Should I Become a Doctor in New Jersey?
If you want to become a doctor in New Jersey, read the following article for more details.
| Education Required | A professional and a doctoral degree is needed |
| License/Certification | State licensure is required |
| Experience/Training | Residency program and internship between 3-9 years |
| Key Skills | Caring nature, Good at handling pressure, Strong nerves, patience, etc. |
| Annual Mean Salary – US (2020) | $218,850 (Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric) |
| Annual Mean Salary – New Jersey (2020) | $215,980 (Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric) |
| Job Outlook – New Jersey (2018-2028) | 7% (Physicians, All Others) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online
Steps to Become a Doctor in New Jersey
In order to be eligible to practice as a doctor in New Jersey, aspiring medical personnel has to meet a stringent set of requirements. These would require a hefty time, money, and effort investment.
The following steps are a summarized version of the process to become a doctor in New Jersey. For a detailed understanding, you may get in touch with the New Jersey Department of Health or the individual admission boards of the colleges you wish to apply to.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Degree
This would take four years to complete. You are recommended to take courses in the sciences at this stage. No specific major is required.
- Clear the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Clear the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) – This standardized, multiple-choice question test is used by medical colleges to judge students on their basic medical knowledge. Along with this, colleges also use GPA, letters of recommendation and interviews as judging factors.
- Complete Medical School
This would also take four years to complete. The first two years would consist of classroom based learning, with practicals conducted in labs. The last two years would be focused entirely on clinical practice, under the direct supervision of trained medical doctors.
- Complete a Residency
This would be completed in the area of your interest, and may last around 3 to 7 years. Most states require the completion of at least 1 year of postgraduate training/residency.
- Get Licensed
The licensing requirements for New Jersey can be found on the official website for the State Board of Medical Examiners.
- Get a Specialization
If you are looking for career advancement, or better pay scale options, you might want to invest in a specialization. This would require several years of additional education and licensing. You may choose to work as anesthesiologist, pediatrician, gynecologist and psychiatrist etc.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Doctor in New Jersey?
The duration to become a doctor will depend on the type of doctor you want to become and whether you want to specialize in a particular field. It can take you anywhere between 8 to 20 years to become a doctor.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Doctor in New Jersey?
The following are the general requirements you will have to meet to become a doctor in the state of New Jersey.
- Get a bachelor’s degree.
- Obtaining a medical degree is compulsory.
- Complete residency or internships.
- Complete the process of getting the state license.
- Completion of fellowship.
How Much Does a Doctor Make in New Jersey?
As per data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric” in New Jersey made an annual mean income of $215,980 in 2020. This salary figure would vary according to the chosen specialty, area of practice, seniority and the healthcare facility you work at.
Job Outlook for Doctors in New Jersey
According to O*Net Online, the job growth for “Physicians, All Others” in New Jersey is expected to be 7% in the years from 2018 to 2028.