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:
- Ideally, this interest should have budded in high school. But graduating with good grades will help.
- 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.
- Enroll in and graduate from a medical school.
- Find work in a hospital or doctor’s office and complete a residency training program.
- Take the United States Medical Licensing Exam.
- Depending on what medical field one is aiming for, a fellowship training program may be required.
- Obtain a medical license. An application process and fees are involved.
- 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.
