* 4 years: Bachelor's degree (often in biology, chemistry, or a related field).
* 4 years: Medical school (MD or DO).
* 4 years: Residency in a clinical specialty (often internal medicine, pediatrics, or clinical genetics, sometimes even more specialized like pediatric genetics or adult genetics).
* 2-3 years: Fellowship in medical genetics.
The fellowship is crucial for specializing in medical genetics and obtaining board certification. The exact length of time can vary slightly depending on the specific program and individual circumstances.