How Long Is Medical School?
Learn how long it would take you to become a doctor!
- Education
Pursuing a career in the healthcare sector can be a long process with many steps. Multiple variables determine how many years you need to spend learning before you can actually become a doctor. In this article, we'll explain how long medical school is and what comes after.
How long is medical school?
Medical school typically takes 4 years to complete. The program is divided into 2 main phases:
- Pre-clinical years (years 1-2): During the first 2 years, students focus on the basic sciences, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathology. Classes are a mix of lectures, labs, and sometimes small group discussions. This phase is heavy on classroom learning and exams.
- Clinical years (years 3-4): The final 2 years involve hands-on training in various medical specialties through rotations in hospitals and clinics. These rotations, or clerkships, allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings under the supervision of experienced doctors. Specialties often include internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics/gynecology.
There are some accelerated programs that you can complete in 3 years, but they are much less common.
You can learn more about what you can expect from your med school years in our article on Medical School Timeline: Full 4-Year Overview.
How long is medical school and residency?
After graduating from medical school, new doctors must complete a residency program to practice independently. The total time from the start of medical school to becoming an independent practicing physician ranges from 7 to 11 years, determined by the specialty you choose.
General Practitioners/Family Medicine
General practitioners and family physicians usually provide primary contact and continuous care to manage patients' health. These residencies typically last 3 years and train you to provide comprehensive healthcare for individuals of all ages.
Internal Medicine
Internal medicine is focused on preventing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of internal diseases. The residency typically lasts 3 years.
Pediatrics
The pediatric residency also spans 3 years. It's dedicated to the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.
Surgery
General surgery residencies last about 5 years. Sub-specialties like neurosurgery and cardiosurgery can take 7 years or more. Most surgeons specialize in only 1 type of surgery.
💡Medical fellowship
With required continuing medical education courses and a constant need to upskill, a doctor's educational journey never really ends. After completing a residency program, you can also enter subspecialty fellowship training, which may take up to 3 additional years to complete.
In many subspecialties (like pediatric cardiology, for example), fellowship training is the only way to pursue a career. Through intensive fellowship training, fellow doctors develop skills that would otherwise take many years to build in a private practice setting.
So, counting a college degree before med school, it can take a total of 12 to 18 years to become a doctor after high school.
How long is medical assistant school?
If you're looking to enter the medical field more quickly, becoming a medical assistant might be a good option for you. Medical assistants support doctors and nurses by performing clinical and administrative tasks.
Medical assistant programs include coursework in medical terminology, anatomy, and basic pharmacology, as well as hands-on training in taking vital signs, administering injections, and performing EKGs.
The duration of medical assistant training is significantly shorter:
- Certificate or diploma programs: These programs can often be completed in about 9 months to a year. They provide the essential skills and knowledge needed for entry-level positions.
- Associate degree programs: If you opt for a more comprehensive education, associate degree programs typically take about 2 years. These programs offer more in-depth training and may provide better job prospects.
Conclusion
The medical school itself takes around 4 years to complete. While you can start working as a doctor right after a residency, in some cases, it's not the final step. Depending on your career goals, the journey from high school graduation to becoming a practicing specialist may require up to 18 years of education and training.
Becoming a doctor is a long and tedious process, but as long as you're patient and don't lose sight of your goal, you'll definitely reach it.
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Keystone Team
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The Keystone Team is comprised of experienced educators and advisors dedicated to providing valuable resources and advice to students all over the world.
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