Do you have to be an MD to be a medical director?

Yes, you have to be an MD to be a medical director. Medical directors are required to be licensed medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine. A medical director is a highly senior position available only to those who have practiced as licensed doctors for many years. The responsibilities of a medical director are vast and require technical skills, training, and experience.

How much money do medical directors make?

Medical directors make between $180,000 per year and $390,000 per year. This salary range is so high because it reflects the intensity of the responsibilities of a medical director. To become a medical director, extensive education is necessary. A medical director is required to be a licensed doctor. On top of that, several years of experience are typically required before someone can be considered qualified for a career as a medical director.

Is a medical director an MD?

Yes, a medical director is an MD (medical doctor). A medical director must be a licensed medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). So, although a medical director isn't always an "MD" or "medical doctor," they must always be a licensed doctor of medicine.

What qualifications does a medical director need?

The qualifications that a medical director needs are either an MD, which stands for "medical doctor," or a DO, which stands for "doctor of osteopathic medicine." A medical director must be licensed as either of these medical professionals.

How To Become A Medical Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is a medical director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A medical director is a physician who oversees the medical activities of a healthcare organization. They are responsible for developing and implementing clinical policies, procedures, and protocols that ensure the delivery of high-quality care to patients. Medical directors also collaborate with other healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes and manage costs. They may be involved in hiring and training staff, conducting performance evaluations, and ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines and standards.

ScoreMedical DirectorUS Average

Salary

10.0

Avg. Salary $230,317

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.1

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.93%

Black or African American 11.03%

Hispanic or Latino 14.25%

Unknown 4.26%

White 61.82%

Gender

female 42.97%

male 57.03%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress Level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Medical Director?

Pros

High earning potential
Ability to shape policies and procedures for your organization
Opportunities for professional development
Flexibility in choosing work hours and schedule
Chance to stay up-to-date on the latest medical advancements

Cons

Long work hours and high levels of responsibility
Dealing with bureaucratic and administrative tasks
Balancing clinical duties with administrative tasks can be challenging
Potential for legal liability in case of medical errors or malpractice claims
Managing conflicts within interdisciplinary teams can be challenging.

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Key steps to become a medical director

Explore medical director education requirements

Most common medical director degrees

Bachelor's

31.7 %

Doctorate

27.6 %

Certificate

15.8 %

Start to develop specific medical director skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	12.46%
Medical Care	6.53%
Medical Services	5.98%
Utilization Review	4.93%
Appeals	4.55%

Complete relevant medical director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New medical directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a medical director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical director resumes.

Gain additional medical director certifications

Medical director certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific medical director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for medical directors include Family Medicine and Certification in General Surgery.

More About Certifications

Research medical director duties and responsibilities

Manage OPD for acute injuries.
Manage patients with diabetes, hypertension and other medical problems.
Manage patients living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other sexually transmit infections.
Manage hypertension and diabetes in elderly patients

Get medical director experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a medical director. The most common roles before becoming a medical director include physician, staff nurse team lead and staff physician.

Prepare your medical director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your medical director resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a medical director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Medical Director Resume templates

Build a professional Medical Director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Medical Director resume.