Parents are often tasked with treating medical problems at home. Problems that don’t require a call to 911, but still need treatment, like minor burns, cuts, scrapes, or contusions, can be treated at home. A parent may feel like the family doctor because of all the band-aids stuck, disinfectant applied, and boo-boos kissed. Some may be interested in making that job a career and becoming a licensed medical professional.

Becoming a doctor while being a parent is very difficult. Both endeavors require great amounts of time and effort. And becoming a licensed physician may take so long that, by the end of it, a physician’s kids won’t be kids anymore. But for parents interested in careers in medicine, here’s what to do:

1. Ideally, this interest should have budded in high school. But graduating with good grades will help.
2. Enroll in a university and earn a bachelor’s degree. Try to focus on science or math. Then take and pass the Medical College Admissions Test.
3. Enroll in and graduate from a medical school.
4. Find work in a hospital or doctor’s office and complete a residency training program.
5. Take the United States Medical Licensing Exam.
6. Depending on what medical field one is aiming for, a fellowship training program may be required.
7. Obtain a medical license. An application process and fees are involved.
8. Take yet another exam, the medical board exam, which varies depending on specialty. Apply for credentialing.

An eight step list may make a very long and complex process seem deceptively simple. Becoming a doctor takes a lot of determination and hard work. But then, that is also required of a parent.