A dermatologist is a physician whose practice focuses on the skin, hair and nails. She can practice general dermatology or specialize in more defined areas such as pediatric skin care, surgery or cosmetics.
An aspiring dermatologist must have an undergraduate degree, usually in pre-medicine or another science-related field. Acquiring that degree can take four or more years.
Four years of medical school is next. Students do classroom work and get hands-on experience in hospitals and clinics before receiving a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.
After medical school, the dermatologist-to-be enters a residency program that lasts a year or more. A residency is paid, on-the-job training that involves working in a range of medical disciplines.
Becoming a board-certified dermatologist requires three years of full-time training in a dermatology residency program. The American Board of Dermatology grants certification to qualified doctors who complete the training and pass the certification exam.
Dermatologists who want to specialize further can pursue post-residency programs that require one or two more years of training. These sub-specialties include laser medicine and skin-cancer surgery techniques.