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How long does it take to become a doctor in Nigeria?
I’m interested in pursuing a career in medicine and would like to understand the timeline for becoming a doctor. How many years does it take to complete medical school, including internships and any required licensing exams?
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Emmanuel Ugbodaga
Cinematographer
4
Answers
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
Emmanuel’s Answer
Pursuing a career in medicine in Nigeria requires a significant investment of time and effort. To become a doctor, you'll need to complete a minimum of six years of undergraduate studies at a medical school accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
Here's a breakdown of the typical timeline:
Undergraduate Studies (6 years) This is the first step towards becoming a doctor in Nigeria. You'll study medicine and surgery, and complete clinical rotations in various specialties.
- *Internship (1 year)*: After completing your undergraduate studies, you'll need to complete a one-year internship program at a teaching hospital or other approved institution.
- *Licensing Exams*: To practice medicine in Nigeria, you'll need to pass the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exams. These exams are typically taken after completing your internship.
- *Residency Training (3-7 years)*: After obtaining your medical license, you can pursue residency training in a specialized field of medicine. This can take anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
It's worth noting that admission to medical school in Nigeria is highly competitive, and requires strong grades in science subjects, as well as a good score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
https://nigerianfinder.com/medical-schools-nigeria-list/
Here's a breakdown of the typical timeline:
Undergraduate Studies (6 years) This is the first step towards becoming a doctor in Nigeria. You'll study medicine and surgery, and complete clinical rotations in various specialties.
- *Internship (1 year)*: After completing your undergraduate studies, you'll need to complete a one-year internship program at a teaching hospital or other approved institution.
- *Licensing Exams*: To practice medicine in Nigeria, you'll need to pass the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exams. These exams are typically taken after completing your internship.
- *Residency Training (3-7 years)*: After obtaining your medical license, you can pursue residency training in a specialized field of medicine. This can take anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
It's worth noting that admission to medical school in Nigeria is highly competitive, and requires strong grades in science subjects, as well as a good score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
https://nigerianfinder.com/medical-schools-nigeria-list/
Mary Adiegwu
Educator
2
Answers
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
Mary’s Answer
Hello!
The typical duration for studying medicine in Nigeria is 6 years in private universities. However, in federal or state-owned universities, where the majority of students apply, the program usually lasts between 7 to 8 years due to academic calendar disruptions and other institutional factors.
*Curriculum: The medical curriculum in Nigeria is divided into two main parts. The Basic Medical Sciences phase covers foundational courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Biochemistry. The Clinical Medicine phase involves more advanced courses, including clinical rotations, which typically take place at the university’s teaching hospital or state-owned teaching hospitals.
* Licensing exams: Upon completing the final MBBS exams, graduates become eligible to register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and receive a temporary license to practice after their induction into the medical profession.
* Housemanship: Following graduation, doctors must undergo housemanship/internship, which lasts one year. Upon successful completion, they can apply for a permanent medical license to practice.
*Residency Training: For those pursuing specialization, residency training follows. The duration depends on the chosen specialty but typically lasts three years or more, depending on the field of medicine.
The typical duration for studying medicine in Nigeria is 6 years in private universities. However, in federal or state-owned universities, where the majority of students apply, the program usually lasts between 7 to 8 years due to academic calendar disruptions and other institutional factors.
*Curriculum: The medical curriculum in Nigeria is divided into two main parts. The Basic Medical Sciences phase covers foundational courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Biochemistry. The Clinical Medicine phase involves more advanced courses, including clinical rotations, which typically take place at the university’s teaching hospital or state-owned teaching hospitals.
* Licensing exams: Upon completing the final MBBS exams, graduates become eligible to register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and receive a temporary license to practice after their induction into the medical profession.
* Housemanship: Following graduation, doctors must undergo housemanship/internship, which lasts one year. Upon successful completion, they can apply for a permanent medical license to practice.
*Residency Training: For those pursuing specialization, residency training follows. The duration depends on the chosen specialty but typically lasts three years or more, depending on the field of medicine.
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
11
Answers
Sykesville, Maryland
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi there!
Becoming a doctor in Nigeria takes about 7 to 8 years, including medical school, internship, and licensing. The journey starts with earning an MBBS or MBChB degree, which typically takes six years. During this time, students go through pre-clinical and clinical training, covering subjects like anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology before moving on to hospital rotations. However, delays due to academic strikes or course failures can extend this timeline.
After medical school, graduates must complete a one-year housemanship (internship) in an accredited hospital. This involves rotating through key specialties like surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics & gynecology, providing hands-on experience under supervision. Once the internship is completed, graduates take the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exam, which is required to practice as a doctor in the country.
Following licensing, Nigerian doctors must also fulfill a one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) requirement, often working in hospitals or community health centers. While some graduates may be exempt, most complete this step before fully entering medical practice.
In total, the path to becoming a general doctor takes about 7 to 8 years. If you plan to specialize, residency can add another 4 to 6 years depending on the field.
Becoming a doctor in Nigeria takes about 7 to 8 years, including medical school, internship, and licensing. The journey starts with earning an MBBS or MBChB degree, which typically takes six years. During this time, students go through pre-clinical and clinical training, covering subjects like anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology before moving on to hospital rotations. However, delays due to academic strikes or course failures can extend this timeline.
After medical school, graduates must complete a one-year housemanship (internship) in an accredited hospital. This involves rotating through key specialties like surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics & gynecology, providing hands-on experience under supervision. Once the internship is completed, graduates take the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exam, which is required to practice as a doctor in the country.
Following licensing, Nigerian doctors must also fulfill a one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) requirement, often working in hospitals or community health centers. While some graduates may be exempt, most complete this step before fully entering medical practice.
In total, the path to becoming a general doctor takes about 7 to 8 years. If you plan to specialize, residency can add another 4 to 6 years depending on the field.