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What requirements do I need to apply for medical school?

The requirements needed to apply for medical school vary depending on what school you wish to apply for. However, the general requirements you need to have before applying are the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Before studying medicine, aspiring physicians must be a graduate of any baccalaureate degree program.

• National Medical Admission Test (NMAT)

The National Medical Admissions Test, a standardized test administered to medical school applicants in the Philippines, is developed and administered by the Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM), as authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). NMAT is one of the medical school prerequisites aspiring doctors should take before getting admitted to a medical school.

How to Get the Requirements Needed to Get into Medical School

1. Recommended College Courses

Some medical schools require units in certain subjects, such as Chemistry, Natural Sciences, Physics, and Microbiology, before you can apply for admission. Therefore, some students take specific courses as their pre-med because the units required for medical school application are already integrated into their curriculums. Some of the most common courses aspiring physicians take as their premed are the following:

• BS Nursing

• BS Medical Technology 

• BS Pharmacy

• BS Biology
• BS Physical Therapy

However, there are also selected medical schools in the Philippines that allow students to apply for admission and enroll directly without any course requirements as long as they take the NMAT and have the necessary documents.

Many believe that taking pre-med courses will give them an edge once they are already in medical school. While this is true to some extent, because premed courses give students a general idea of some of the lessons in medical, they can still become successful physicians without enrolling in any premed courses. It is still grit and commitment to learning medicine that will make one successful in medical school. 

What grades do I need to get accepted in med school?

Some medical schools require their applicants to have a certain GWA and have no failing grades. But in general, there is no definite grade needed to get accepted into medical school. However, good grades will provide you with a particular advantage in the application and open up opportunities for scholarships or tuition discounts. That is why it is highly recommended to perform well academically while. 

2. NMAT

NMAT is a standardized exam given twice a year by the Center for Educational Measurement.  It is a mandatory exam and prerequisite for students who wish to apply for a medical school. Graduates or graduating students of any Bachelor’s degree program can take the exam.

The NMAT scores are valid for only two years. Therefore, if the student fails to apply or get accepted into a medical school within two years after releasing the NMAT scores, the student has to retake the NMAT. 

Scores students get in the NMAT are reported as percentile rank, ranging from 1 to 99+. So, for example, if you got 90, it does not indicate that you got 90% of the questions in the exam correctly. Instead, this means that you scored higher than 90% of the NMAT examinees, while 10% scored higher than you. The NMAT scores are usually released 20 days after the examination day. 

What scores are the best to get for NMAT?

The minimum cutoff score for NMAT for a student to be qualified for medical school application is 40. However, some medical schools impose higher cutoff scores. Therefore, it is best for an examinee to prepare well for the NMAT to get a higher percentile rank and increase their chances of getting accepted into their dream medical school. 

3. Documents for Application

The medical school admissions requirements may vary depending on the medical school you wish to apply for.  However, at Southwestern University, the medical school requirements are as follows:

FILIPINO

• Two (2) photocopies of NSO Birth Certificate
• One (1) original copy of Transcript of Records (TOR/Honorable Dismissal) & 1 photocopy
• Two (2) photocopies of BS Diploma or Certificate of the expected date of graduation from the Dean
• Certificate of Good Moral Character
  • From the Dean (1 Copy)
  • From the Professor (1 Copy)
• Two (2) pcs 2×2 picture
• Original Copy of NMAT Results (Percentile Rank = 40%)
• Certificate of Grade Point Average or General Weighted Average
• Photocopy of Residence (Cedula)
• One folder long with fastener

FOREIGN 

• Three (3) copies of Birth Certificate, 1 copy original & 2 copies authenticated
• Three (3) copies of Official Transcript of Records (TOR/Honorable Dismissal) 1 copy original & 2 copies authenticated
• Two (2) certificates of good moral character (original copies), one from the Dean and one from any of your Professors
• Three (3) copies of Diploma, 1 copy original & 2 copies authenticated
• Two (2) copies of Police Clearance, copy of visa & bio page of passport
• Five (5) copies of your recent photo (black and white) 2×2 in size
• A brief biography of who will finance your medical school or Affidavit of Support, duly notarized (Certificate of Sponsorship)
• Original Copy of NMAT results, at least 40 percentile rank
• Certificate of Grade Point Average or General Weighted Average

*For pre-med taken outside the Philippines, a “Red Ribbon” authentication from

your embassy is required.

4. Extracurriculars

Extracurricular activities can help the medical school admissions committee you wish to apply for identify your non-cognitive and social skills and the perseverance required to handle all the rigorous activities and lessons in medical school. Extracurricular activities can also help you stand out in the pool of applicants and prove that you perform well, not just in the four walls of the classroom. 

Some of the best extracurricular activities to help boost your medical school application are the following:

• Clinical Work

There exist a variety of extracurricular activities you can engage in to bolster your medical school application. However, clinical work might be the best to engage in.

During medical school applications and interviews, applicants are always asked why they want to become a doctor. In this question alone, some applicants already start to falter. However, when you have clinical experience, it will be easier to convince the admissions committee about your devotion to learning medicine and becoming an excellent physician.

Moreover, clinical work is the best way to immerse yourself in the profession. This will allow you to know how the medical field operates and acquire hands-on experience that can help ease the arduous tasks you will be required to do once you are already in medical school. 

• Research

Research teaches many skills required to become successful in medical schools, such as critical thinking, perseverance, and tenacity, among others. Research projects can also help show the admissions committee that you are dedicated to figuring out the unknown and possess a great interest in acquiring new knowledge and information. These are often some of the qualities they look for in an aspiring physician.  Research also allows you to work with other individuals, which trains you for the collaborative environment in medical schools and hospitals. 

• Community Service

Community service is one of the most philanthropic activities a student can participate in. This also entails your willingness to put others before yourself, which is precisely what physicians are supposed to do. When you participate in community service, it means that you are willing to serve others, devote your time to building a better society, and help better the lives of those who are in need. As a result, the admissions committee is more likely to consider your participation in community service as a factor when considering your application. Some of the most excellent community services include volunteering in medical missions, participating in charitable events, and joining projects to help the vulnerable. 

• Teaching

Teaching lets you develop your communication and leadership skills, which are essential for a doctor to have. For example, doctors have to clearly explain their diagnoses and treatment plans to their patients and openly and respectfully talk about dogmas and ideas that might not be in line with yours. 

5. Recommendations

Recommendation letters are an essential part of your medical school application. Usually, the admissions committee uses this as a tool to gain more knowledge about you as a person from people who know you well. Recommendation letters are typically written by your professors, deans, or previous bosses/supervisors. 

What Medical Schools Usually Look For in Applications

Here are five things medical schools usually look for in applicants:

Good Grades

Gades measure your mastery of the objectives of a course and your ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment. In addition, the admissions committee looks at your grades in your undergraduate degree to assess if you would be able to handle the academic load in medical school. 

High NMAT Score

The admissions committee of the medical school you applied for will more likely accept you if your percentile rank is in the NMAT is high. This is because NMAT, just like other aptitude tests, predicts a person’s ability to learn or do given the proper education and direction.

Leadership Experience

Physicians lead a team of healthcare professionals and help guide patients during their treatment. That is why leadership experience is often one of the things admissions committees look for in applicants to gauge if they could become excellent physicians in the future. You do not have to be a club president to prove your leadership experience. Some lead through teaching, community volunteering, or coaching. 

Ability to Thrive Under Pressure

Medical schools often look for students who can still carry on a conversation despite being put into a difficult situation. Admissions officers often test an applicant’s ability to thrive under pressure during panel interviews. Therefore, it is crucial to practice and engage in mock interviews before facing the real deal. 

Undergraduate Major

Medical schools accept aspiring physicians from all majors, consider that they did well during their undergraduate degree, their NMAT, and handle all the questions asked to them during panel interviews excellently. Medical schools also often look for people from different walks of life and have diverse perspectives. 

Other Details that Aspiring Medical Students Can Add to their Application

Financial Status

Declaring your financial status in your application can help the admissions committee assess whether you will be able to support your medical school education. While there are scholarships available to those deserving but financially struggling students, medical schools often prefer students who will be able to finance themselves even without the help of any scholarships or tuition fee discounts. 

Convincing Narrative

Almost all medical schools require their applicants to submit an application letter detailing all the important things about themselves and why they want to enter medical school. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that you highlight aspects of yourself that will prove that you are worthy of a slot in the medical school you wish to enter and have a convincing narrative of why you want to become a medical doctor. 

Tips to Remember When Completing Medical School Prerequisites

Request the necessary documents in advance. 

Some documents may take days or even weeks to arrive after requesting them. To avoid the unnecessary stress this may cause you, it is important to request the necessary documents in advance. Additionally, it is also best to request multiple copies of the documents you will be needing, especially if you are planning to apply to more than one medical school. 

Take note of the deadlines.

Nothing is worse than not making it into your dream medical school just because you missed the deadlines. Always check the websites of the medical schools you wish to apply for any pertinent announcement regarding the application and take note of the important deadlines. 

Prepare!

During the medical school application process alone, you will already face a lot of tests. First is the NMAT then next is the dreaded panel interview. Make sure that you review properly for the NMAT. Enroll yourself in review centers if you can for better supplementation. Moreover, make sure to prepare well for the panel interview. You can participate in mock interviews and read about the common questions asked to medical school applicants and tips on how you can answer them.

How much does medical school usually cost in the Philippines?

The cost of a medical school in the Philippines varies depending on which school you wish to apply for. Listed below are the top medical schools in the Philippines and their corresponding estimated tuition fees. 

• University of Santo Tomas, Manila – Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

One academic year in UST can cost as much as 143,463 Php. This already includes laboratory and miscellaneous fees.

• University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Manila

The tuition fee in UERM per year is around 170,000 Php. 

• University of the Philippines, Manila – College of Medicine

Students in the UP System can apply for a socialized tuition system, meaning the amount students will be paying for their tuition fees will depend on their family’s annual income. For those students whose family income is 1.3 Million and above, their tuition fees can take up to 50,649 Php per semester. 

• Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation

The tuition fee in FEU-NRMF ranges between 140,000 to 152,000 Php per semester.

• De La Salle University – Health Science Institute

For DLSU-HSI, the tuition fee ranges between 110,000 to 130,000 Php per semester. 

• Cebu Institute of Medicine

The minimum tuition fee at the Cebu Institute of Medicine is 70,000 Php, while the maximum tuition fee is 80,000 Php per semester.

• Davao Medical School Foundation

The annual tuition fee at Davao Medical School Foundation is approximately 250,000 Php. This school only accepts payments in US Dollars or Indian Rupee. 

• Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health – Pasig

Studying at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health will cost around 151,000 Php per semester. This already includes the tuition, laboratory, and miscellaneous fees. 

Different Ways You Can Pay for Medical School

DOH Medical Scholarship

One of the best scholarships aspiring doctors can receive in the Philippines is the DOH Medical Scholarship. This scholarship grant covers the tuition, laboratory, and miscellaneous fees. In addition, it will also provide allowance to cover the expenses that a student will incur outside the school. The breakdown of this allowance is listed below:

• Book Allowance – 12,100 Php/semester
• Uniform Allowance – 3,025 Php/semester
• Miscellaneous Allowance – 5,500 Php/semester
• Living Subsidy – 4,500 Php/semester
• Lodging – 3,000 Php/semester
• Transportation Allowance – 880 Php/semester

Any incoming and current medical students can apply for this scholarship. However, DOH prioritizes students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, members of indigenous communities, and children of government employees.

The medical schools where the DOH scholarship is accredited are as follows:

• NCR 

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

University of the Philippines – College of Medicine

• Region 1

University of Northern Philippines

• Region 2

Cagayan State University

• Region 3

Angeles University Foundation

• Region 4

None

• Region 5

Bicol Christian College Medicine

• Region 6

Western Visayas State University

• Region 7

Southwestern Univerity PHINMA

University of Cebu College of Medicine

• Region 8

University of the Philippines – School of Health Sciences

• Region 9

Mindanao State University

• Region 10

None

• Region 11

Brokenshire College

Davao Medical Schoo, Foundation

• Region 12,13, CAR, CARAGA, ARMM

None

The application process for the DOH medical process is as follows:

• Applicants should directly apply to any accredited partner medical schools listed above and undergo screening and selection by the partner school. 
• Students should accomplish the DOH Medical Scholarship Form and the Scholar’s Commitment Form. 
• The partner school shall endorse the list of the DOH medical scholarship applicants to the region’s DOH RO for evaluation. 
• The validation results shall be endorsed by the RO and recommended to HHRDB before getting evaluated by the Pre-Service Scholarship Management Committee. 
• The list of accepted applicants shall be endorsed by the HHRDB to the respective ROs and coordinate with the partner schools to facilitate the enrollment of the accepted scholarship applicants.
• All accepted scholarship applicants shall be notified by the partner school and be enrolled accordingly. 
• The partner school shall send the list of enrolled scholars to the respective ROs for proper documentation. 
• A Department Personnel Order shall be issued after the respective ROs endorsed the list of enrolled scholars to HHRDB. 

Source: https://governmentph.com/doh-medical-scholarship/

CHED Scholarship

Any incoming or current medical students can apply for the CHED Scholarship. However, the CHED scholarship only has eight partner medical schools in the Philippines compared to the DOH Medical Scholarship. These schools are:

• Bicol University
• Cagayan State University
• Mariano Marcos State University
• Mindanao State University
• University of the Northern Philippines
• University of the Philippines College of Medicine
• University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Sciences 
• Western Visayas State University

The CHED Scholarship covers 100% of the tuition fee and provides financial assistance for the other expenses incurred outside the school. The breakdown of this financial assistance is listed below:

• Book Allowance – 14,000 Php/Academic Year
• Uniform Allowance – 6,000 Php/Academic Year
• Experimental Learning Activities – 10,000 Php/Academic Year
• Living Allowance – 7,000 Php/Academic Year

UNILAB and NKVS Program Scholarships

The UNILAB Corporation has a scholarship program for medical students. However, the benefits of the scholarship may vary per school. Hence, it is best to contact the schools first to validate the benefits of the UNILAB Scholarship that you can avail of.

UNILAB Corporation has selected few partner medical schools in the Philippines. These are:

• Angeles University Foundation
• Ateneo de Zamboanga University
• Cagayan State University
• Cebu Doctor’s University
• Cebu Institute of Medicine
• Davao Medical School Foundation
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
• Siliman University
• University of Perpetual Help 
• Western Visayas University

Another similar program is the Nellie Kellog van Schaik (NKVS) Program. Its partner medical schools in the Philippines are:

• Davao Medical School Foundation
• Xavier University

School-based Scholarships

Each school in the Philippines has its scholarship programs for medical students. The granting of these scholarships may be based on the financial needs of the students or can be merit-based. Listed below are some of the scholarship programs available in the top medical schools in the Philippines:

• University of Santo Tomas, Manila – Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

The UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery offers their graduates the Sto. Tomas Scholarship, which provides a 50% discount for applicants who graduated Magna Cum Laude and a 100% discount for students who graduated Summa Cum Laude. Non-UST graduates can also avail of the scholarship, but only during their second year in medicine. In addition, they need to have at least an 88.5% grade point average with no failing grades. 

Another scholarship medical students in UST can avail of is the Regent’s Scholarship Program. This scholarship is granted to five students every year. The recipients of this scholarship receive a full-tuition discount but have to maintain an 88.5% grade point average and with failing grades. 

• University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Manila

The UERM offers two scholarships for first-year medical students. The first is the University Entrance Scholarship granted to students who graduated Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude from their bachelor’s degree and with at least 95th percentile rank in the NMAT. This scholarship grants the accepted applicants a full-tuition discount as well as a 15,000 Php book allowance. 

The second scholarship in UERM is the President Dalupan Entrance Scholarship. Full scholarship is granted to those students who graduated Summa Cum Laude or Magna Cum Laude from their pre-med course. On the other hand, a 50% discount on tuition and laboratory fees is granted to incoming Freshmen who graduated Cum Laude from their pre-med course.

The UERM also offers different scholarship grants for upper-level students. It is best to contact the school to inquire about the available scholarships you can avail of. 

• De La Salle University – Health Science Institute

THE DLSI-HSI has over six different scholarship programs offered to their students. One of these scholarships includes the entrance scholarship, which provides partial or complete discounts to students depending on what Latin honor they received when they graduated from college. Another one is the special entrance scholarship, which provides partial or complete discounts to students who topped their respective board exams. Placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in your respective board exam entitles you to a full scholarship.  Placing 4th or 5th gives you a 75% discount. Placing 6th to 10th gives you a 50%  discount. 

Other scholarships in DLSU HSI are the Dean and Academic Scholarships, which provide students discounts depending on their academic performance. Financial aid programs are also available in DLSU HSI to assist those students who need financial support.,

• Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health – Pasig

ASMPH offers two forms of scholarship – financial aid and merit-based scholarship. Financial aid is awarded to students who belong to a certain income demographic. In contrast, the merit-based scholarship is awarded to students who scored at least 95% percentile in the NMAT and graduated with Latin honors. In addition, 50% scholarship is granted to students who graduated Magna Cum Laude, while 100% scholarship is awarded to students who graduated Summa Cum Laude.

• Southwestern University PHINMA School of Medicine

In Southwestern University, they offer the Chairman’s Scholarship, which covers tuition, laboratory fees, different miscellaneous fees. The scholarship also provides the students a monthly allowance of 10,000 Php and a book allowance of 10,000 Php. In addition, the school also offers the Presidential Scholarship, which affords 100% free tuition to any NMAT passer and pre-med program graduate. Furthermore, the school also has the Best You Scholarship Program. The School of Medicine will provide the accepted scholarship applicants a 100% discount on tuition.

Alternative Options That Can Make Medical School Affordable

Do well in your academics. 

Doing well in your academics during college will reward you with many opportunities, especially if you aspire to become a physician. Almost all medical schools grant scholarships based on the Latin Honor you received when you graduated from college. The higher the Latin Honor is, the bigger the discount you can receive when you enroll in medical school. Moreover, medical schools also grant scholarships to medical students with a high-grade point average and no failing grades. Hence, it is crucial to perform well academically for you to be qualified for these scholarships. 

Ask assistance from your family.

Tapping into your network is one of the most effective ways to make medical school more affordable. Mose medical students are fortunate enough to have supportive parents, relatives, and other benefactors who can help fund their medical school education. If you are also like one of these students who has the same privilege, then the benefits for you are more apparent.  

Enroll in a public medical school.

It is no secret that private medical schools’ tuition fees are much higher than public ones. This is because the government subsidizes the costs of public medical schools. However, there are also equally competitive public medical schools, so do not restrict your options to private institutions alone.

Use your savings. 

Some students took some gap years after graduating from college to work and save up for medical school. However, this will require you to stick to a tighter budget and live a more modest lifestyle to have enough savings to fund your medical school education. 

Tips to Remember That Can Help Med Students Save Money

Stick to a budget. 

Nobody knows better your financial situation than you do. Creating a budget plan for the different expenses that you will be incurring daily will help you save you a lot of money because you can monitor where your money is going and have a lesser incentive to spend on unnecessary things. 

Find cheaper housing.

If the medical school you would be studying in is far from your home, it is more practical to rent a place where you can stay. It can be tempting to rent and live in popular and luxurious areas due to the different amenities they provide to their residents. However, if you are on a tight budget, finding a cheaper apartment that can provide you with a decent shelter and conducive environment for studying will help you save a lot of money. 

Eat out less.

As a medical student, it is given that you will have a pretty tight schedule. Therefore, eating outside can be more convenient. However, eating out every meal is both expensive and unhealthy. To avoid unnecessary spending, preparing simple meals can help a lot. Not only will this help you save money, but it can also provide you with better nutrition.

How long does it usually take for people to become doctors in each country?

Australia

To pursue a medical career in Australia, aspirants need to attain a bachelor’s degree first before enrolling themselves in a four-year postgraduate medical program. Then they would have to complete a full year of internship before becoming fully registered doctors. 

China

The Chinese medical education system usually trains their medical students for five years, followed by 1-year internship before rewarding them with their final degree.

Germany

The unique thing about studying medicine in Germany is that the medical programs in the country are not divided between bachelor’s and master’s. Hence, one can already become a doctor after completing a medical training program that takes six years. 

Japan

The average time of medical education in Japan is six years, which comprises four years of preclinical education. First, future physicians learn the foundations of medicine followed by two years of clinical education. Here, they get to have a more hands-on experience when it comes to assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients.  

Philippines

Aspiring doctors in the Philippines need to finish their undergraduate degree program first before entering medical school. This step alone will already take 3 to 6 years, depending on the chosen pre-med course of the student and the college he enrolled into. Then, future physicians have to attend four years of medical school, finish one year of internship, and spend 3 to 5 years of residency.  After these, they have to spend 2 to 4 years in fellowship to train in their preferred medical specialty. 

United Kingdom

Before becoming a doctor in the UK, aspiring doctors need to attain a medical degree and immerse themselves in years of training. These prerequisites may take up to 16 years, with five years dedicated to achieving their medical degree, two years to finish post-graduate foundation courses, and 3 to 8 years to train for their chosen medical specialty. 

United States of America

To become a doctor in the United States, it will take 11 to 14 years. Aspiring doctors need to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree, attend four years of medical school, and complete a three- to seven-year residency program. Only after completing these stages can a doctor apply for a state license to practice medicine.  

Factors that Affect People’s Timeline in Becoming a Doctor

• Undergraduate Program

Usually, students enroll in a four-year undergraduate program. However, in some instances, it can last up to five or six years, depending on the undergraduate program you enrolled in. Therefore, your chosen college or university can also affect your timeline in becoming a doctor. The majority of the universities in the Philippines typically have bisemester enrollment, while some selected schools have tri-semester or quarter-semester. Undergraduate students in schools with tri-semester or quarter-semester enrollment typically finish their undergraduate programs faster than those in universities following the traditional bisemester enrollment.  

• Finances

While it is true that you do not have to be rich to enter medical school, you still need to have some resources to fund your studies and acquire the necessary materials, such as books and laboratory equipment, required in your classes. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, some students have to leave medical school to work first and save up for their medical school expenses. Some students would take a gap year to build their credentials to apply for scholarship grants. 

• Medical Student Burnout

Medical school can be highly taxing due to the sheer amount of lessons students have to learn and the overwhelming number of requirements they have to do.  Because of these, some students experience burnout, a state of emotional exhaustion, and a low sense of personal accomplishment. While medical school is only preparing the students for what they will be experiencing once they start working in an actual clinical setting, some students choose to take a break from medical school first to protect their well-being and become more prepared for the challenges they will be facing once they go back to school. 

Total Number of Years Med Students in the Philippines Go Through to Be a Doctor

College Pre-Med: 3-4 Years

Pre-med is a general term people use to refer to the undergraduate programs they are taking to show that they are planning to go to medical school and are taking classes needed to get accepted in a medical school. Students usually enroll in undergraduate programs that they think will give them an edge once they are already in medical school. However, there is not an actual pre-med major. For example, a student can be a chemistry major, an English major, etc., and still get accepted and perform well in medical school. Other factors are considered during medical school admissions, such as your grade in school, NMAT score, and performance during panel interviews. 

Medical School: 4 Years

Medical schools equip their students with the necessary medical knowledge and clinical skills to become excellent and successful doctors. During the first two years, students will be learning the fundamentals of medicine inside a classroom setting. They will also be working in laboratories to gain lab experience in analyzing and treating patient conditions. The students will spend the last two years of medical school in hospitals or clinics. In these years, they will be earning clinical experience by completing clinical rotations in different hospital departments. 

Internship: 1 Year

Medical sc interns perform almost all the same duties as doctors. They take patient histories, examine patients, and do specific medical procedures. However, since medical interns do not have their licenses yet, most of their duties are still under the supervision of a licensed doctor. Medical interns are also sometimes allowed by their supervising doctors to make treatment recommendations to test their knowledge. 

After the post-graduate internship, medical students can now take the Physician Licensure Exam (PLE) administered by the Board of Medicine (BOM) and supervised by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Interns usually have two to six months to prepare and review for the licensing exam.

PLE has two categories – Basic Sciences and Clinical Sciences. Each of the categories covers six subject areas. The basic sciences category covers Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology. The clinical sciences category includes Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Legal Medicine, and Preventive Medicine. The board takers should achieve an average rating of at least 75% with no grade below 50% in any subjects covered to pass the exam. After passing the PLE, the new doctors will now have the license to work as general practitioners.

Residency: 3-5 Years

To advance their careers, the majority of the new doctors will opt to undergo a residency training program. Medical residents acquire more hands-on experience in their chose specialization. Each residency training program has its respective regulating society. For example, residents who want to specialize in psychiatry are regulated by the Philippine Board of Psychiatry. These regulating societies are also the ones that administer diplomate board examinations after medical residents finish their programs. The following are some of the common types of specialty, along with the number of years required need to complete the residency training program:

• Anesthesia – 3 years
• Dermatology – 3 years
• ER Medicine – 3 years
• ENT – HNS – 4 years
• Family Medicine – 3 years
• Internal Medicine – 3 years
• Obstetrics and Gynecology – 4 years
• Ophthalmology – 3 years
• Orthopedics – 4 years
• Pathology – 4 years
• Pediatrics – 3 years
• Psychiatry – 4 years
• Radiology – 4 years
• Rehabilitation Medicine – 3 years
• Surgery – 4 to 5 years
  

Fellowship: 2-4 Years

During the fellowship program, doctors train further to become specialist physicians. Often,  doctors closely work with a specialist. The physician who is learning about the specialization is called a follow.  A lot of medical students aspire to become specialists. However, only a few qualify for the fellowship training program. 

Alternative Paths People Take in Becoming a Doctor in the Philippines

Aside from the traditional path of becoming a doctor, there are other alternative paths people can take to become a licensed doctor in the Philippines. These paths are listed down below. 

• BS Human Biology offered by the De La Salle University (DLSU)

This is a six-year program offered by DLSU-Taft in partnership with the De La Salle University College of Medicine (DLSU – Med) of the DLSU Health Science Institute (DLSU HSI). The BS Human Biology program lets highly competent students become doctors in a short period. During the first two years of the students in the program, they will be taught about the fundamentals of biological sciences at the DLSU-Taft campus. Then, they will take classes along with the first-year students of DLSU-Med in their third year. Finally, after completing all the requirements, the students will obtain their BS Human Biology Degree and directly proceed to the second year of medicine proper. 

• Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) program of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine

The INTARMED program allows qualified students to attain their Doctor of Medicine degree in just seven years, which shortens the entire medical education students typically undergo by almost two years. The first two years of the program are devoted to pre-medical courses, the next four years are for regular medical studies, and the final year is for clinical internship. 

Tips to Consider in Becoming a Medical Doctor

• A well-planned schedule is essential.

Medical school is already different from college. You can get away with cramming before an exam in college. However, medical school is already an entirely different story. There is a substantial amount of information you need to absorb and understand. Hence, you should already develop your time management skills and good study habits before entering medical school. 

• Avoid comparing yourself to others. 

Always remember that being in a medical school is not a competition. It will be inevitable that some of your classmates will get ahead of you in terms of understanding the concepts being taught in class and learning the clinical skills necessary to perform patient examinations or operations. Always learn at your phase and remember that every one of you is there to save lives in the future and not compete against one another.  

• It is best to start preparing for the licensure exam from the get-go. 

The Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) is the culmination of all your efforts and sacrifices in medical school. Therefore, it is best to start preparing for the PLE even if you are only in your early years in medical school to ensure that you fully grasp the areas covered during the board exam. 

• Ask for help. 

Medical school can be highly rigorous and stressful. Many students struggle academically because of the sheer amount of information they have to absorb and the piles of medical school requirements they have to do. Therefore, it is best to seek assistance from your professors or your peers. This way, you will find a sense of community in medical school despite all the hardships you have to face. 

• Do not be too hard on yourself. 

A lot of medical students beat themselves up by not taking advantage of their free time to relax. While it is tempting always to read your books or finish your medical school requirements during your free time, you have to resist that urge. Instead, take some time off for yourself. Spend time with your family and friends. This will not only give you the relaxation you deserve, but it will also help protect your mental health.