What it takes to become a doctor

After a student earns a bachelor’s degree, entry into medical school generally requires a minimum 3.0 grade point average in courses including biology, biochemistry, physics, advanced math, English and behavioral or social science; and a minimum score of 495 on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). ​

In addition to the academic requirements, most schools require non-academic attributes and experiences including honesty, integrity, empathy, communication skills, service and volunteer hours, medical related experiences, extracurricular activities and/or work experiences, research experience, teamwork and leadership roles.

Once admitted, students will spend four years in medical school before earning a medical doctorate degree.  After completion of medical school, graduates are required a certain number of year of internship and residency, depending on the field of choice. This could be three to seven years or more for specialized areas of focus. Many students will be well into their thirties before completing school.

After finishing residency, physicians must pass board exams to practice fully in their specialty, and many must retest and pass their boards every ten years to ensure they are staying current with their knowledge of the field.