Physicians and surgeons are medical professionals who assess patients to establish
diagnoses and provide treatments for injuries or illnesses. They seek to keep patients'
overall health maintained as well. Although physicians and surgeons play similar healthcare
roles, physicians primarily attend to patients' medical conditions, while surgeons
perform operations on patients to remedy injuries and diseases. Physicians often work
in clinical settings such as hospitals and clinics.
Professional Degree Required to Practice
Doctor of Allopathic Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Physicians are...
communicative, empathetic, straightforward, professional, thorough, and knowledgeable
Requirements Vary by Program
General Requirements for Graduate Admission
Bachelor's degree
Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
Completion of the College Admission Test (MCAT)
Specific prerequisites as dictated by individual programs. These may include:
Professional observation and/or clinical experience
Academic and professional letters of reference (letter from the institutional Pre-Med
Committee is typically requested)
Admission interviews typically required
Check individual program requirements
Application Checklist
Create American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) account and/or American
Association of College of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) account
or follow institutional directions if a centralized application system is not used
Submit required application materials which could include:
All official transcripts
Essay question responses
Personal statement and/or resume
Professional/academic letters of reference
MCAT scores
Evidence of observation/clinical experience
Ensure technical standards of the profession can be met
Interview
Additional Requirements Vary by State
Preparation to Practice
Complete an approved internship or residency program
Pass national licensing exam such as the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) to become
professionally credentialed
