How many years of education are needed to be a doctor?

To become a doctor, you will need to complete a significant amount of education and training. The typical pathway involves the following steps:

1. Undergraduate degree (4 years): You will need to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years of full-time study. Common undergraduate majors for future doctors include biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology.

2. Medical school (4 years): After completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to attend medical school. Medical school typically lasts four years and involves both classroom instruction and clinical experience.

3. Residency (3-7 years): After medical school, you will need to complete a residency program. Residency programs are supervised training programs in a specific medical specialty, such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology. The length of residency varies by specialty, but it typically ranges from three to seven years.

During your residency, you will gain practical experience working under the supervision of experienced physicians. You will learn how to diagnose and treat patients, manage patient care, and perform medical procedures.

4. Fellowship (optional, 1-3 years): Some doctors choose to complete a fellowship after residency. Fellowships are specialized training programs that allow doctors to further develop their skills and expertise in a particular subspecialty. Fellowships typically last one to three years and are available in various fields, such as cardiology, oncology, or dermatology.

In total, it typically takes 12 to 15 years of education and training to become a doctor. This includes four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and three to seven years of residency. Some doctors may also complete a one-to-three-year fellowship.