How long does medical school take?

In the United States, students typically spend four years in medical school, in addition to time spent in an undergraduate degree, a residency and potentially a fellowship. It can take as many as 15 years to complete the education from the time a medical student first enters college.

After receiving a four-year undergraduate degree with a concentration in pre-med subjects, an aspiring physician must pass the Medical College Admissions Test, commonly referred to as the MCAT. Application to most medical schools requires successful completion of the MCAT, letters of recommendation and high scores on college transcripts. Although medical school usually takes four years after undergraduate school, some programs combine the two degrees for a shorter completion time of six or seven years.