Exploring Your Future Career

Take and pass the MCAT. (Medical College Admissions Test).
Scores required for acceptance vary according to the supply and demand of medical students applying, how you rank amongst the field of applicants, and the number of slots available in the medical school for which you are applying. The more popular or prestigious the medical school is, the higher the MCAT scores you will have to obtain to get accepted.

Pass the USMLE. (Required Time: 3-6 days, plus study time)
The USMLE is a three-part exam required to obtain a medical license in the U.S. Each part of the exam takes 1-2 days to complete.

Pass the Medical Board Exam for Your Specialty. (Required Time: About 2 Days, plus study time)
The American Board of Medical Specialties certifies physicians in their respective specialty. Board certification used to be an option, but most employers (hospitals, particularly) are now requiring board-certification. The board certification process consists of a written exam and an oral exam. Board certification exams are usually only given once or twice per year, so most physicians take the test in the late summer or fall after completing residency or fellowship training in June or July

Local Credentialing and Hospital Privileges (Required Time: A Few Hours)
This step is required to allow a medical doctor to admit patients to a hospital, or treat patients in a hospital, including rounding on them and operating on them, depending on the medical specialty. Obtaining privileges at a hospital usually entails filling out an application packet, and sometimes a personal interview with the hospital board members or hospital administration is also required.

Graduate from Medical School. (Required Time: About 4 Years)
You can choose from a variety of accredited medical schools, but you must obtain a medical degree such as an M.D. (allopathic medical degree) or D.O. (doctorate of osteopathic medicine) from an American medical school, or equivalent degree from an international medical school.

Get a State Medical License. (Required Time: Several hours to complete application and gather documentation, plus turn-around/wait time of 3-9 months)
In addition to your US medical license, you must also have a state medical license in the state where you plan to practice. After completing the application and paying the fee, the turn-around time can be anywhere from three months to nine months, depending on the state, and depending on any issues that may arise during processing such as incomplete records, or background issues.

Obtain Provider Numbers and DEA Numbers (Required Time: A Few Hours)
Your employer can usually help with this step. Provider numbers are required from insurance companies such as Medicare, or Blue Cross/Blue Shield in order to be reimbursed for medical services rendered. A DEA number is required in order to prescribe drugs such as narcotics.

Health occupations require special training to provide care for millions of people, from newborns to the very ill. This field involves professions such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and preventing illnesses and injuries. They work in various settings such as hospitals, clinics, and private practices to ensure the well-being and healthcare needs of individuals are met.

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. (Required Time: About 4 Years)
Obtaining a bachelor's degree from a university is nessesary. You do not have to major in biology or pre-med, but if you major in a related science or math subject, you will be more well-prepared for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test).

Complete a medical residency training program. (Required Time: 3-5 Years, depending on specialty)
The length of the medical residency training program you must complete varies according to the medical specialty in which you are training. Residency programs are a minimum of three years for primary care and some medical specialties.

I have always loved being around little children; even from a young age I have been known as a people person. When I first heard of a Pediatrician I couldn't believe it, a Doctor specialized in the well being of children. I am curious about this field of work but am quite interested and can't wait to research my topic further. Though the effort I have to apply for this job is overwhelming and scary at first, I understand why. Pediatricians help our kids today and give us a brighter future.

Complete Fellowship Training.(Required Time: 0-3 Years, varies per specialty)
Not all medical doctors must do fellowship training. Certain medical specialties require fellowship training, such as cardiology and gastroenterology, which are actually sub-specialties of internal medicine. Some fellowships are optional, such as certain types of surgical training. A fellowship training program may be as short as 6 months or up to 3 years in length.

The correct answer is a sequence of steps that need to be followed in order to pursue a career in medicine. The first step is to graduate from high school. After that, the individual needs to apply to a university and study hard to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Science and Art. Once they have completed their undergraduate studies, they will then need to attend McMaster's University to obtain a Doctor of Medicine degree. Following this, they will need to complete a residency in pediatrics, which typically takes 3-5 years. Finally, after all the hard work and training, they will need to obtain a medical license in order to practice medicine and start their own family practice.