How to Become a Doctor in Phoenix Az

There are several categories of doctors such as, Anesthesiologists, Neurologists, Orthopedics, Physicians, Pediatricians, Surgeons and so on. The specific duties of a doctor typically depend on their area of specialization. However, almost all doctors have to perform some basic duties like;

In case you want to join the field of medicine as a doctor in Phoenix, here is everything you need to know about the profession.

Becoming-a-doctor-demands-a-lot-of-time-and-effort.-It-may-take-you-around-10-years-to-achieve-this-goal-but,-it-will-be-worth-it.-To-help-you-begin-this-career,-here-is-a-step-by-step-guideline.

1. Bachelor’s-degree,-MCAT-and-Medical-School

There-are-2-particular-options-a-high-school-graduate-can-choose-from.-
1. Begin-with-a-direct-4-year-bachelor’s-degree-followed-by-enrollment-in-a-4-year-degree-at-a-medical-school.-
OR
2. Pursue-a-7-year-combined-degree-often-known-as-an-accelerated-medical-degree-which-combines-a-3-year-bachelor’s-degree-and-a-4-year-medical-school-degree.
Either-way,-all-prospective-medical-students-must-pass-the-MCAT-to-enter-a-4-year-medical-school-degree.

2. Residency Program

After completing 7 to 8-years of combined bachelors and medical degree, all graduate doctors are supposed to select an area of specialization and complete the residency program at a hospital. The residency may take 3 to 7 years to complete depending on the type of selected specialization.

3. Licensure and Certification

It is mandatory for all doctors who want to practice medicine in the U.S. to be licensed with the state they want to work in. Becoming licensed is the final step however, sometimes continued education is required to renew the validity of a license after a certain period of time.

The doctors who want to work in Phoenix, AZ must apply for licensure with the Arizona Medical Board. You can obtain your license after fulfilling the following requirements.

1. The U.S. Medical License Examination (USMLE)

The very first step towards licensure for all prospective doctors who want to work in the U.S. is to clear all 3 of the USMLE exams. The USMLE exams are taken at different intervals by all doctors regardless of whether they have completed their doctoral studies in the U.S. or from abroad.

2. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Certification (ECFMG)

Individuals with a foreign medical degree must acquire this certification after passing the USMLE exams to enroll in a residency program at a hospital.

3. The National Resident Matching Program (NMRP) – “The Match”

The NMRP also known as “The Match” happens once every year. It is a process that matches all medical graduates with a residency program at a hospital.

4. Application to the Arizona Medical Board

After completing all the requirements mentioned above, you must apply to the Arizona Medical Board and pay the required fee. If approved, you will be allowed to practice medicine as a licensed doctor in Phoenix, AZ.

According to the data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020, the Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric working in the state of Arizona earned an annual mean salary of $240,750. O*Net Online projected a -6% employment growth for Physicians, All Other in the U.S. from 2018 to 2028.

The timeframe to become a doctor in Phoenix depends on the type of doctor you want to become. There are different requirements for different fields but it can take you anywhere between 8 to 20 years to become a doctor in Phoenix.

If you want to become a doctor in Phoenix, you will need to complete the following steps:

According to the figures published by O*Net Online, “Physicians, All Other” in Arizona will experience a 6% decline in employment opportunities between 2018 and 2028.