Skills Necessary to Be a Doctor

<h2 id="section---CareerInformationAtAGlance">Career Information at a Glance</h2> <p>Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in the human body. Becoming one takes compassion, physical stamina, leadership and several years of postsecondary schooling. See the chart below? It's got an overview of the profession for quick scanning. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> Doctoral or professional degree</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Education Field of Study</b> </td><td> Medicine</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Training Required</b> </td><td> Residency/internship</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Key Skills</b> </td><td> Compassion, dexterity, stamina, communication</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Licensure Required</b> </td><td> All doctors must be licensed; licensing varies by state</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b> </td><td> 3% (for all physicians and surgeons)*</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $208,000 per year or more (for all physicians and surgeons)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatDoDoctorsDo">What Do Doctors Do?</h3> <p>Doctors take personal histories from patients, examine them, make diagnoses, run tests and prescribe medicine or treatment. If that sounds like a lot of responsibility, it's because it is -- doctors take on the almost sacred commitment to heal people who are suffering from injuries and ailments. Physicians, as they're also called, work in hospitals, emergency rooms and private practices, and some specialize in areas such as anesthesiology, internal problems or illnesses in children. </p> <h3 id="section---HowDoYouBecomeOne">How Do You Become One?</h3> <p>The path to becoming a doctor can be long and difficult. Aspiring physicians must get a bachelor's degree, then attend medical school for four years and do anywhere from three to seven years of residency and internship programs. After a residency, doctors have to become licensed in the state in which they intend to practice. There are two different licensing exams: the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). The first is for medical doctors and the second is for doctors of osteopathic medicine. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatSpecialSkillsDoYouNeedToBecomeADoctor">What Special Skills Do You Need to Become a Doctor?</h3> <p>Aside from all the training and know-how, doctors have to possess or develop a range of other skills. Compassion and patience are first and foremost. As a physician, you will see people suffering and dying and you have to be a steadying force in that storm. Communication is vital, too -- you'll need to tell families difficult news and give patients the emotional care they need to recover. </p> <p>The job also requires no small amount of physical stamina and dexterity because you'll be asked to be on your feet all day. And finally, you'll need to learn to be a leader. Doctors typically work with a large support staff and they need to be able to coordinate and motivate them to give patients the best care possible. </p> <h3 id="section---HowMuchDoDoctorsMake">How Much Do Doctors Make?</h3> <p>Doctors are generally well-compensated for their expertise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual wage for all physicians and surgeons of $208,000 or more in May 2020. Of course, salaries differ greatly from specialization to specialization. Anesthesiologists earned an average wage of $271,440 in that same year and pediatricians and internists brought home $184,570 and $210,960, respectively. </p> <h3 id="section---HowMuchWillEmploymentGrowInTheField">How Much Will Employment Grow in the Field?</h3> <p>According to the BLS, the job outlook for doctors is good. In fact, its numbers show an expected growth in employment of 3% across the board from 2020 to 2030. Obstetricians and gynecologists are projected to decline at 2%, while family and general practitioners and surgeons should see 5% growth and 1% decline respectively during the same time period.</p>