Becoming an endocrinologist requires 2-3 years of fellowship training following 4 years of medical school and 3-4 years of residency. We break it down step-by-step for you below.
The medical field is an expansive and increasingly complicated network of specialties and sub-specialties, each with their own unique training and certification requirements. The Career Series is here to help medical students navigate the road from medical student to practicing physician.
From Medical School to Practice: How To Become an Endocrinologist
The Timeline Overview
Step 1: Medical School
Years 1 and 2
Medical school is a 4-year program consisting of 2 years of basic clinical sciences followed by 2 years of clinical rotations.
While patient contact is somewhat limited during the first 2 years of medical school, most universities have resources for students to connect with departments they are interested in through research or shadowing opportunities. Students that think they may be interested in becoming an endocrinologist can begin connecting with endocrinologists at their university to learn more about the field.
Following their second year, students will take the first of 3 “Step” exams required for US medical licensing (Step 1).
Years 3 and 4
During the third and fourth years of medical school, students complete their clinical rotations. Each rotation lasts between 4-6 weeks with the “core” clinical rotations generally including internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, psychiatry, neurology, and radiology.
Following their third year, students will take the second of 3 “Step” exams required for US medical licensing (Step 2).
Once the core rotations are complete, usually by the beginning of year 4, students can take a number of elective rotations in departments of their choice. Students interested becoming an endocrinologist can take an elective rotation in endocrinology at their university hospital or at another teaching hospital within the US (with their medical school’s approval). This is a great opportunity for students to learn more about hospitals where they are considering applying for a residency position, and to network with other physicians there.
In the fourth and final year of medical school students will also begin their applications to residency programs through the online centralized application system “ERAS”. Students interested in oncology can apply to residency programs in internal medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology. After completing these residencies, they can then apply to fellowships to become a medical endocrinologist, pediatric endocrinologist, or reproductive endocrinologist respectively. Learn more about pursuing a career in reproductive endocrinology (fertility medicine) here.
Step 2: Residency
Internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (ob/gyn), and pediatrics are the only specialties that allow for future sub-specialization in endocrinology. So an endocrinologist will generally begin their career with a 3-4 year residency in one of these departments. Internal medicine, pediatrics, and even ob/gyn are very generalized fields, so residents will usually get a well-rounded experience of these areas of medicine before fellowship training to focus on an endocrinology subspecialty.
Residents will take the third of 3 “Step” exams required for US medical licensing following their first year of residency (Step 3). In the final year of residency, those interested continuing to an endocrinology subspecialty can begin applying for fellowships.
After completing their residency programs, physicians must then take the board exam for their respective specialty (through the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, or the American Board of Pediatrics). Most subspecialty fellowship programs require their physicians to have passed this board exam before beginning their fellowship training.
Step 3: Fellowship
Further specializing as a medical, pediatric, or reproductive endocrinologist then requires an additional 2-3 years of fellowship training. Reproductive and pediatric endocrinologists must complete 3 years of fellowship training while adult medicine (medical) endocrinologists must complete 2 years of fellowship training. Upon completion of this fellowship training, physicians must then take a second board examination through their respective specialty board to obtain certification as an endocrinologist in their field.
Once achieving board certification, physicians can apply to positions as a practicing oncologist in their specialty at any US hospital or clinic.
Final Thoughts
The road to become an endocrinologist is long, ranging 9- 11 years from medical school to residency to fellowship. But for those who love the field, it’s well worth it. Medical or pre-medical students interested in endocrinology should connect with local physicians in their specialty of interest. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the lifestyle factors that come with a career in endocrinology.
