How to become a Physician
To work as a physician, there are several steps you must take to qualify for this role:
- Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited college. There are no specific requirements for the degree you need to complete, but pre-medicine and the biological sciences are excellent choices for majors, along with coursework in maths and social sciences.
- Pass the Medical College Admission Test exam. You will need to register for and pass this standardized, multiple-choice examination to gain admission to a medical school.
- Apply to medical school by using the American Medical College Application Service, which distributes a single application to each school that you wish to apply for.
- Complete a four-year program of full-time study at medical school that includes classroom theory and supervised clinical rotations in various areas of medicine.
- Pass the three-part United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Passing the first part is necessary to enter the third year of study at medical school. Complete the second part in the fourth year.
- Complete a three-year graduate medical residency.
- Pass the final part of the USMLE exam that covers clinical management.
How to become: Primary Care Physician · Emergency Medicine Physician · Telemedicine Physician · Urgent Care Physician · Family Medicine Physician
These qualifications are required: ATLS Certification · Driver's License · ACLS Certification
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What skills help Physicians find jobs?
- Addiction counseling
- Airway management
- Bilingual
- Care plans
- Communication skills
- Computer literacy
- Computer skills
- Customer service
- Discharge planning
- Documentation review
- EHR systems
- EMR systems
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Career progression for Physician
Education levels for Physicians
| required level of education | percent of job openings |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 34.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.9% |
| High school diploma or GED | 16.5% |
| Master's degree | 12.6% |
| Associate's degree | 9.9% |
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Expected salary by experience
| Years of experience | Annual salary in USD |
|---|---|
| 0 - 4 | $50,000 |
| 4 - 8 | $46,500 |
| 8 - 12 | $52,400 |
| 12 - 16 | $57,100 |
| 16 - 20 | $59,500 |
| 20 - 24 | $70,200 |
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Common qualifications for Physicians
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