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Emergency medicine physician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an emergency medicine physician. Emergency medicine physicians usually study medicine, biology, or physician assistant. 41% of emergency medicine physicians hold a doctoral degree, and 32% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 407 real emergency medicine physician resumes to see exactly what emergency medicine physician education sections show.

The most common colleges for emergency medicine physicians are the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.

There are also many online emergency medicine physician courses to help get the education required to be an emergency medicine physician.

There are certain emergency medicine physician certifications that you should consider. These emergency medicine physician certifications include Emergency Medicine and Certification in General Surgery.

What education do you need to become an emergency medicine physician?

What degree do you need to be an emergency medicine physician?

The most common degree for emergency medicine physicians is doctoral degree, with 41% of emergency medicine physicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 32% and bachelor's degree degree at 11%.
  • Doctorate, 41%
  • Bachelor's, 32%
  • Master's, 11%
  • Associate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 13%

What should I major in to become an emergency medicine physician?

You should major in medicine to become an emergency medicine physician. 41% of emergency medicine physicians major in medicine. Other common majors for an emergency medicine physician include biology and physician assistant.

Most common colleges for emergency medicine physicians

Emergency medicine physicians often get their degrees at University of Pittsburgh, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and University of Central Florida. Here are the most common colleges for emergency medicine physicians in the US based on their resumes.
Emergency medicine physician common collegePercentages
University of Pittsburgh5.88%
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center5.88%
University of Central Florida5.88%
University of North Dakota5.88%
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences5.88%

Best majors for emergency medicine physicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine41.0%
2Biology12.8%
3Physician Assistant7.7%
4Osteopathic Medicine6.2%
5Business3.1%

Best colleges for emergency medicine physicians

The best colleges for emergency medicine physicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

An emergency medicine physician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for emergency medicine physicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become emergency medicine physicians.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

7. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

In-state tuition

$55,453

Enrollment

4,312

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for emergency medicine physicians

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1. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...

2. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...

3. Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Advanced Diploma

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4.3
(1,105)

A complete program in one course, This Diploma is an Encyclopedia in The Natural Medicine field...

4. Introduction to Longevity Medicine

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4.4
(344)

A Medical Guide to Longevity Medicine for Physicians...

5. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

6. Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

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The Center for Humanitarian Emergencies is a partnership between CDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch and the Rollins School of Public Health that drives global collaboration, research and evidence based training to improve the lives and well-being of populations impacted by humanitarian emergencies. - Center for Humanitarian Emergencies: http://www.che.emory.edu/ - CDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch: http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/errb/index.html This course...

7. Personal Emergency Planning (Coronavirus - COVID-19 Edition)

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4.5
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Learn how to prepare for and respond to all the different kinds of emergencies that could befall you including COVID-19...

8. Doctor of Natural Medicine

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4.4
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This course is a mini encyclopedia in natural medicine field...

9. COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers

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COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the globe and all providers must be prepared to recognize, stabilize and treat patients with novel coronavirus infection. Following completion of this short course physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will have a unified, evidenced-based approach to saving the lives of patients with COVID-19, including those who are critically ill. Learning modules are broken into short videos presented in a richly illustrated and compelling manner. The...

10. The Critical Role of IT Support Staff in Healthcare

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This is a very exciting time to be exploring a career in Health IT Support! In this introductory course, you’ll learn about various roles in IT support that are common in healthcare. IT support staff play critical roles in many different healthcare venues. In addition to helping clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms, you may end up providing support in a skilled nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, virtual care setting, or even a patient’s home! On any given day, you may interact...

11. First Aid Masterclass: A Complete Guide to First Aid

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4.7
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The Complete Guide to First Aid and Emergency Medicine: Learn CPR, Heimlich, How to Stop Bleedings, Baby Care & More!...

12. ACLS & PALS

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4.8
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Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support...

13. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

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Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

14. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

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Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

15. Herbalism:: Growing Top Medicinal Plants Certificate

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Growing your own herbal medicine is easy and allows you to have quick access to medicinal plants when you need them...

16. Ultimate ATLS 10 Prep [2021-Advanced Trauma Life Support]

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130+ Ultimate ATLS Written Practice Test Questions & Answers Practical Exam ATLS Questions Chapters 1 & 2 FREE!...

17. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

18. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

19. Herbalism:: Introduction & Medicine Making Certificate

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Take charge of your health with herbal medicine. Using herbs and natural holistic medicine is easy, effective and safe...

20. Case Studies in Personalized Medicine

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Learn how advances in biomedicine hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, drug treatments, and disease prevention: where are we now, and what does the future hold? This course will present short primers in genetics and mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate principles of how genetics are being brought to bear on refining diagnoses and on personalizing treatment in rare and common diseases. The ethical and...

Top 10 most affordable universities for emergency medicine physicians

The most affordable schools for emergency medicine physicians are Augusta University, florida international university, and stanford university.

If the best universities for emergency medicine physicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for emergency medicine physicians.

1. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$8,604

Cost of attendance

20,618

2. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Cost of attendance

69,109

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

In-state tuition

$9,283

Cost of attendance

22,243

6. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

7. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Cost of attendance

24,718

8. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,633

Cost of attendance

19,235

9. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Cost of attendance

24,568

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for emergency medicine physicians

The hardest universities for emergency medicine physicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for emergency medicine physicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for emergency medicine physicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

7. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

9. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for emergency medicine physicians

The easiest schools for emergency medicine physicians to get into are Augusta University, university of colorado denver, and washington state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an emergency medicine physician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for emergency medicine physicians.

1. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,172

2. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,132

3. Washington State University

Pullman, WA • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,123

4. Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Carbondale, IL • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,124

5. Wright State University

Dayton, OH • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

1,100

6. Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,190

7. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,120

8. Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

73%

SAT average

1,122

9. University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,135

10. Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,111

Average emergency medicine physician salary by education level

Emergency medicine physician education levelEmergency medicine physician salary
Doctorate Degree$169,679

Emergency medicine physician education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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