Education · 1 of 5

The path

One of the longest training routes in American medicine. Thirteen years after high school is the fast version.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 9 to 12

   Biology, chemistry, physics, calculus and English. Grades matter from ninth grade because medical school admissions look at your whole college record and your college depends on this one.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, as long as you finish the science prerequisites and keep a high GPA. Take the medical college admission test in your third year.

3. 3

   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 also pass the first two steps of the national licensing examination.

4. 4

   Internal medicine residency

   3 years

   Paid hospital training, matched through the national residency match. Long hours, and where you decide oncology is what you want.

5. 5

   Hematology and oncology fellowship

   2 to 3 years

   Accredited by ACGME (the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education). Most programs combine blood disorders and cancer into one fellowship. Board certification follows.