- Most countries offer either a direct route (straight to medical school after high school) or a two-step process (bachelor's degree first, then medical school like in the US and Canada).
- From starting your studies to becoming a fully qualified doctor takes anywhere from 7 to 16 years, depending on your specialty.
- Every country has its own entrance exams, training programs, and licensing requirements.
Want to become a doctor and save lives? You’ll first need a degree in Medicine and spend several years in training. But keep in mind — the journey looks quite different depending on where you live. That’s why it’s worth checking what the process looks like in your country (or the one you want to work in) before you get started.
This guide answers the most common questions about becoming a doctor, including how long it takes and when you can choose a speciality.
What does a doctor do?
Doctors help people get better by figuring out what’s wrong and treating them. But their daily life tasks depend a lot on their speciality. For example, as a general practitioner (GP), you’ll work on diagnosing everyday illnesses, giving vaccinations, and referring patients to specialists. Becoming a psychiatrist is quite different — in this case, you’ll use therapy and medication to treat conditions like depression and anxiety.
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Your speciality as a doctor influences where you work, who you help, and what your responsibilities are. Here are some examples:
Type of doctor | Day-to-day tasks | Typical workplace | Typical patients |
General practitioner (GP) | Diagnosing common illnesses, giving checkups, vaccinations, and referrals | Local clinic, hospital, or private practice | Families, people of all ages |
Pediatrician | Monitoring child development, treating childhood illnesses, and advising parents | Children’s hospitals or clinics | Babies, children, and teenagers |
Surgeon | Performing operations, reviewing scans, consulting before and after procedures | Hospitals | Patients with severe injuries or patients who choose to undergo surgery |
Providing therapy, prescribing medication, carrying out mental health assessments | Hospitals, clinics, private office | Patients with mental health conditions | |
Dermatologist | Diagnosing skin conditions, prescribing treatments, doing skin procedures | Clinics, hospitals, private practice | People with skin, hair, or nail concerns |
Is becoming a doctor the right path for you?
Becoming a doctor is challenging, not just because of the long hours and tough studies, but also because you’ll be making decisions that directly affect people’s lives. That said, it can be very rewarding, especially if you have the following skills and traits:
- Genuine interest in helping others
- Curiosity about how the body works
- Problem-solving skills to diagnose and treat illnesses
- The ability to stay calm under pressure, especially during emergencies
- Effective communication skills to explain treatment plans and listen to patient concerns
- Determination to stay focused through studies, exams, and shifts
What degree do you need to become a doctor?
To become a doctor, you need a degree in Medicine. But the way you get that degree is different around the world:
The direct route (UK, Australia, Europe): In countries like the UK, Australia, Italy, and many others in Europe, you can go straight into a Bachelor-level Medicine degree after secondary school. This degree combines theoretical knowledge with clinical practice, and often lasts five to six years.
Browse 1300+Medicine degrees on Bachelorsportal
The two-step route (US and Canada): The US and Canada have different systems. Before applying for medical school, you need to complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree. This degree could be in any field, but students often choose related fields like Biology, Chemistry, and Health Sciences. Then, you can apply for med school, which takes another four years. If you need inspiration for your pre-med school Bachelor’s degree in the US or Canada, check out the programmes on Bachelorsportal.
What entrance exams are required for medical school?
In most countries, you’ll need to pass entrance exams to get into med school. These exams test how well you know science topics and how well you can solve problems.
Here are the names of the entrance exams in different countries where you can study Medicine in English:
- UK: UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) or BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test), depending on the university
- US and Canada: MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) after your undergraduate degree
- Australia and New Zealand: UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand) for undergraduate students and GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) for students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree
- Italy: International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) for all universities teaching Medicine in English
Training and experience after graduation
Curious about what comes after medical school? Once you’ve finished your medical degree, you’ll move on to clinical training. This is where you apply your knowledge in real healthcare settings, work with experienced doctors, and learn more about different medical fields.
What mandatory training or internships are there for doctors?
In most countries, you’ll need to complete mandatory internships or residencies before you can specialise as a doctor. Here are some examples from around the world:
- US and Canada: After medical school, doctors apply for a residency programme. This typically takes three to seven years, depending on specialism.
- UK: Medical graduates complete a two-year general Foundation Programme, followed by Core and Higher Training to specialise.
- Australia and New Zealand: After completing a Medicine degree, you'll complete an internship in general medicine. Then it’s time for speciality training, which will help you become an expert in your chosen medical field.
- Italy: In Italy, doctors complete a supervised internship called tirocinio pratico-valutativo, focusing on general medicine. Then they sit exams, and finally, move forward with a medical specialisation school.
Professional qualification exams
Doctors must pass specific professional exams throughout their careers — before, during, and after medical school, and even after specialisation. Here are some examples from different countries:
Country | Before med school | During and after med school | After specialisation |
US | MCAT | Three-step USMLE exam for full license | Speciality board certification exams |
Canada | MCAT | Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) | Royal College or College of Family Physicians Canada exams |
UK | UCAT / BMAT | GMC registration | Specialty-specific exams |
Australia | UCAT ANZ / GAMSAT | Medical Board of Australia registration | Specialty-specific exams |
Italy | IMAT | National Licensing Exam (Esame di Stato) | National ranking system for speciality training |
Registration or certification process to become a doctor
After passing your exams, you’ll register with a national medical board so you can officially work as a doctor. Examples include:
- US: The American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS) has different medical specialities
- UK: Register with the General Medical Council (GMC) as a doctor, GP, or specialist
- Canada: Doctors must register with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) and obtain licensure through provincial regulatory authorities
- Australia: Certification with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Italy: Doctors must register with the Ordine dei Medici Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri, a professional body for physicians and dentists.
If you got your medical degree in one country but want to work in another, you might need to take extra exams or go through a registration process to show you’re qualified to practise there. Most of the time, you’ll also need to show you speak the local language well. After all, you’ll need it to talk to patients and understand what they need.
How is becoming a doctor different around the world?
Every country has its own medical system, which means different requirements for doctors. Here’s a recap on the differences between the top 5 most popular study destinations:
| Country | Entry Route | Entrance Exam | Language Requirement | Study Duration | Additional Notes |
| USA | Bachelor’s degree + MD (Graduate) | MCAT | English (TOEFL/IELTS) | 4 years MD + 3–7 years residency | Undergraduate degree in sciences usually required before med school |
| UK | Direct entry after high school | UCAT or BMAT | English (IELTS/TOEFL) | 5–6 years | Includes clinical training; foundation years follow graduation |
| Canada | Bachelor’s degree + MD (Graduate) | MCAT (except Québec) | English/French (varies) | 4 years MD + residency | Québec offers direct-entry programmes from CEGEP; very limited seats for intl. |
| Australia | Direct (school leaver) or graduate entry | UCAT (undergrad) / GAMSAT (grad) | English (IELTS/TOEFL) | 5–6 years (undergrad) or 4 years (grad) | Graduate entry is more common at top universities |
| Germany | Direct entry after high school | TMS (optional) + high GPA | German (DSH/TestDaF) | 6 years + 1-year internship | Must pass the Staatsexamen exam to qualify as a doctor |
Final tips to succeed in your doctor career journey
Becoming a doctor is a long journey, but if you're passionate about health, science, and helping people, it’s incredibly fulfilling. Get ready to work hard and be flexible — your interests and goals might change along the way, especially when it comes to choosing your speciality. Some more tips:
- Start early by researching medical programmes around the world.
- Look into international recognition if you want to practise abroad.
- Talk to current medical students or doctors to get realistic insights.
FAQs
1. How long does it take to become a doctor?
On Bachelorsportal, most undergraduate Medicine programmes take over four years — this is the first step of becoming a doctor. When we combine university, medical school, internships, and speciality training, the total time to become a doctor is between 7 and 16 years.
2. How difficult is it to become a doctor?
Becoming a doctor is challenging: you’ll need strong grades, determination for long study hours, and emotional resilience to handle pressure and responsibility.
3. Is becoming a doctor a good career choice?
Becoming a doctor is a good career choice as it pays well, has strong job security, and is rewarding.
