Unit 1 Education and training

What does it take to become a doctor?

Medicine is a vast and complicated subject of study, and a comprehensive education is important for doctors everywhere. But different countries have different requirements for medical education.

Many countries, including the United States and Canada, require students to have extensive education before they can enter medical school. In these countries, a bachelor’s degree in premedical studies is a prerequisite to ensure students know the basics in biology, chemistry, and other sciences.

In other countries, such as India and China, medical schools do not require premedical degrees and allow undergraduates to enter directly. Students in these countries must pass entrance examinations before admittance to ensure competency.

Regardless of the process for earning a medical degree, most countries require further training or qualifications before a doctor can practice. A doctor often completes a residency at a hospital to practice advanced training in his or her chosen field. Some programs, such as the foundation program in the United Kingdom, offer further schooling to prepare doctors for various specialties. In the United States, a doctor may also complete a fellowship to pursue focused research in a particular field.

After completing all education and training, a doctor must also receive a license from a government authority. This process might include taking a test, paying a fee, or submitting to a background check.

Vocabularies