1. Bachelor's Degree: A four-year undergraduate degree is required, although the specific major isn't prescribed. Pre-med coursework, including biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics, is essential for successful application to medical school.
2. Medical School (MD or DO): This is a four-year program leading to either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Medical school includes a combination of classroom learning, laboratory work, and clinical rotations in various specialties.
3. Residency in Internal Medicine: After medical school, aspiring internists must complete a three-year residency in internal medicine. This is a postgraduate training program where they gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of adult medical conditions. Residency involves long hours and significant responsibility under the supervision of experienced physicians.
4. Fellowship (Optional but Common): Many internists choose to further specialize after their residency. Fellowships are typically one to three years long and focus on a subspecialty within internal medicine, such as cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, nephrology, pulmonology, rheumatology, infectious disease, hematology-oncology, and more. A fellowship is required for subspecialty board certification.
5. Licensure and Board Certification: After completing their training, physicians must obtain a medical license from the state(s) in which they plan to practice. They can then pursue board certification in internal medicine (or a subspecialty) from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine (AOBIM). Board certification demonstrates competency in the specialty and is often required for hospital privileges and insurance reimbursement.
In summary, becoming an internist requires a minimum of 12 years of education and training after high school (4 years undergraduate, 4 years medical school, 3 years residency), and often significantly longer if pursuing a subspecialty.