Education · 1 of 5

The path

You become a doctor first, in almost any specialty, then add a fellowship.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Biology, chemistry, physics, math and as much English as you can take. Half of this job is language.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major with the science prerequisites finished, a high GPA, and the medical college admission test.

3. 3

   Medical school

   4 years

   Four years to an MD (doctor of medicine) or a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine), passing the first national licensing exams along the way.

4. 4

   Residency in a base specialty

   3 to 5 years

   Usually internal medicine or family medicine, but emergency medicine, anesthesiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology and surgery all lead here too.

5. 5

   Hospice and palliative medicine fellowship

   1 year

   A one-year fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, then the subspecialty board exam.