Education · 1 of 5

The path

Eleven or twelve years after high school before you run a department on your own.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Biology, chemistry, physics and math, with the grades to get into a strong college program.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, as long as you finish the pre-medical science courses and sit the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

3. 3

   Medical school

   4 years

   Two years of science, two years of hospital rotations. You graduate as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

4. 4

   Emergency medicine residency

   3 or 4 years

   Assigned by a national computer match. Paid, supervised, and you run more of the department every year.

5. 5

   Board certification

   After residency

   The American Board of Emergency Medicine runs a written qualifying exam, then an oral certifying exam with simulated cases.