Should I Become a Doctor
If you are not faint hearted and enjoy taking up challenges, then a career as a medical professional would be ideal for you.
Take a look at the table below to learn more about the skill-set, education, and license requirements for Physicians and Surgeons. This information has been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education Required |
Doctoral/professional training. |
Major Requirement |
Required to complete a residency/internship program. |
License/Certification |
A medical license is needed. |
Key Skills |
Compassion, Detail-Oriented, Patience, Stamina, Dexterity along with good Leadership, Organization, Communication and Problem Solving Skills. |
Annual Mean Salary – US (2020) |
$218,850 (Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric) |
Annual Mean Salary – Maine (2020) |
$279,700 (Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric) |
Job Outlook – Maine (2018-2028) |
2% (Physicians, All Other) |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online
Career Requirements
To become a licensed doctor, candidates have to complete an undergraduate degree, a doctoral program and a post-graduate residency. They also have to pass a licensure exam, in order to get the state license.
Steps to Become a Doctor in Maine
In order to establish a career as a doctor, you will be required to follow the steps outlined below:
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
Please bear in mind that there is no universally recognized pre-medical major being offered anywhere. Since medical schools usually require a solid background in biochemistry, organic chemistry, general chemistry, biology and calculus-based physics, you should pursue a bachelor’s program that has these subjects embedded in its curriculum. After completing the undergraduate program, you would have to appear for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
- Graduate from Medical School
Getting a good score on the MCAT will help you enroll in a 4-year long Doctor of Medicine (M.D) or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O) program. During your time at medical school, you will receive instructions on a range of subjects such as Pathology, Immunology, Psychiatry and Neurology. You can also expect to get some in-depth clinical experiences through several clerkships. Once you have completed the doctoral program, you would have to start your post-graduate training.
- Obtain a License
This is the last stage of the process, where you would be required to complete and submit a licensure application to the state board. In order to be eligible for the medical license, you will also have to pass a board-approved exam.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Doctor in Maine?
The time it takes to become a doctor in Maine depends on the person’s area of specialty. Typically, candidates are expected to graduate from a 4-year long undergraduate program. After completing the pre-medical education, candidates are required to complete a 4-year long medical school, which is followed by a residency. The residency program usually takes anywhere between three to seven years to complete.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Doctor in Maine?
Aspiring physicians are expected to meet the following requirements in order to become licensed:
- The individual must have graduated from an accredited medical school.
- The individual must have completed all parts of the national licensing exam.
- The individual must have cleared the Board jurisprudence examination.
- The individual must have a recent certification with the American Board of Medical Specialties or must have finished 36 months of ACGME-approved graduate medical education.
The individual must be willing to pay all applicable fees related to the licensure application process.
*Please note that international medical school graduates can also apply for a medical license in Maine, however they have to meet a different set of requirements. If you want more information about these requirements, then we would recommend you to visit the relevant state pages.
How Much Can I Make as a Doctor in Maine?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has published the wage statistics for Physicians and Surgeons and has segmented this broad category into many sub-segments. We will be using the salary data of one of these categories, called Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. It has been reported that Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric working in Maine earned an annual mean salary of $279,700 in 2020.
Career Outlook
The latest projections by O*Net Online forecast a 2% growth in job opportunities for “Physicians, All Other” working in Maine for the decade 2018 and 2028.