Education · 1 of 5

The path

Four years of college, four of medical school, three of residency. Eleven years, no shortcut.

1. 1

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, but finish the pre-medicine sciences, keep a very high grade average, and write the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

2. 2

   Medical school

   4 years

   An MD (doctor of medicine) or a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree. Classes first, then clinical rotations through every specialty.

3. 3

   Match into residency

   Final year

   In your final year you rank family medicine programs, they rank you, and a national computer match decides where you go.

4. 4

   Family medicine residency

   3 years

   36 months in an accredited program, 12 months in each training year, covering clinic, hospital, obstetrics, pediatrics and emergency care.

5. 5

   License and board certification

   During and after residency

   A license from your state medical board, then the one-day family medicine certification exam from the American Board of Family Medicine.