Becoming an allergy specialist requires completing college, medical school, and two residency programs, followed by certification exams. High school students should study math, chemistry, and biology. After medical school, a residency in allergy/immunology is required, followed by certification. Total training takes about 13 years.
It takes many years to become an allergy specialist, also called an allergist/immunologist. Typically, you must complete college and medical school before participating in two residency programs. After training, most people also need to complete exams before being certified in this specialty.
Those wishing to enter this specialty can begin high school studying mathematics up to calculus level, preferably in advanced courses that offer college credit. Equally important is the study of chemistry and biology. Students should not be discouraged if they cannot do advanced placement work. College classes in the early years make up for this, and a student with strong math and science skills may be well suited for these studies.
In college, students are required to earn an undergraduate degree, which usually takes approximately four years to achieve. Since the goal is medical school, it might be best to major in one of a few select fields – pre-medical is a good choice, or some students study microbiology, biochemistry, biology or chemistry. Classes should definitely reflect the knowledge needed to pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is usually taken at the beginning of senior year.
With good test scores and a strong GPA, you can apply to medical school. Once accepted, you spend three more years studying and then a year in an internship before becoming a doctor. During this senior year, if you do well in school, you need to start looking at residencies that help you become an allergy specialist. There are two potential residencies, and the most attractive one depends on which population of people you are most interested in serving.
Physicians could serve primarily a pediatric population (0-18 years old) or an adult population. If you want to work with children, apply for a pediatric residency first. Physicians most interested in working with adults will seek residencies in internal medicine. Both residencies take about the same amount of time, usually three years. Once you complete one and become a certified internist or pediatrician, you remain in training.
To become an allergy specialist, a two-year residency in allergy/immunology is one of the final requirements. This may be followed by additional certification exams or proof of training is required to be board certified. In places like the US, you must check with the American Board of Allergy and Immunology to ensure you have met all requirements and qualify for certification.
Total training to work as an allergy specialist, including undergraduate studies, lasts about 13 years. This field is in demand, and many of these doctors are well paid for their work. It is also possible to receive less training and still practice medicine, as people become general practitioners, then pediatricians or internists during training. Some doctors find that they like these areas of medicine so much that they don’t become allergists.
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