How to Become a Doctor: For generations together, doctors have been considered and accepted as a god-send with their ability to heal sick people. This profession is also one that has been considered to be one of the most honorable and noble job to have as a lot of hard work goes into the training for becoming a doctor. If you are someone looking for guidance on pursuing this career, then read on!
The field of medical science has seen a lot of traction from the students. Every year, more than 20 lakhs students appear for the NEET UG entrance examination to get admission to the top medical colleges in the country. The NEET UG entrance examination is one of the methods to get admission to the MBBS or other doctor related degree programmes. As we move ahead in this article, we will talk about the steps which you might need to follow to become a doctor.
Doctors are very important in our life. Doctors used his knowledge to identify the disease suffered by the patient. Doctors can do tests and listen to them to know about their diseases. Doctors have to work 18 hours and seven days a week. Doctors use science to treat a patient.
In the secondary school or plus two levels, you must opt for subjects including Physics, Chemistry and Biology. When you apply for the MBBS program through the general category, you must have completed 17 years, but must not be older than 25 years. MBBS is the basic degree required to become a doctor.
Steps to becoming a doctor
As mentioned above, a lot of hard work goes into pursuing this career and training for at least 6-7 years to be accepted as a professional.
For anyone determined to become a doctor, the steps given below will assist you with accomplishing your objective quicker.
Electing for the right stream in high school
To pursue a career in the field of medicine, it is necessary to start planning for your future as early as high school. Electing for the science stream at the 10+2 level helps you get a step closer to achieving your goal. One of the fundamental necessities for higher education in medicine is essential knowledge about the subjects of science which include chemistry, physics and biology provided you have a favourable record in academics that will aid you in getting an admission in a medical school.
Opting for a medical degree
To pursue a career in the field of medicine, opting for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is an elemental necessity. The undergraduate course which lasts for 5 and a half year’s degree is ideally opted for after finishing high school (10+2). Scoring a passing rank in entrance exams like NEET, JIMPER MBBS and AIIMS is an eligibility criterion to seek an MBBS degree. The program prepares and trains you for all the fundamental skills that you would need going into this profession. Skills including surgical and medicinal procedures. The program also includes an internship period of 12 months where you can get a hands-on experience of working in a hospital and get trained for the future.
In order to pursue your MBBS degree programme from one of the top medical colleges in India, the candidates are required to appear for the NEET UG 2024 entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency. The registration form for the NEET UG entrance examination is expected to soon be released on the official website of the NTA.
Registering as a Doctor
To become a doctor in India, after getting your degree and successfully completing the compulsory training period, to start your practice as a professional doctor, you need to get a license and be registered at the Indian Medical Register. Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), an examination administered by the National Board of Examination (NBE) was introduced in 1956 under the Indian Medical Council Act which says that a student who has completed their bachelor’s degree outside of India can still get their license by taking up the FMGE. Doctors from all states of India can practice their profession in any part of the country as anyone who is registered with any State Medical Council is also registered within the Indian Medical Register.
Getting Specialised
To get further education in your field of advantage you can get specialised by getting a higher degree in your respective field. These degrees not only educate you but also open more career options for you. A Doctor of Medicine or MD degree can be sought after as an overall program or in any of the specializations like gynaecology, oncology, cardiology and so on. You can also specialize in surgery by getting a MS (Master of Surgery) degree. These postgraduate degrees are for the most part of a length of 3 years and their curriculum comprises of both practical and theory to furnish you with the information necessary for you to become a specialist.
Enlist in a hospital or Autonomous Practice
The next step to pursuing your career after getting an MBBS or postgraduate degree is to start your practice by enlisting yourself in a hospital or starting a clinic of your own and carrying out autonomous practice.
Renowned Medical Schools/Colleges
There are certain medical schools and colleges in the world in which you can opt for admission to become a doctor. These colleges are well-reputed and will help you establish a great career for yourself. Besides the degree, the name of the university in your resume with add great credibility to your profile.
- Harvard University (United States of America)
- University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
- University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
- Stanford University (United States of America)
- John Hopkins University (United States of America)
- Karolinska University (Sweden)
- University of California, UCLA (Los Angeles, United States of America)
- University College London, UCL (United Kingdom)
- Yale University (United States of America)
- Imperial College London (United Kingdom)
Annual Income
This profession which is considered to be the noblest professional comes with a feeling of achievement as doctors save lives of many but it is also a very advantageous career to pursue. In India, doctors are paid an average annual income of approximately ₹6, 80,000 and specialists are paid even more than a general physician, whereas in countries outside India doctors are paid more. A specialist in the UK procures an annual income of around $85,250 for general practice and around $174,068 for specialists. Likewise, general doctors in the USA earn around $208,560 on an average annually, while the pay of specialists goes a lot higher.