How long is medical school?

Under normal circumstances, medical school lasts four years. The first two years of medical school consist of course work structured much like one's undergraduate education. The next two years consist of clinical work, which is hands-on training in a hospital setting.

Following the completion of medical school, students are required to complete at least one year of residency at a hospital to receive a medical license, although most students complete a residency longer than one year. The length of residency training can vary based on the speciality the medical school graduate is interested in pursuing. Some specialities require a residency of three years, while others require as long as seven years.