| Life is a precious commodity and those who have | | | | doctor with the exception that his decisions and |
| dedicated their lives to helping maintain life in | | | | recommendations are reviewed by superiors to |
| others can be a noble calling. While the rewards | | | | confirm that the decisions are correct. |
| for becoming a doctor can be both socially and | | | | Finally, after years of study and experience, the |
| financially greater than other specialties, the effort | | | | candidate will sit for their State's Medical Board |
| to succeed at this demanding field is equally great. | | | | Examinations. Once successfully passing this last |
| For one wishing to follow the path of medicine, | | | | hurdle the hard work of years pays off and they |
| their quest will begin early in life. Even in primary | | | | will have the title of Doctor conferred on them. |
| and secondary schools the focus on science, | | | | This is not by any means the end of the new |
| biology, chemistry and mathematics is essential to | | | | doctor's study. There is at the very least a need |
| getting a head start once you reach college. While | | | | to keep up with new developments in the field of |
| many careers only require the four year degree | | | | medicine and medical procedures. |
| provided by the average college or university, | | | | Every doctor in the United States must hold |
| obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree is just the | | | | either the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree or the |
| next step on your way to becoming a doctor. | | | | Doctor of Osteopathy (O.D.) degree. While these |
| After proving yourself with the Bachelor of | | | | two aspects of medical treatment vary in their |
| Science degree you will be able to apply for and | | | | approach to treatment of illnesses and diseases, |
| take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). | | | | they are both acceptable to the Medical |
| This test will show if you have the requisite | | | | Association. |
| knowledge to attend medical school and passing | | | | At this point in a doctor's career they may settle |
| this examination is an absolute necessity for | | | | on maintaining their practice at the level they |
| gaining entrance. By now the doctor in training will | | | | have acquired or they may decide to further their |
| have usually decided on a specialty to focus on | | | | instruction with more post graduate study. A |
| and the next few years of medical school will | | | | licensed doctor may attain the Masters degree |
| hone the skills required for the particular area of | | | | level of their chosen field or advance to the |
| medicine the future doctor will practice. | | | | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) level of expertise. It is |
| The successful completion of medical school still | | | | more likely that at this level of education the |
| does not grant the candidate with the full title of | | | | doctor will be more inclined to the field of |
| doctor. With so much at stake when dealing with | | | | research than work as a general practitioner. |
| the very lives of others, several years of work | | | | To become a doctor is to dedicate one's life to |
| at a medical facility are also required. This | | | | the betterment of others. The level of education |
| apprenticeship service is called "residency" and | | | | will be higher and the time to reach one's goal will |
| provides a day to day hands-on experience for | | | | be longer in coming. But to be trained and able to |
| the student. Working under the supervision of an | | | | pull a fellow human's life from the grip of death is |
| established medical doctor, the "resident" will | | | | a skill that has no real comparison in the other |
| perform the same types of functions as the head | | | | professional trades. |