To become an internist, one needs a bachelor’s degree, medical school physician, full residency in internal medicine, and board certification. Students should focus on math and science in high school and take relevant courses in college. After medical school, students can apply for residency and specialize in a subspecialty if desired.
A bachelor’s degree, a medical school physician, a full residency in internal medicine, and board certification are required to become an internist. Internal medicine physicians can also choose subspecialties in other fields, such as cardiology or infectious diseases, after fulfilling the basic requirements. Additional study after a residency is optional. With only board certification in internal medicine, these physicians can work similarly to general practitioners, or they can work more deeply with patients who have complex medical issues.
Even in high school, the student who wants to become an internist can start preparing. Earning strong grades in math and science provides a good foundation for tackling the many college science courses that will be required. Some students may attend schools where Advanced Placement classes are taught. They can earn college credits, which means a student can begin baccalaureate studies with the ability to take more advanced courses.
In college, course choice is not as important, but classes need to be chosen with reference to medical school expectations. The individual who would like to become an internist must study subjects such as chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and others. This helps prepare the student for medical school and also prepares them for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is a requirement for admission to medical schools in many regions. Most medical training programs only accept students with high MCAT scores and equally good grades.
The first three years of medical school are devoted to intense study, and the fourth year is an internship year, giving students the chance to practice and learn about the various specialties they can choose from. Spending time working with internists is a good way to affirm your choice to become an internist. Strong grades in medical school and any internship rotation give students a better chance of getting a place of residency in internal medicine.
During the internship year, the student will apply to residency matching programs to become an internist. If accepted, individuals spend an additional three to four years of intense training in their specialty. Upon completion of residency, physicians can take exams, be certified as specialists, and begin their careers.
Alternatively, some physicians take their advice and spend another year or two on a subspecialty fellowship. Cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, and endocrinology are all recognized subspecialties for the internist. Other options are geriatric medicine, infectious diseases, rheumatology and sleep medicine. Each training program or fellowship varies in terms of time and requirements.
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