Education · 1 of 4

The path

One of the longest routes on this site. Thirteen years from high school graduation to independent practice.

1. 1

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, with the pre-medical science prerequisites and a high grade point average. Sit the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

2. 2

   Medical school

   4 years

   Two years of science, two years of clinical rotations, ending with a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. You pass the first two steps of the national licensing exam along the way.

3. 3

   Internal medicine residency

   3 years

   Paid hospital training in adult medicine, accredited by the ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education). You get your state medical license during this.

4. 4

   Nephrology fellowship

   2 years

   Subspecialty training in kidney disease, dialysis, transplant and blood chemistry. Longer if you add transplant or research training.

5. 5

   Board certification

   Exams

   Certify in internal medicine, then in nephrology, through the ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine), and keep it current afterward.