What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Doctor?

Introduction

Becoming a doctor takes many years, and the choices that shape the journey start much earlier than most people realise. If you are a student thinking about medicine, or a parent helping a child plan ahead, it can help to see the whole route laid out by school year. That way, you know what is coming next and when each decision needs to be made.

This guide answers the big question, what qualifications do I need to be a doctor, in the order the stages happen. It starts with GCSE options and ends with the training doctors complete after university.

Choosing GCSE Options

The first big decision usually comes when students choose their GCSE options. For medicine, three subjects are essential: English, Maths and Science. The science must include Biology and Chemistry. Students can take these as separate sciences or as Combined Science, so either option works as long as both subjects are covered.

When choosing options, it is worth keeping medicine in mind but not panicking. The key is making sure those core subjects are in place and giving them plenty of attention over the next two years. For more on this, take a look at the GCSE subjects needed for doctors.

Working Towards GCSE Grades

Medical schools look closely at GCSE grades. Most ask for a 6 or higher, which is about the same as a B under the old system. The most competitive universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, look for a 7 or higher in every subject.

At York Private Tutors, we know how much steady progress through the GCSE years can matter for students with ambitious goals like medicine. Keeping on top of each subject term by term is far easier than trying to catch up at the end.

If a grade falls short, a resit is normally the best fix. Functional Skills Level 2 is accepted for lots of jobs, but medical schools do not usually accept it instead of a GCSE.

Picking A Levels

After GCSEs, students choose their A levels. This is one of the most important choices on the road to medicine. Here is what to think about:

• Chemistry is needed by almost every UK medical school, so it should be on the list.

• Biology is needed or strongly preferred by most medical schools.

• Maths or Physics makes a strong third subject.

  
  

Most medical schools ask for AAA, and some ask for A*AA. You can find out more about what A-levels do you need to be a doctor before making a final decision. It is also good to know that Access to HE Diplomas, which some people use for nursing or midwifery, cannot be used to get straight into medical school.

Sitting the UCAT

During the A level years, students applying for medicine will almost certainly need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test, or UCAT. It is a two-hour test taken on a computer with five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Situational Judgement.

The UCAT is not like a normal school exam. It looks at how students think and make decisions rather than what they have memorised. Getting to know the question types well before the test helps a lot.

Starting Medical School

With the right grades and a good UCAT score, students can start a medical degree. Most courses are five years long and lead to an MBBS or MBChB from a GMC-approved university. The first two years teach the science behind medicine, and from year three students spend more time on placements with patients.

Some people come to medicine later, after a first degree. Those with a 2:1 or higher can apply for a four-year graduate entry course, which usually uses a test called the GAMSAT instead of the UCAT.

After University

Once they graduate, new doctors join the two-year NHS Foundation Programme, made up of Foundation Year 1 and Foundation Year 2. They also need to register with the General Medical Council before they can practise.

Next comes specialty training, which lasts between three and eight years depending on the area. Doctors might go into general practice, surgery, paediatrics or medical research, among other options.

This hospital doctor career guide from the National Careers Service explains more about the job, and this doctor career guide looks at the different paths doctors can take.

Keeping the Journey on Track

Looking at the route year by year makes it feel far more manageable. GCSE options and grades come first, then A level choices and results, then the UCAT, followed by medical school and training. Each stage depends on the one before, so steady effort at every point is what counts.

For everything in one place, this doctor qualifications guide is a helpful resource, and you can learn more about studying online on the Pass Learn home page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GCSE options should I choose if I want to be a doctor?

Make sure you are taking English, Maths and Science, with Biology and Chemistry covered either as separate sciences or through Combined Science.

Is a grade 5 at GCSE enough for medicine?

Most medical schools ask for grade 6 or above, and the most competitive ask for grade 7 or higher, so a grade 5 is usually not enough.

When do students sit the UCAT?

Students applying for medicine sit the UCAT during their A level years, before applying to medical school.

Can I still become a doctor if I decide later on?

Yes. People who already have a degree at 2:1 or above can apply for a four-year graduate entry course.