Back when we were young, we were often asked: “what do you want to be when you grow up?”.
People around us had influenced us on what we want to become in the future. Your friends may tell you that he wanted to be a nurse because his mother is a nurse. Some may say that they want to be a pilot because they love seeing the airplanes above them. Others may also say they wanted to become a famous artist because they appreciate art in its bold beauty through paintings and drawings.
If you dream of becoming a medical doctor someday, you need to know what you have to go through. The steps on how to achieve an “MD.” at the end of your name will not be easy, but I assure you, it will all be worth it.
Step one: Achieve a bachelor’s degree.
A bachelor degree must be taken after high school. You must complete the required subjects and prerequisites to become eligible for medical school; these subjects are biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. It is a plus if you have worked in a health care related setting, it may be in the form of hospital and clinic volunteers, doctor’s office, or a medical researcher.
Step two: Pass the entrance exam
A student must achieve a specific grade for their UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test) or GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test)–depending on if he or she is an undergraduate or a post-graduate. Depending on the medical school you want to be in, your UMAT/GAMSAT grade must be above their standard grade requirement.
Step three: Medical school
You have to complete all the subjects and the curriculum that is laid out for medicine proper. You must finish at least four years of Medical school, which consists of classroom based lectures, laboratories, and guided hospital experience. All these will evaluate your skills in different aspects: knowledge, interpersonal, discipline, and many more.
Step four: Internship and residency
A graduate of medical school must complete one year of internship and three to 8 years of residency. The number of years for the residency program depends on the subspecialty chosen by the graduate. The fellowship is not a requirement for all medical subspecialties.
Step five: Licensure
Passing the physician’s licensure exam will be the gateway for a doctor to practice independently. Unless you are given your license to practice, you are not allowed to do what a licensed physician can.…