Post job

Internal medicine doctor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an internal medicine doctor. Internal medicine doctors usually study medicine, medical assisting services, or nursing. 33% of internal medicine doctors hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 165 real internal medicine doctor resumes to see exactly what internal medicine doctor education sections show.

The most common colleges for internal medicine doctors are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.

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

There are certain internal medicine doctor certifications that you should consider. These internal medicine doctor certifications include Internal Medicine and Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C).

What education do you need to become an internal medicine doctor?

What degree do you need to be an internal medicine doctor?

The most common degree for internal medicine doctors is bachelor's degree, with 33% of internal medicine doctors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are doctoral degree degree at 15% and doctoral degree degree at 14%.
  • Bachelor's, 33%
  • Doctorate, 15%
  • Master's, 14%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Other Degrees, 27%

What should I major in to become an internal medicine doctor?

You should major in medicine to become an internal medicine doctor. 18% of internal medicine doctors major in medicine. Other common majors for an internal medicine doctor include medical assisting services and nursing.

Most common colleges for internal medicine doctors

Internal medicine doctors often get their degrees at University of Florida, Butler University, and Bryan College. Here are the most common colleges for internal medicine doctors in the US based on their resumes.
Internal medicine doctor common collegePercentages
University of Florida8.33%
Butler University8.33%
Bryan College6.25%
University of the Sciences6.25%
Central State University6.25%

Best majors for internal medicine doctors

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine18.2%
2Medical Assisting Services16.4%
3Nursing12.6%
4Physician Assistant11.7%
5Biology8.9%

Best colleges for internal medicine doctors

The best colleges for internal medicine doctors are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

An internal medicine doctor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for internal medicine doctors. 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 internal medicine doctors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

8. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

9. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

10. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

20 best online courses for internal medicine doctors

Advertising disclosure

1. Case Studies in Personalized Medicine

coursera

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...

2. Everyday Chinese Medicine

coursera

This course aims to serve as an education platform on Chinese medicine (CM) for the general public. Our primary goal is to empower healthcare choices by promoting awareness and practical application on CM diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as well as regulation on CM services and herbal products using international examples. In the first part of this course, learners will develop skills in applying basic theory of Chinese medicine (CM) for understanding health and illnesses, and be able to...

3. Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Advanced Diploma

udemy
4.3
(1,105)

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

4. Doctor of Natural Medicine

udemy
4.4
(624)

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

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

coursera

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...

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

coursera

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 Longevity Medicine

udemy
4.4
(344)

A Medical Guide to Longevity Medicine for Physicians...

8. OET Insights Writing: Medicine

udemy
4.5
(452)

Tips and Techniques for the OET Writing Test for Medicine...

9. Introduction to Dental Medicine

coursera

The mouth is the window into human health. This course provides an overview of dental medicine to engage, educate, excite and assist you in improving the oral health of your patients and members of your community. We will review topics in dental medicine including scope of the field, what to expect in function, and some of the many ways that dysfunction may present for different patients. This will include discussions of mouth, jaw, and tooth anatomy, pathology, and treatment. We will talk...

10. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation

coursera

Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...

11. Herbalism:: Medicinal Mushrooms Certificate

udemy
4.4
(429)

Learn the top mushrooms used in holistic and natural medicine that are most effective, safe and easily available...

12. Herbalism:: Introduction & Medicine Making Certificate

udemy
4.7
(13,479)

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

13. Herbalism:: Growing Top Medicinal Plants Certificate

udemy
4.8
(687)

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

14. Herbalism:: Medicinal Kitchen Herbs & Spices Certificate

udemy
4.8
(1,168)

Discover how common kitchen herbs and spices are used as herbal medicine and natural medicine for ultimate health...

15. Herbalism:: Identify & Harvest Medicinal Plants Certificate

udemy
4.8
(2,299)

Identify, harvest and use easy to find herbs from the wild that are commonly used in herbal, holistic, natural medicine...

16. Fully Accredited Certificate in Natural Medicine & Herbalism

udemy
4.4
(2,170)

An Introduction to Natural Medicine and Herbalism Learn how to use these skills for yourself and others...

17. Introduction to International Relations

udemy
4.4
(417)

International Relations for beginners: history, theories, states, sovereignty, war, peace, int. organisations, economy...

18. International Expansion: A Blueprint for Success

udemy
4.5
(372)

An Action Plan to Profitably Expand Your Business Through International Sales and Partnerships...

19. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 3 - Full Study Course

udemy
4.6
(266)

Full study course and instructor support for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 3...

20. OET Insights Speaking: Medicine

udemy
4.9
(361)

Tips and Techniques for the OET Speaking Test for Medicine...

Top 10 most affordable universities for internal medicine doctors

The most affordable schools for internal medicine doctors are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for internal medicine doctors 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 internal medicine doctors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for internal medicine doctors

The hardest universities for internal medicine doctors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for internal medicine doctors 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 internal medicine doctors 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

8. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for internal medicine doctors

The easiest schools for internal medicine doctors to get into are D'Youville College, adventhealth university, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an internal medicine doctor 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 internal medicine doctors.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

8. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

Average internal medicine doctor salary by education level

Internal medicine doctor education levelInternal medicine doctor salary
Doctorate Degree$161,913

Internal medicine doctor education FAQs

Search for internal medicine doctor jobs

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.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs