Education · 1 of 5

The path

Twelve years after high school, and the competition is fierce the entire way.

1. 1

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, but finish the pre-medicine sciences with a very high grade average and sit the admission test.

2. 2

   Medical school

   4 years

   An MD (doctor of medicine) or DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree, with clinical rotations in the last two years.

3. 3

   Intern year

   1 year

   A general year of hospital medicine or surgery before dermatology training starts.

4. 4

   Dermatology residency

   3 years

   Skin clinic, dermatopathology under the microscope, and surgery. Paid, and very hard to get into.

5. 5

   Board certification and license

   After training

   Certify with the American Board of Dermatology and hold a license from your state medical board.