How to Become a Doctor: The Steps and How Long It Takes, Starting in High School

Last updated: October 31, 2026

To become a doctor in the United States, you earn a bachelor's degree (4 years), complete medical school for an MD or DO degree (usually 4 years), then train in a residency program in your specialty (3 to 7 years for most specialties, and up to 9 for some). You also pass national licensing exams and get a state license. In total, that is at least 11 years after high school, and more if you add a fellowship to subspecialize. This guide explains each step, using data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and what a high school student can do now.

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How long does it take to become a doctor?

The usual path after high school:

1. College: 4 years for a bachelor's degree
2. Medical school: 4 years for an MD or DO
3. Residency: 3 to 7 years, depending on the specialty. BLS says some residencies last up to 9 years.
4. Fellowship (optional): 1 to 3 more years to subspecialize, for example in cardiology or hand surgery

So the minimum is about 11 years after high school (4 + 4 + 3). The AAMC describes physician training (medical school plus residency) as lasting between 7 and 15 years.

Two ways to change the timeline:

• Combined BS/MD programs admit students to college and medical school together. BLS says these combined programs take 6 to 8 years. See our guide to BS/MD programs.
• Gap years add time. Many applicants work, do research or volunteer for a year or more between college and medical school.

Step 1: In high school, build the base

There is no "pre-med" track in high school. What you can do now:

• Take the hardest science and math courses your school offers. Biology, chemistry, physics and math through calculus, if available. College pre-med courses build on all of them.
• Write well. Medical schools require English courses, and you will write personal statements and essays at every stage.
• Test your interest in medicine. Volunteer in a hospital, clinic or care home, or shadow a doctor if you can. You want to know what the daily work is really like.
• Try research. Many doctors do research, and every US medical school includes research in its curriculum. A high school project shows you whether you like asking and answering questions. See medical research internships for high school students.
• Consider BS/MD programs if you are already sure. They suit students who know at 17 that medicine is their path.

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Step 2: Earn a bachelor's degree

You can major in anything. BLS says no specific undergraduate degree is required for medical school, though most applicants study biology, physical science or health fields. Some colleges, including Stanford, don't offer a pre-med major at all. Pre-med is a set of courses, not a major.

Requirements vary by medical school, but most expect college-level courses in:

• Biology
• General chemistry and organic chemistry
• Physics
• English
• Math (often statistics or calculus)
• Biochemistry, psychology and sociology, which appear on the MCAT

Grades matter. Medical schools look closely at your overall GPA and your science GPA.

Outside class, medical schools expect clinical experience (patient contact), service, and often research. Many admissions offices use holistic review, which means they weigh experiences and personal qualities alongside grades and scores.

Step 3: Take the MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required by all US medical schools and many in Canada. It is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam with four sections:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions, 90 minutes)
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions, 95 minutes)

The test takes about 7.5 hours including breaks. Many students take it in the calendar year before they plan to start medical school. The AAMC limits attempts to three in one year, four over two years and seven in a lifetime, and many schools do not accept scores more than three years old.

Step 4: Apply to and finish medical school

Medical school admission is competitive. For the 2025–26 year, 54,699 people applied to US MD-granting medical schools, and 23,440 enrolled as first-year students, the largest class to date. That is about 43 matriculants for every 100 applicants.

Applicants usually submit transcripts, MCAT scores and letters of recommendation, and most schools require interviews.

Medical school has two phases:

• Classroom phase: anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, ethics and how to take a history and examine a patient.
• Clinical phase: rotations (clerkships) in hospitals and clinics, in areas such as internal medicine, pediatrics and surgery.

In the final year, students choose a specialty and apply to residency programs. On Match Day in March, they learn where they will train, and residency starts in July.

MD or DO?

Both MDs (Doctor of Medicine) and DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) are fully licensed physicians. Both degrees usually take 4 years, followed by residency. DO programs add training in osteopathic manipulative treatment.

MD-PhD

If you want a career in both research and patient care, MD-PhD programs combine the two degrees. The AAMC says these programs take about 7 or 8 years, and 118 institutions offer them.

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Step 5: Complete residency

Residency is paid, supervised training in a specialty, in a hospital or clinic. It lasts 3 to 7 years for most specialties according to the AAMC, and up to 9 years for some according to BLS. Family medicine and pediatrics are on the shorter end; surgical specialties are longer.

After residency, some doctors do a fellowship of 1 to 3 years in a subspecialty, such as cardiology, oncology or infectious diseases.

Step 6: Get licensed and board certified

All states require doctors to be licensed. To qualify, you must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete residency training and pass national licensing exams (the USMLE for MDs; DOs usually take the COMLEX-USA). Requirements vary by state.

Board certification in a specialty is not required, but many doctors pursue it, and BLS says it may improve job opportunities. It means finishing residency and passing a specialty exam, and certification must be renewed over a career.

What does a doctor earn, and is there demand?

BLS reports a median annual wage for physicians and surgeons of at least $239,200 (May 2024). Pay varies widely by specialty.

BLS projects 3% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all jobs, with about 23,600 openings each year.

A high school timeline for future doctors

• Grades 9–10: take honors science and math. Start one health-related activity, such as volunteering.
• Grade 11: take advanced biology or chemistry. Do a research project or a summer program. Research BS/MD programs if you are interested.
• Grade 12: apply to colleges with strong science departments and advising for health careers. BS/MD applications are often due in the fall.
• In college: finish the required courses, gain clinical experience, take the MCAT, and apply about a year before you want to start medical school.

For more on activities that colleges value, see what colleges look for and summer research programs for high schoolers.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a doctor? At least 11 years after high school: 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and at least 3 years of residency. Many specialties take longer, and a fellowship adds 1 to 3 years.

How many years does it take to become a DO? The same as an MD: usually 4 years of college, 4 years of osteopathic medical school, and 3 or more years of residency.

Can you become a doctor without going to college? Not in the US. Medical schools expect a bachelor's degree, except in combined BS/MD programs, where college and medical school are joined into one 6- to 8-year path.

What should I major in to become a doctor? Any major. Medical schools require specific courses, not a specific major. Choose a subject you enjoy and can do well in, and take the required science courses alongside it.

Is a 3.5 GPA too low for medical school? No. A 3.5 is below the typical average for admitted students, so the rest of your application carries more weight: a strong MCAT score, an upward grade trend, and meaningful clinical and research experience. Check the published GPA and MCAT ranges for each school you consider.

Is 27 too late to become a doctor? No. There is no age limit for medical school, and many students start after working for several years. If you already have a bachelor's degree, starting medical school at 27 means finishing a 3- to 7-year residency at about 34 to 38.

Why do you want to be a doctor? Every medical school and BS/MD interviewer will ask. The best answers come from specific experiences, such as patients you met, a research question you followed or a doctor you shadowed, not general statements about helping people.

Sources

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons
• AAMC, U.S. Medical Schools Enroll Record Number of Students in 2025
• AAMC, Becoming a Doctor (PDF)
• AAMC, What's on the MCAT Exam?
• AAMC, What You Need to Know About the MCAT Exam
• AAMC, Is an MD-PhD Right for Me?
• Stanford Undergraduate Admission, Preparing for Stanford Academics

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