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Emergency room physician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an emergency room physician. Emergency room physicians usually study medicine, biology, or medical assisting services. 40% of emergency room physicians hold a doctoral degree, and 26% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,168 real emergency room physician resumes to see exactly what emergency room physician education sections show.

The most common colleges for emergency room physicians are the Central State University and the Central State University.

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

There are certain emergency room physician certifications that you should consider. These emergency room physician certifications include Medical Assistant and Family Medicine.

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

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

The most common degree for emergency room physicians is doctoral degree, with 40% of emergency room physicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 26% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.
  • Doctorate, 40%
  • Bachelor's, 26%
  • Associate, 7%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 21%

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

You should major in medicine to become an emergency room physician. 45% of emergency room physicians major in medicine. Other common majors for an emergency room physician include biology and medical assisting services.

Most common colleges for emergency room physicians

Emergency room physicians often get their degrees at Central State University, University of the Sciences, and Arizona State University. Here are the most common colleges for emergency room physicians in the US based on their resumes.
Emergency room physician common collegePercentages
Central State University12.75%
University of the Sciences9.80%
Arizona State University7.84%
University of Southern California5.88%
University of Alabama at Birmingham4.90%

Best majors for emergency room physicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine44.7%
2Biology9.4%
3Medical Assisting Services7.7%
4Nursing3.9%
5Veterinary Science3.6%

Best colleges for emergency room physicians

The best colleges for emergency room physicians are Northwestern University, Emory University, and Case Western Reserve University.

An emergency room 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 room 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 room physicians.

1. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

2. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

3. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$49,042

Enrollment

5,131

4. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

7. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

8. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, NJ • Private

In-state tuition

$14,974

Enrollment

35,656

9. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$19,080

Enrollment

19,127

10. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$8,178

Enrollment

7,681

20 best online courses for emergency room physicians

Advertising disclosure

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: 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...

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

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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...

4. 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...

5. 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...

6. 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...

7. Introduction to Medical Imaging

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Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...

8. Introduction to Longevity Medicine

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A Medical Guide to Longevity Medicine for Physicians...

9. 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...

10. 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...

11. 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!...

12. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training

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Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...

13. 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...

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...

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Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...

17. The Emergence of Oncofertility (Past, Present & Future)

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Oncofertility is a new interdisciplinary field at the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine that aims to provide effective fertility options to young cancer patients undergoing gonadotoxic anticancer therapy through several fertility preservation and restoration strategies. This course aims to provide participants with an exciting learning curve to ensure they understand the fundamentals of oncofertility and help them advance their career. This course is offered by the...

18. Financial Regulation in Emerging Markets and the Rise of Fintech Companies

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This course explores the developments that have fueled the emergence of fintech companies around the world. Following the changing regulatory environment, especially since the 1997 Asian and 2008 global financial crisis, governments have enacted far-reaching new financial regulations for safeguarding financial stability. However, banks and financial institutions have found it increasingly difficult to be profitable in these new regulatory environments. Technology is taking leaps forward in...

19. Design your Room Using Sketchup

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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 room physicians

The most affordable schools for emergency room physicians are University of Florida, florida international university, and florida state university.

If the best universities for emergency room 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 room physicians.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

4. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

5. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$8,178

Cost of attendance

20,934

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Alexandria, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,668

Cost of attendance

14,488

10. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for emergency room physicians

The hardest universities for emergency room physicians to get into are Northwestern University, Emory University, and Case Western Reserve University.

Some great schools for emergency room 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 room 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

3. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

4. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

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

The easiest schools for emergency room physicians to get into are AdventHealth University, university of the incarnate word, and pennsylvania state university - shenango.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an emergency room 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 room physicians.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

3. Pennsylvania State University - Shenango

Sharon, PA • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

989

4. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

5. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

6. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

7. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

8. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

958

9. Methodist College

Peoria, IL • Private

Admissions rate

39%

SAT average

1,015

10. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,035

Average emergency room physician salary by education level

Emergency room physician education levelEmergency room physician salary
Doctorate Degree$167,699

Emergency room 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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