Medical doctor education requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a medical doctor?

You need a doctorate degree in medicine to be a medical doctor. To obtain a career as a physician, you must obtain a doctorate degree as either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). The path to medical school is a lengthy one. First, a bachelor's degree must be obtained. The focus on this isn't specific so long as you take your medical school prerequisites. Next, you take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). You must pass this test before applying to medical school. Finally, once accepted, you will need to choose to attend a nationally accredited medical school and spend a minimum of the next four years earning your doctorate degree. The training doesn't stop with the degree. Depending on your focus area, you will spend the next three to nine years after graduation completing a residency. Upon completing the residency, a doctor must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). Once this is all done, a doctor can finally become an attending physician and take care of patients independently. Obtaining your doctorate in medicine prepares you as a student and resident to eventually practice independently. The education and experience gained within the degree process are necessary and required to become a practicing and independent doctor.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a medical doctor. Medical doctors usually study medicine, veterinary science, or nursing. 56% of medical doctors hold a doctoral degree, and 24% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,297 real medical doctor resumes to see exactly what medical doctor education sections show.

The most common colleges for medical doctors are the University of the Sciences and the University of the Sciences.

There are also many online medical doctor courses to help get the education required to be a medical doctor.

There are certain medical doctor certifications that you should consider. These medical doctor certifications include Internal Medicine and Medical Assistant.

What education do you need to become a medical doctor?

What degree do you need to be a medical doctor?

The most common degree for medical doctors is doctoral degree, with 56% of medical doctors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 24% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.

Doctorate, 56%

Bachelor's, 24%

Master's, 7%

Diploma, 3%

Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become a medical doctor?

You should major in medicine to become a medical doctor. 60% of medical doctors major in medicine. Other common majors for a medical doctor include veterinary science and nursing.

Medicine, 60%

Veterinary Science, 9%

Nursing, 5%

Medical Clinical Sciences, 3%

Other Majors, 23%

Most common colleges for medical doctors

Medical doctors often get their degrees at University of the Sciences, Central State University, and Florida International University. Here are the most common colleges for medical doctors in the US based on their resumes.

Medical doctor common college	Percentages
University of the Sciences	20.00%
Central State University	12.86%
Florida International University	11.43%
National University	10.00%
University of the West	2.86%

Show more common medical doctor colleges

Best majors for medical doctors

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Medicine	60.1%
2	Veterinary Science	9.0%
3	Nursing	4.8%
4	Medical Clinical Sciences	3.2%
5	Health Care Administration	2.8%

Show more common medical doctor majors

Best colleges for medical doctors

The best colleges for medical doctors are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

A medical 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 medical 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 medical doctors.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

5. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

6. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

8. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

20 best online courses for medical doctors

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1. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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...

2. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

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. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing

4.4

(767)

Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...

4. Medical Terminology

4.7

(3,688)

Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...

5. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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...

6. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

7. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training

4.5

(645)

Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...

8. Introduction to Medical Imaging

4.5

(827)

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

9. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

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...

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

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...

11. Medical Terminology 101

4.4

(752)

For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...

12. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding

4.6

(352)

Volume One: Medical Hematology...

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

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...

14. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course

4.6

(444)

Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...

15. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers

4.4

(520)

An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...

16. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.

4.3

(764)

Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...

17. Internal audit on Medical Device QMS - ISO 13485:2016

4.3

(578)

Successfully conduct an internal audit based on requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

18. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices

4.5

(527)

A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...

19. Understanding Medications and Therapeutics

4.7

(276)

Helping you build the best foundation to truly understand medications and develop clinical reasoning skills...

20. Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Advanced Diploma

4.3

(1,105)

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

Top 10 most affordable universities for medical doctors

The most affordable schools for medical doctors are University of Florida, florida international university, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for medical 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 medical doctors.

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. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

7. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

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 medical doctors

The hardest universities for medical doctors to get into are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for medical 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 medical 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. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,517

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

10. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for medical doctors

The easiest schools for medical doctors to get into are AdventHealth University, nyack college, and d'youville college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a medical 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 medical doctors.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

5. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

8. Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Canton, OH • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

1,085

9. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

10. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

Average medical doctor salary by education level

Medical doctor education level	Medical doctor salary
Doctorate Degree	$189,228

Medical doctor education FAQs

What degree do you need to be a medical doctor?

What is the best college for Medical Doctors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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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