4 answers
Siaralyz
Student
New Bedford, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
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What dose it take to become an dermatologist?
I’m in 11th grade and what do you need to do to become a dermatologist
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4 answers
Scott Adler
Physician (recently retired)
31
Answers
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Updated
Scott’s Answer
Hi Siaralyz. I am an internist (a general medical doctor for adults) so I know about the process. In general, after graduating from high school it takes 4 years of college to get a bachelor's degree, followed by 4 years of medical school and then at least 4 years of post-medical school training (one year of general medical internship and then 3 years of dermatology training) to become a dermatologist. Additional training would be necessary if you decide to specialize even further.
Your college degree does not have to be in any particular specialty. It does however need to include certain required courses which your college advisor can guide you through. It is important to have a good basic working knowledge of biological sciences, to help you on your way in medical school. Getting extremely good grades in college will help you to get admitted to medical school. I personally feel having a wide variety of educational and life experiences is important as it can enhance a resume and help one decide what pursuit will truly make them happy. Good luck!
Your college degree does not have to be in any particular specialty. It does however need to include certain required courses which your college advisor can guide you through. It is important to have a good basic working knowledge of biological sciences, to help you on your way in medical school. Getting extremely good grades in college will help you to get admitted to medical school. I personally feel having a wide variety of educational and life experiences is important as it can enhance a resume and help one decide what pursuit will truly make them happy. Good luck!
Joan Shea
Global Marketing Director
108
Answers
Newcastle, WA
Updated
Joan’s Answer
Hello Siaralyz!
Here's your step-by-step guide to becoming a dermatologist:
1. Start by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as biology, chemistry, or physics. This will lay the groundwork for your medical studies.
2. Next, prepare for and pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This is a crucial step in your journey.
3. Enroll in medical school and work hard to earn your medical degree. This will provide you with the necessary medical knowledge and skills.
4. After graduating, complete a three-year residency program in dermatology. This will give you hands-on experience in your chosen field.
5. Now it's time to get your medical license. You can do this by successfully passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
6. Lastly, become board certified by acing the American Board of Dermatology exam. This will officially recognize you as a dermatologist.
As a dermatologist, your role will be to diagnose and treat a variety of skin conditions, ranging from acne to cancer. You'll also be responsible for treating conditions related to hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Your day-to-day tasks may involve conducting clinical research, prescribing medications, and performing minor surgeries to correct skin abnormalities.
As of July 31, 2023, a dermatologist in the United States can expect to earn an average salary of $345,000 per year. The job outlook for this profession is promising, with a projected growth rate of 4% from 2022 to 2032.
Embark on your journey towards a rewarding career in dermatology today. I hope this guide serves as a helpful roadmap for you.
Here's your step-by-step guide to becoming a dermatologist:
1. Start by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as biology, chemistry, or physics. This will lay the groundwork for your medical studies.
2. Next, prepare for and pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This is a crucial step in your journey.
3. Enroll in medical school and work hard to earn your medical degree. This will provide you with the necessary medical knowledge and skills.
4. After graduating, complete a three-year residency program in dermatology. This will give you hands-on experience in your chosen field.
5. Now it's time to get your medical license. You can do this by successfully passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
6. Lastly, become board certified by acing the American Board of Dermatology exam. This will officially recognize you as a dermatologist.
As a dermatologist, your role will be to diagnose and treat a variety of skin conditions, ranging from acne to cancer. You'll also be responsible for treating conditions related to hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Your day-to-day tasks may involve conducting clinical research, prescribing medications, and performing minor surgeries to correct skin abnormalities.
As of July 31, 2023, a dermatologist in the United States can expect to earn an average salary of $345,000 per year. The job outlook for this profession is promising, with a projected growth rate of 4% from 2022 to 2032.
Embark on your journey towards a rewarding career in dermatology today. I hope this guide serves as a helpful roadmap for you.
G D
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
G’s Answer
Hi Siaralyz,
Surgeon here. Dermatology is a medical specialty. As such, you'll need to first complete medical school, then complete a residency training program in dermatology. General path to get there:
1) Attend college and obtain a bachelor's degree. You can choose whichever major you'd like, but will need to complete all the premed courses: not sure if these have changed since my time, but general it is a mix of general chemistry, physics 1 and 2, organic chemistry, a couple of biology courses (eg, general biology, cellular biology). Medical school admission is competitive, and your GPA is one component of the application process so you will want to maintain as high a GPA as you can. That means you need to manage your course load (and job if you'll work on the side) in a way that you can reasonably perform very well and get A's
2) In addition to your GPA, you'll need to take the MCAT during your 3rd year of college. I know the content has changed since I took it in my days, but bottom line: it is a standardized test, so you'll want to study and prepare thoroughly for it. Content is mostly based on your premed courses - you can learn the additional content via dedicated MCAT preparation resources. Similar to your GPA, you will want to score as high as you can here, which may require dedicated preparation, including practice exams
3) Apply and gain admission to medical school: Equipped with a strong GPA and MCAT score, you will then apply to medical school and interview. Each school has specific requirements, but generally, they will also want to see a couple of letters of recommendation, and healthcare experience (eg, volunteer at a clinic or hospital, working as a scribe, physician shadowing experience etc.)
4) Once in medical school, your first two years are "preclinical". You'll spend most of your time in a classroom learning fundamentals of medicine (eg, anatomy, physiology, pathology etc. on all organ systems, for example, heart, lungs, brain etc). In your 2nd year, you will take your USMLE Step 1 exam, which is your very first board exam. They also made changes recently, I don't believe there is a score anymore beyond Pass/Fail
5) In years 3 and 4 of medical, you'll enter your "clinical years" - You will rotate through various services (e,g, surgey, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN etc.). Towards the end of your 3rd year/early 4th year, you can choose some specific rotations you're interested in. In your case, you will want to rotate on dermatology services. This will be your opportunity to gain exposure to dermatologists, but also obtain letters of recommendations from dermatologists that will be necessary for your residency application
5) In your 4th and final year of medical school, you will apply to residency - I skipped a few steps above, but in addition to your USMLE Step1, you will also have to take the USMLE Step 2 in your 3rd or 4th year (and of course score well). Dermatology is considered a "very competitive" specialty - that means standards to get accepted are typically highest so you'll need high scores on your USMLE exams, good grades on your clinical rotations, good letters of recommendations, research output etc. You will spend several months during your 4th year interviewing for dermatology residency programs. In March, you'll find if and where you "match", i.e. which program you will attend for your dermatology training
6) You'll graduate medical school in May, and will start dermatology residency around July 1. Dermatology is a 4 year program, including a year of "general training" (which means you can do a 1 year of medicine or surgery, followed by 3 years of dedicated dermatology training). Upon completion of residency, you will (finally) be a dermatologist
7) You will then become a practicing attending dermatologist. You'll still need to take board exam to become a "board certified dermatologist" but that pretty much sums the path to get there.
There can be a lot more to be done that what I outlined. For example, it is quite common for people to conduct research during medical school in order to get publications (ie research output), which makes one more competitive, but also allows one to work closely with dermatologist to get letters of recommendation.
Good luck, it's a long journey but taking care of patients is incredibly gratifying
Surgeon here. Dermatology is a medical specialty. As such, you'll need to first complete medical school, then complete a residency training program in dermatology. General path to get there:
1) Attend college and obtain a bachelor's degree. You can choose whichever major you'd like, but will need to complete all the premed courses: not sure if these have changed since my time, but general it is a mix of general chemistry, physics 1 and 2, organic chemistry, a couple of biology courses (eg, general biology, cellular biology). Medical school admission is competitive, and your GPA is one component of the application process so you will want to maintain as high a GPA as you can. That means you need to manage your course load (and job if you'll work on the side) in a way that you can reasonably perform very well and get A's
2) In addition to your GPA, you'll need to take the MCAT during your 3rd year of college. I know the content has changed since I took it in my days, but bottom line: it is a standardized test, so you'll want to study and prepare thoroughly for it. Content is mostly based on your premed courses - you can learn the additional content via dedicated MCAT preparation resources. Similar to your GPA, you will want to score as high as you can here, which may require dedicated preparation, including practice exams
3) Apply and gain admission to medical school: Equipped with a strong GPA and MCAT score, you will then apply to medical school and interview. Each school has specific requirements, but generally, they will also want to see a couple of letters of recommendation, and healthcare experience (eg, volunteer at a clinic or hospital, working as a scribe, physician shadowing experience etc.)
4) Once in medical school, your first two years are "preclinical". You'll spend most of your time in a classroom learning fundamentals of medicine (eg, anatomy, physiology, pathology etc. on all organ systems, for example, heart, lungs, brain etc). In your 2nd year, you will take your USMLE Step 1 exam, which is your very first board exam. They also made changes recently, I don't believe there is a score anymore beyond Pass/Fail
5) In years 3 and 4 of medical, you'll enter your "clinical years" - You will rotate through various services (e,g, surgey, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN etc.). Towards the end of your 3rd year/early 4th year, you can choose some specific rotations you're interested in. In your case, you will want to rotate on dermatology services. This will be your opportunity to gain exposure to dermatologists, but also obtain letters of recommendations from dermatologists that will be necessary for your residency application
5) In your 4th and final year of medical school, you will apply to residency - I skipped a few steps above, but in addition to your USMLE Step1, you will also have to take the USMLE Step 2 in your 3rd or 4th year (and of course score well). Dermatology is considered a "very competitive" specialty - that means standards to get accepted are typically highest so you'll need high scores on your USMLE exams, good grades on your clinical rotations, good letters of recommendations, research output etc. You will spend several months during your 4th year interviewing for dermatology residency programs. In March, you'll find if and where you "match", i.e. which program you will attend for your dermatology training
6) You'll graduate medical school in May, and will start dermatology residency around July 1. Dermatology is a 4 year program, including a year of "general training" (which means you can do a 1 year of medicine or surgery, followed by 3 years of dedicated dermatology training). Upon completion of residency, you will (finally) be a dermatologist
7) You will then become a practicing attending dermatologist. You'll still need to take board exam to become a "board certified dermatologist" but that pretty much sums the path to get there.
There can be a lot more to be done that what I outlined. For example, it is quite common for people to conduct research during medical school in order to get publications (ie research output), which makes one more competitive, but also allows one to work closely with dermatologist to get letters of recommendation.
Good luck, it's a long journey but taking care of patients is incredibly gratifying
Kess French
Medical Student
109
Answers
Updated
Kess’s Answer
Hello, Siaralyz!
Fantastic question!
Becoming a dermatologist can seem like a complicated journey. Joan's answer is fantastic, this is just a bit more detailed information.
1. Complete high school and make sure to relish your summer break!
2. Begin exploring which college you would like to attend for your bachelor's degree. Medical schools generally accept any degree as long as you've fulfilled the prerequisite courses. Don't forget to indulge in some subjects that truly interest you! Medical schools appreciate applicants who are diverse and have interests beyond medicine, not just those who've ticked off the necessary boxes.
(I hold a bachelor's degree in biomedical science with minors in chemistry and sociology, and my med school buddies have degrees in English, Russian history, and Psychology.)
3. Take as many courses as possible at your local community college to save on costs (ensure they're transferable to a university though)! Apply for financial aid via FAFSA. Some community colleges even offer programs that can help you transition to a nearby university.
4. Aim for and secure at least a bachelor's degree. Some individuals choose to pursue a Master's degree, such as in Public Health, but it's not mandatory.
5. Gear up for and take the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test). Your college might be able to assist you with test preparation!
6. Get ready for and apply to medical schools (both MD (Medical Doctor) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) pathways lead to becoming a physician).
7. Complete 4 years of medical school (the first 2 years consist of textbook learning, while the last two years involve clinical rotations). Licensing exams are taken after the 2nd and 3rd years of medical school, with a final one during residency.
8. Apply for and participate in a dermatology residency program - this involves a few more years of training depending on your chosen specialty. (Take your 3rd major exam here.) On the bright side, residency is a paid position. Keep in mind, you may change your mind on what specialty you want to pursue, and that's ok!
Dermatology offices have multiple employees though. You might consider working in one before medical school.
BEST OF LUCK! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!
Fantastic question!
Becoming a dermatologist can seem like a complicated journey. Joan's answer is fantastic, this is just a bit more detailed information.
1. Complete high school and make sure to relish your summer break!
2. Begin exploring which college you would like to attend for your bachelor's degree. Medical schools generally accept any degree as long as you've fulfilled the prerequisite courses. Don't forget to indulge in some subjects that truly interest you! Medical schools appreciate applicants who are diverse and have interests beyond medicine, not just those who've ticked off the necessary boxes.
(I hold a bachelor's degree in biomedical science with minors in chemistry and sociology, and my med school buddies have degrees in English, Russian history, and Psychology.)
3. Take as many courses as possible at your local community college to save on costs (ensure they're transferable to a university though)! Apply for financial aid via FAFSA. Some community colleges even offer programs that can help you transition to a nearby university.
4. Aim for and secure at least a bachelor's degree. Some individuals choose to pursue a Master's degree, such as in Public Health, but it's not mandatory.
5. Gear up for and take the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test). Your college might be able to assist you with test preparation!
6. Get ready for and apply to medical schools (both MD (Medical Doctor) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) pathways lead to becoming a physician).
7. Complete 4 years of medical school (the first 2 years consist of textbook learning, while the last two years involve clinical rotations). Licensing exams are taken after the 2nd and 3rd years of medical school, with a final one during residency.
8. Apply for and participate in a dermatology residency program - this involves a few more years of training depending on your chosen specialty. (Take your 3rd major exam here.) On the bright side, residency is a paid position. Keep in mind, you may change your mind on what specialty you want to pursue, and that's ok!
Dermatology offices have multiple employees though. You might consider working in one before medical school.
BEST OF LUCK! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!