How to Become a Doctor

The childhood dream of nearly every child is to become a doctor when he/she grows up. If you too grew older, holding this dream close to your heart, this blog can help turn your dream into a living reality by detailing the exact steps on how to become a doctor.

A career that is highly rewarding and gratifying at the same time, is the aspiration of millions of students every year. Nearly 1 of 3 students intend to become a doctor, either to fulfill their childhood desire to serve society or to reap the benefits of a highly respected profession.

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Whatever your reasons, you will find the exact guidance that you’re looking for to pursue your practice as a doctor.

Who Is A Doctor?

Let us first begin by understanding the exact meaning of the term. We have grown up hearing this term so casually around us. We have seen them dressed in white coats in movies and plays, and read numerous stories about them in books. Here is the exact definition of a doctor.

They are qualified professionals belonging to the medical field with a valid license to diagnose and treat patients for varied health conditions. They are responsible for carrying out a routine diagnosis to better understand the condition that they may be suffering from. They then offer suitable solutions or medical treatments to find faster and more effective relief from the symptoms of the condition.

A doctor can choose to either practice independently on their own or work as part of a healthcare setting. Additionally, they can opt for any specialization of their choice to pursue advanced studies, depending on their interests and future career aspirations.

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Top Specializations Available For Doctors

As stated earlier, doctors can choose to specialize in multiple domains to align with their academic interests or career aspirations. Some of the top and most popular specializations on the doctor career path are listed below:

• General Physician: Responsible for overseeing the overall physical and mental health of the patients. They diagnose and provide treatment for general medical conditions, such as cold, fever, physical pain, and the like.

Average annual salary (approx.): Rs 6 lakh – Rs 9.5 lakh per annum

• Orthopedic Doctor: Experts in offering treatment options for the body’s overall skeletal structure, such as bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons, joints, and nerves. This includes looking for potential injuries in any of these parts and treating them.

Average annual salary (approx.): Rs 1 lakh - Rs 35 lakh per annum

• Psychiatrists: They study the human mind and diagnose any disorders, intelligence issues, and anomalies in mental health. They are responsible for treating mental health conditions, both physiological and psychological.

  Average annual salary (approx.): Rs 1 lakh - Rs 24 lakh per annum

• Pediatricians: They are doctors specializing in children’s health conditions. They conduct routine checkups of kids to diagnose any common health conditions and provide appropriate treatments, including vaccinations.

  Average annual salary (approx.): Rs 1 lakh - Rs 30 lakh per annum

• Surgeons: They are specialists dealing in the diagnosis and treatment of critical health conditions. They perform intricate surgeries on patients for treatment.

  Average annual salary (approx.): Rs 12.7 lakh - Rs 15.4 lakh per annum

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6 Steps To Become A Doctor

Let us now look at the exact process of becoming a doctor in India:

Step 1: Completion of formal education

A minimum senior secondary qualification needs to be completed for students aspiring to be a doctor in the medical field. They should also be able to produce the desired marks in the specified subjects as per the minimum eligibility criteria laid out by most medical colleges. Also, the core subjects in the Science stream - Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are compulsory for admission into the MBBS program - the primary requirement for becoming a doctor.

Step 2: Clear the MBBS entrance exam

The next step after completing your class 12 is to prepare and appear for the competitive entrance exams for MBBS courses, clearing which you can secure admission into a medical school of your preference. NEET or the National Eligibility and Entrance Test is the most popular entrance exam for MBBS in India. Upon clearing the exam, you may pay the required fee and submit the necessary documents to gain admission into the course.

Step 3: Pursue MBBS

This is the primary qualification required to become a doctor in India. You may apply for MBBS until 25 years of age, though many students apply directly after class 12. It is generally recommended to apply for the course within 2 years of graduating in class 12 Board exams at the age of 17 years. MBBS is a 5-year-long course, completing which, you are eligible to practice as a doctor.

Step 4: Complete the internship

Students pursuing the MBBS degree program are required to complete a mandatory internship experience for over a year. During this period, they are required to work under the guidance and supervision of qualified practicing doctors and gain hands-on experience working with real patients. Most medical colleges have an in-built hospital wing to help medical students intern, while some may ask the students to intern at a specified hospital outside.

Step 5: Registration with the IMA

The Indian Medical Register or IMA is a validation of your eligibility to practice as a doctor in India. To start practicing, you would need to register with any state medical council in the country. Once you do this, you are automatically eligible to be registered under the IMA. Your eligibility is certified after completion of the MBBS degree as well as the one-year internship from a hospital that is recognized by the Medical Council of India.

Step 6: Start your practice

This is the last and final step in your journey to becoming a doctor in India. After completion of your degree, internship, and the registration process detailed above, you are eligible to start practicing as a doctor in a professional capacity. You have two options here - 1) you may join a healthcare institution - clinic, hospital, or any other, and work as an employee doctor, and 2) you may choose to start your independent practice by starting a clinic or under the mentorship of a senior doctor.

There is yet another option. Many students prefer to pursue higher studies after completing their MBBS. They may opt for a Master’s degree in medical science or a PhD in a specific domain. This is when they choose to specialize in a certain area of study and continue their practice in a particular field.

Conclusion

Becoming a doctor is a dream come true for many. The exact steps to becoming a doctor and starting your professional practice have been detailed in this blog. If you have a desire to serve society and do people good, this is your chance at it. And, to help you in this noble journey, Amity University Online is proud to play a small role.

We offer numerous courses on medical science to help you kickstart your journey to becoming a doctor. Additionally, you will find complete details and information on each of these courses, the total fee payable, eligibility criteria, and others on the portal. With the flexibility and convenience of pursuing these programs online, you can progress on your path without a hassle.

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