Becoming a gastroenterologist requires 3 years of residency training in gastroenterology through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) following 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency training in internal medicine. We break it down step-by-step 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 a Gastroenterologist
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 a gastroenterologist can begin connecting with GI specialists 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 a gastroenterologist can take an elective rotation in gastroenterology or pediatric gastroenterology 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 gastroenterology can apply to residency programs in internal medicine or pediatrics, depending on whether they prefer a career working with adults or children. After completing these residencies, they can then apply to fellowships in gastroenterology.
Step 2: Residency
Internal medicine and pediatrics are the only specialties that allow for future sub-specialization in gastroenterology. So a gastroenterologist will generally begin their career with a 3 year residency in one of these departments. Internal medicine and pediatrics both 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 oncologic 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 in a gastroenterology subspecialty can begin applying for fellowships.
After completing their residency program, physicians must then take the board exam for their respective specialty, through the American Board of Internal Medicine 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
Sub-specializing in gastroenterology then requires a 3-year fellowship program after initial residency training and board certification. This fellowship training generally consists of clinical and research experience in a broad range of pediatric or adult GI disease.
Upon completing fellowship training, these physicians will take a second board exam to attain board certification in either adult or pediatric gastroenterology through the American Board of Internal Medicine or the American Board of Pediatrics respectively. This is in addition to their first board exam taken after residency to attain board certification in their general specialty.
Once achieving board certification, physicians can apply to positions as a practicing gastroenterologists at any US hospital or clinic.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a gastroenterologist totals at least 10 years of formal training from medical school to fellowship. Medical or pre-medical students interested in gastroenterology should connect with local GI physicians to learn more about the day-to-day responsibilities, career outlook, and lifestyle that come with a career as a gastroenterologist. For those who are still unsure, read more here about choosing a medical specialty.
