To become a dermatologist, you’ll need to put in a lot of time studying and researching. These highly qualified doctors may begin their initial training as early as high school, though actual dermatology degrees are not available until college. The required educational steps take about 13 years to complete, though some programs may shorten or lengthen this time frame.
The first step toward becoming a dermatologist is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. While some aspiring doctors come from undergraduate programs that have nothing to do with medicine or science, others come from programs that have nothing to do with medicine or science. Students who plan to attend medical school take initial examinations in their third year of undergraduate work, which are used, along with transcripts, to secure a spot in a medical school during the student’s senior year. The majority of undergraduate programs are four years long, but part-time students may take five or six years to finish the same program.
Students should expect to spend another three to four years in medical school after being accepted. Students will gain the real skills and knowledge needed to qualify as a doctor in this section of their education. Students will need to take medical board exams to become licensed doctors near the end of medical school, and they may also begin the residency portion of their education. A student who starts a residency while still in medical school may be able to become a dermatologist slightly faster than those who start residencies after graduation.
A residency is a three- to five-year program in which new doctors train under the supervision of experienced doctors and have their skills tested on real-life cases. To become a dermatologist, a student may need to first complete a general residency before specializing in dermatology. Residencies cover every aspect of the dermatological profession, from diagnosing and treating skin diseases to performing skin-correcting surgery.
A doctor may choose to take additional fellowships after completing a residency to become a dermatologist in a specialty field. These fellowships usually last one to two years and are designed to train an experienced doctor in advanced techniques such as cosmetic surgery or skin cancer removal. Fellowships can add up to 15 years to the time it takes to become a dermatologist. Fellowships are often well-paid positions that can help establish a doctor at the cutting edge of his or her field, despite the longer time commitment.