Pathway to Becoming a Doctor
How long does it really take to become a Doctor? What about a Specialist? A surgeon?
The pathways in Medicine are endless, and many often think that after their 5-6 years in Medical School they can start working as a Doctor, but that is just the start of your professional career! In this page, we will be outlining the timeline to becoming a Doctor, Physician, GP, or Surgeon.
*These timelines are based on the process in the UK. The process may vary depending on your desired country*
Medical School in the UK
Grade 10
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Explore Medicine
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Gain work experience
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Strengthen CV
Grade 11​
(May 14)
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UCAS applications open
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Work on the UCAS application and your personal statement
Grade 11
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PREPARE FOR THE UCAT
Grade 11 going into 12 (July-Sep)
Taking the UCAT
Grade 12​
October 15
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UCAS applications due
Grade 12 (Dec-Mar)
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Medical School interviews
September 2028 (varying based on year of Graduation)
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Start of Medical school
What about after Medical School in the UK?
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1. Years 1-2 of Med school are pre-clinical, and year 3-5 are clinical with rotations. After Med school, you have a Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS, BMBS, etc). You are now officially a Doctor. But, in order to be able to work independently, you have to undergo postgraduate training. This is the process in the UK:
2. After Medical School you will undergo Foundation Years in the NHS, where you will receive your postgraduate training. The FY programs are meant to close the gap between your studies in Med school and applying them in your life. During the first year, you go through 3 different rotations each lasting 4 months. Examples of these rotations may include General Surgery, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics. You are a Junior Doctor and assist in examining patients, prescribing (with supervision), and treating patients. This is a paid course so you receive a salary and officially work as a Doctor.
3. After FY1, you are registered with the General Medical Council as a Doctor. The GMC is the public body in the UK that registers and monitors the work of practicing Doctors. After receiving your registration, you have more autonomy with your work and can perform certain activities such as signing death certificates. Regardless, you are still supervised. During FY2, you go through 3 rotations once again but in different fields compared to FY1. Examples include Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, and Elderly Medicine.
Is there a Shortcut?
As you may already know, there aren't many shortcuts when it comes to Medicine, but you can skip your core training (CST or IMT) in some specialties and go straight to your specialty training. Examples of the specialties that apply run-through training are Neurosurgery, Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, and OBGYN.
4. Once finishing your FY, you go into the specialties that you would like. Even if you want to become a GP, that is still considered a specialty and there is a process for that. For General Medicine (GP), Pediatrics, and Psychiatry you go into specialty training for a different number of years (3-6-8). However, to become a surgeon or specialist such as a Cardiologist or Neurologist, you must undergo Core training. For surgeons, you go through Core Surgical training for 2 years and then enter Specialty training for the kind of surgery you want (General, Ortho, etc). Whilst to become an immunologist or cardiologist, you go through Internal Medicine training for three years and then enter Specialty training. Once you have completed your specialty training you receive a Certificate of Completion of Training, you are officially a consultant and can practice medicine INDEPENDENTLY.