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How to become a Physician

To work as a physician, there are several steps you must take to qualify for this role:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Complete a three-year graduate medical residency.
  7. Pass the final part of the USMLE exam that covers clinical management.
How to become: Primary Care Physician · Urgent Care Physician · Family Medicine Physician · Emergency Medicine Physician · Internal Medicine Physician
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Typical qualifications for a Physician

6/7
Your Indeed Profile has 6 of the 7 qualifications typically needed to be a Physician.
Indeed users who have worked as a Physician typically have these qualifications.
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Certificates and licenses

Skills employers are looking for

Note this is provided for informational purposes only. Adding qualifications does not guarantee a job interview, opportunity, or an offer.
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Physician jobs in United States

Mercy3.6
St. Louis, MO
View job details
5 hours ago
Mercy3.6
St. Louis, MO
5 hours ago
State of Missouri3.3
Farmington, MO
5 hours ago
Shasta Community Health Center3.7
Anderson, CA
$213,302 a year
3 months ago
YesCare3
Houston, TX
1 day ago
View all Physician jobs

Career progression for Physician

Education levels for Physicians

Based on the requirements of Physician job openings on Indeed in the United States within the last three years.
required level of educationpercent of job openings
Bachelor's degree4.0%
Doctoral degree3.0%
High school diploma or GED2.0%
Master's degree1.0%
Associate's degree0.0%
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Expected salary by experience

Based on resume data from Indeed users who reported working as a Physician in the United States within the last three years.
Years of experienceAnnual 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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