Steps to Pursue a Medical Career: Becoming a Doctor in Nigeria, UK, and US.

Becoming a doctor is a dream for millions, but only about 25% of them know the process it takes to become one.

While different countries have different systems of study, there are also different pathways students take to becoming doctors in them, some similar to others. In this post, we will be exploring different pathways and the durations it takes people to become doctors in different countries, including but not limited to, the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), and Nigeria.

Here are the different pathways people take to becoming doctors in different countries:

The United States of America: To become a doctor in the USA, you need to complete four years of high school, then enroll in a college or university where you will complete a four-year undergraduate program and earn a bachelor's degree. After that, you will have to take a standardized test called the MCAT, which you will use to apply to medical school. Once admitted to medical school, you will spend four years there, and after graduation, you will be required to attend a residency program, which lasts between 4-7 years, depending on the type of doctor you choose to become. After all this, you will be eligible to become a doctor in the USA. Therefore, it takes approximately 10-15 years to become a doctor in the USA after high school.

The United Kingdom: To become a doctor in the UK, you need to complete high school or its equivalent. Then, you will enroll in medical school, where you will study for five years to earn a medical degree. After that, you will progress into a two-year foundation course of general training, then transition into a 5-8 year specialist training course, depending on your chosen specialization. After completing all this, you will be eligible to become a doctor in the UK. Therefore, it takes approximately 16 years to become a doctor in the United Kingdom after high school.

Nigeria: To become a doctor in Nigeria, you need to write an O-level examination, usually called SSCE, and write the UTME. After passing these exams, you would be able to gain admission into a Nigerian University, where you would begin a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, which normally takes about six years. During these years, you would be required to go through a pre-med course for one year, then pass through preclinical and clinical classes, and finally, pass the final MBBS exam. After all this, you would be eligible to become a doctor in Nigeria. Therefore, it takes approximately six years to become a doctor in Nigeria after highschool.