All students must, of course, receive a high school diploma or its equivalent before they can enroll in an undergraduate program. While in high school, aspiring medical students should try to achieve top grades in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physical science.
On the undergraduate level, premedical students will take advanced courses in physics, chemistry and biology. These courses will prepare them to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Many students also volunteer in a health-care setting or shadow working medical practitioners to give them more experience and networking opportunities.
Medical school is an intensive program, consisting of two years of classroom instruction and two years of clinical rotations where they will be exposed to many different areas, such as surgery, oncology and family practice. Before they can start practicing medicine, aspiring doctors will need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) upon graduation.
Once medical school is completed, graduates who want to become doctors in family practice will need to complete a three-year residency program. Upon completion, they must pass one of two tests, given by either the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). They will earn the title of MD (medical doctor) or DO (doctor of osteopathy) and be eligible to practice as family physicians.