Summary:
- The time it takes to become an attending physician varies by specialty.
- Medical students are individuals pursuing a medical degree.
- Residents are medical graduates training in a specific field.
- Interns are first-year residents who may, for that year, practice in something that is not directly in their field to gain experience.
- Fellows are Qualified doctors who are training in a subspecialty.
- Attendings are full-time, independent physicians.
Table of Contents
Training and Responsibility Are the Biggest Differences
While no two journeys are identical, the general path from medical student to practicing attending is relatively the same (for US graduates). This is because physicians must meet specific training requirements for medical licensing. However, the length of this training process is anywhere from 7-14+ years, depending on the specialty.- Medical Student: An individual accepted into medical school and working towards a medical degree (in the US, that would be an MD or a DO).
- Resident: A medical school graduate training in an accredited clinical setting.
- Intern: A first-year resident.
- Fellow: A physician training after residency for specialization.
- Attending: A licensed physician who can practice without supervision and oversee interns, residents, and fellows in their field. In addition, they “attend to” patients.
Medical Student: In Pursuit of a Medical Degree
Imagine medical school, like tilling soil and planting seeds for your medical training.
Resident: A Med School Graduate Training in an Accredited Clinical Setting
So, you survived (and hopefully thrived in) medical school. You have a mind full of theoretical knowledge, physiological systems, and information that you are ready to start applying. After doing rotations as a student, you know what specialties you enjoy and which you want to avoid. So, what now?
Residency is a growing period. You establish roots and strengthen knowledge through practice.
Intern: A First-Year Resident
An intern is a first-year resident. No matter which specialty you enter, you are an intern in your first year (PGY1) of residency. This differentiates you from residents with more training. As someone new to working full-time in a clinical setting, you will have many more questions and need more guidance than someone who has already been around for a year or two. The term “intern” also may indicate that you are not rotating or training in your final specialty. For example, your first year may be training in internal medicine or general surgery for some specialties, such as neurology, dermatology, or oncology. When your internship is in a different setting than the rest of your residency, they call it a preliminary (or prelim) year. This is because it lays a strong foundation of basic skills for the rest of your residency. After your intern year, you are a resident in whichever field you pursue (pediatrics resident, anesthesiology resident, etc.). The good thing is residents and interns earn a salary. According to the AMA, the average starting salary in the first year of residency is about $60,000. It increases after that, depending on residency year and specialty. If financial incentive (and paying off student loans) plays a significant role in deciding which specialty you want to study, check out our Physician Salary Per Hour article.Fellow: A Physician Training in a Subspecialty After Residency
In a fellowship, you use the foundation of your residency specialty to grow further, like roots growing around an already established tree.
Attending: A Physician Licensed to Practice Unsupervised
As an attending, you have established a root system in your specialty.
These Milestones Have Different Titles Around the World
If you are an IMG or have spent time abroad, you may have heard terms such as medical officer, registrar, junior doctor, consultant, GP, locum doctor, and more. Diving into the similarities between the US terminology and other terms used abroad deserves an article of its own. Until then, here are some brief definitions and descriptions of other common international terms.- Medical Officer: The title of Medical Officer (MO) is similar to that of MD or DO. It signifies that an individual has completed a medical degree and can work in a clinical setting. In Australia and South Africa, an MO works for public hospitals to gain clinical experience directly after completing an internship.
- GP: A general practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses. A GP is similar to a primary care physician in the States.
- Registrar: A medical practitioner studying further towards a higher qualification or specialization. Similar to the US resident, this is done in a clinical setting while still practicing. However, unlike the typical resident, a registrar would already be fully licensed to practice as a general practitioner or medical officer.
- Junior Doctor (UK system): A doctor who has completed a medical degree and is qualified as a medical practitioner but is still training in a clinical setting.
- Consultant: A physician who has completed specialist training and can independently practice. A consultant is similar to the US attending.
- Locum Doctor: A licensed physician who works temporarily in a clinic or practice.
Concluding Thoughts
Whether a medical student or a super-specialized attending, medical education never stops. That is part of the reason it is called practicing medicine. Of course, the journey from medical student to practicing physician can vary by individual, but hopefully, this article has helped make some of the common milestones a bit more clear. Selected Resources for Medical School:- Anki for Med School: Why Is It So Hard to Do (And Why That’s Good)
- Want to Prevent Stress and Burnout? Here’s Why Every Medical Student Should Practice Wellness
- Why Is Med School So Hard? How to Stay Sane While Studying
- Motivation 101: Can You Learn to Love Med School?
- Most Competitive Residencies
- Residency Explorer Tool
- 5 Things to Know to Match Into a Top Residency
- How to Get Into Residency Now That Step 1 Is Pass/Fail
