How to Become a Rheumatologist
A rheumatologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases, which are conditions that affect the muscles, joints and bones. These include osteoporosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, vasculitis, back pain and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and scleroderma. Training to become a rheumatologist involves years of hard work and medical education.
- Complete your undergraduate program. Go to an accredited college or university and finish your bachelor's degree studies and the required premed courses. You will need to take a lot of courses in the biological sciences. Consult your academic advisor for the specific courses you need to enter medical school.
- Pass the MCAT. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) while you are still completing your undergraduate and premed courses. A high score in the MCAT is one of the requirements to get into most medical schools.
- Apply for medical school admission. Apply to several medical schools that are on your list. If you get accepted by several schools, choose your favorite school based on their programs, location, tuition costs and other important factors.
- Complete a medical school program. It takes about four years to finish medical school. Sometimes, the number of years required to complete studies in a medical school can vary depending on the school and workload. Some schools offer an accelerated program which enables the student to complete medical studies in less than four years.
- Complete a residency. An internal medicine residency program is required as part of your medical training. During this time, you will get hands-on training working side-by-side with a certified physician.
- Complete a fellowship program in rheumatology. You will be trained in the areas of medicine that focus on rheumatology. The program takes two to four years to complete.
- Obtain board certification. Take the exams to become certified in rheumatology and internal medicine.