Becoming a dermatologist is not an impossible task. You may also have many reasons for wanting to become a dermatologist, such as suffering from acne as a teenager, skin conditions that run in the family, or just an overall interest in helping people with chronic skin conditions.
A dermatologist is a medical doctor that diagnoses and treats conditions and illnesses of the skin. You will look at and diagnose skin conditions, perform treatments, prescribe medication and lastly teach good skin care. Dermatologists also do laser therapy, spa treatments, and sell products to assist with overall skin health. You will get to use the latest technology and help people look and feel their best. The educational requirements take about 12 years to complete, but it’s well worth the time. Use these tips to become a skin care specialist and find dermatology jobs.
Education Requirements
In high school you will want to focus your classes in science and get at least a 3.0 GPA. Make sure you take advanced placement in math and English. It is also very important to get good scores on your SAT exams and have good attendance. This will ensure acceptance into a four-year university and medical school. After high school, you can apply to a four-year university and start looking for medical schools.
- Take Biology as your pre-med degree. During your first four years of college, take Biology as your pre-med course. This higher learning course will be your entry into the wonderful world of dermatology. This is part of the schooling required to become a dermatologist. You will learn how the skin and the body work together for good health.
- Take the MCAT. After you complete three years of college you can take the MCAT. After thoroughly working your way through your pre-med courses, you can apply for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). Make sure that your grades are excellent as this is part of the criteria for being allowed to take the test.
- Apply for medical school. During your senior year in college you can begin to apply to medical schools. You will want to apply for a number of schools to increase your chances of acceptance. Once you are accepted into a medical school you will take the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) and other tests to assess your knowledge of the medical sciences. Once you finish this phase, you are now a Medical Doctor and will enter into residency to practice general medicine.
- Apply to get into an accredited dermatology residency program. This is the phase where you learn everything there is to know about dermatology, the skin, the conditions and the treatments involved. This will take another five years to finish. It is important that you enlist your school’s help with your residency program. Your school knows which ones are the most ideal environment to challenge and optimize your learning and education. When you are finished with your residency in dermatology you will take your exams by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.
- Become a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology. After you receive your diplomacy from the board you are now ready to begin practicing dermatology on your own. You can start your own practice or join an established practice working with other doctors. After this phase, you can even take a dermatology fellowship and specialize.
Salary
If you are working as a dermatologist in a group practice, you are looking at a net income of about $200,000 to $400,000 per year. When you work in a group practice, part of what you make goes to administrative expenses for the whole group, such as building lease, utilities, medical supplies and office staff salaries. A dermatologist working in a private practice can make well over $1,000,000 a year.
Demand for Dermatologists
Due to the growing incidence of skin cancers, a growing demand for cosmetic treatments to improve skin appearance and new cutting edge treatments for skin conditions, the need for dermatologists is increasing every year. You will be able to open your very own practice, join a medical group or even a medical spa. The possibilities are endless in this field.
Working as a dermatologist is an exciting and rewarding career. Depending on if you want the demands of a private practice or settle into a group practice, you will be able to help others look their best and reap the many benefits of this career.