For those interested in becoming doctors and physicians, either general or in a specific medical field, such as cardiology, proctology or neurology, you will have to get a doctoral degree in medicine and complete a long-term residency to qualify for a career. It typically takes four years to earn the doctor of medicine degree, which is a first-professional doctorate degree and does not require a written dissertation. For those who want to become physicians, you will find yourself completing a two- or three-year residency after the doctoral program. Those specializing in a particular area of medicine, such as cardiology or urology, will complete a residency that is significantly longer.
For those who wish to become lawyers or judges, you will need a doctorate in law, typically the J.D. (Juris Doctor) of law, which usually takes three years to complete. These degrees are first-professional doctorate degrees and do not require a dissertation. Once finishing law school, graduates who wish to practice law will have to pass the exam administered by the American Bar Association, an organization which maintains a code of ethical standards for lawyers.
For those who want to become professors or university deans, you will need a doctorate. Earning a Ph.D. is generally the standard requirement for a teaching career in the collegiate academic field. Some teaching jobs don't require doctoral degrees, such as positions for expository writing or arts-related job, which sometimes are offered to those with a master's of fine arts. A Ph.D. in the academic world requires the completion of a dissertation within your selected field. Dissertation work requires several years of research then must be defended in front of a faculty jury.