hospital Residency. In the final year of medical school, students apply for
hospital residencies in a medical specialty. Each medical specialty has its own
curriculum, and can take anywhere from three to eight years. Family
practitioners take residency programs in family medicine, pediatricians
take residency in internal medicine with additional training to become a
pediatrician, and gynecologists and geriatricians take respective hospital
residency training programs. The residency requirements of each type of
physician varies depending on specialty, so it is important to know these
specifications before starting educational training. Upon completion of
residency, physicians are eligible for examination and licensure as required by
respective medical specialty board. Hospitals residency programs are accredited
by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Fellowships. After completing a hospital residency and passing all board
certification examinations, physicians are able to further advance their career
and status by entering fellowship programs. There are fellowships available for
many fields of medical practice. A fellowship places physicians with the most
renowned physicians in a given field to provide extensive experience in the
field. A fellowship may be a necessary course of training for certain
specialties such as
pediatrics or invasive
cardiology.
If you are interested in becoming a physician, visit our site to find out
information about training for all medical specialties from Anesthesiology to
Urology. It is important to know how long you must train in order to plan
accordingly. There are many medical fields to choose from, all with their own
unique methods and patient groups. The healthcare industry is ever growing and
there will always be a need for qualified physicians.
Angela Oliver is an author for HealthCare-TrainingCenter.com, providing job and training information for physicians and surgeons, free of charge. Please visit the site for more information about Medical School, MCAT and USMLE Examination, Hospital Residencies, and Fellowships.
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