How Long Does It Take to be a Doctor in the Philippines?

How many years does it really take to be a doctor? As soon as you've finished your senior high, here's what happens:

1. 4-5 years of pre-med
I wrote 4-5 because there are courses that take 5 years to finish, like architecture and dentistry. After graduating, you can decide if you'd want to start working or if you want to pursue your dream to become a doctor. If you choose to become a doctor, you have to take the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT).

NMAT FAQs | NMAT Tips

2. 4 years in med school
The first 3 years are spent in the classroom. The last year is known as clerkship where you'll be spending a year rotating in different hospital departments.
After you've completed these four years, you can finally graduate but you're not a doctor yet.

3. 1 year internship
After graduation, you'll have your internship. It also involves spending time and working in the hospital under supervision. This part is required.

4. 6 months review
After your internship, you'll have to take the physician licensure examination. You're given a few months to half a year to review for this. Upon passing, you can finally call yourself a doctor and start working as a general practitioner. General practitioners usually work in clinics.
You can stop here, or like what most do, further your career.

5. 3-6 years residency
The number of years you'll spend during residency depends on the specialization you want.
3 years: anesthesiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, ophthalmology, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine
4 years: ENT-HNS, ObGyne, orthopedics, pathology, psychiatry, radiology
5 years: surgery

Medical residents are given around PHP 15,000 - 50,000 monthly, depending on where they are training.

6. Certifying exam
Yet another exam to know if you are worthy. After passing the exam, you can choose to stop here or keep going further.

7. 2-4 years fellowship
This one's for those who want to become a cardiologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, geriatrician, oncologist, hematologist, nephrologist, pulmonologist, or rheumatologist.

8. Exam, again