How to Become a Certified Doctor in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s medical practitioners work tirelessly every day to help the people of the state live a healthy life. Some of their myriad responsibilities include examining patients, prescribing and administering medicines, carrying out various surgical (and non-surgical) treatment procedures and giving preventive health care advice, etc.
As of 2019, there are about 1,200 Family Medicine Physicians performing their duties in the Badger State. If you aim to follow in their footsteps in the coming years, then this piece is for you. Read on to find out what you need to do to become a Doctor in Wisconsin.

Sources: O*NET OnLine and US Bureau of Labor Statistics

To work as a licensed medical practitioner in Wisconsin, you need to first complete your Bachelor’s and medical (usually Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degrees. After that, you must enter and complete a residency program at a hospital or a health facility of note. To become a successful doctor, you should also have excellent problem solving, critical thinking and communication skills.

The procedure outlined below will help you become a doctor in Wisconsin.

1. Finish Your Undergrad Studies


The mandatory first step is getting a Bachelor’s degree. You can choose any major but should, at the very least, take some courses in sciences (biology, physics, chemistry, etc.) and related subjects. Many schools also provide a specialized pre-medical stream for aspiring doctors. If you decide to go for it, then you will be taking courses in healthcare fundamentals, physiology, psychology and anatomy, etc.

2. Take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)


Once your undergraduate education is complete, you can take the MCAT. Your admission to medical school will largely depend on how well you perform on this test. So, try to score as high as you can.

3. Obtain Your Medical Degree


During your 4-year stint in medical school, you will learn about the field of healthcare in detail. The ultimate aim would be to graduate with either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.

4. Obtain Your Medical Degree

Undergo Residency Training
After you have graduated from medical school, the next step is to join a residency program at a Wisconsin hospital. A residency is basically a period of paid on-the-job training for young medical graduates. During this time, they treat patients under supervision and pick their specialties. It can take around 3 to 7 years to complete a residency, based on the selected field.

5. Obtain Your Medical Degree

Apply for Your License
Following the completion of your residency, you can apply for your practicing license from the Medical Examining Board (MEB) working under the umbrella of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
MD degree holders must pass the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) for license eligibility. On the other hand, those with a DO degree have to clear the assessment required for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners Certification.

Your journey to becoming a Doctor in Wisconsin will include 4 years of Bachelor’s education followed by 4 years in medical school. After that, you will have to complete a residency which may last for 3 years or 7 years or anything in between. All in all, you can expect to spend around 11 to 15 years on the path to becoming a doctor in Wisconsin.

All aspiring doctors in Wisconsin must fulfill the following requirements.

 

As indicated by the latest available records of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Family Medicine Physicians in Wisconsin took home $251,710 in annual mean wage in 2019.

If you go by the figures published by O*Net Online, “Physicians, All Other” will experience a 7% job growth in Wisconsin between 2018 and 2028. This percentage is slightly higher than the national job growth rate of 5% for the same time period.