Being an MD without residency does not mean you won’t be able to work in the medical field. After researching how to prepare for residency applications, or how to improve your residency application after going unmatched, you might have realized that residency represents a challenge that you’re not willing to undertake. You would have to answer tricky residency interview questions and complete the MSPE, among other steps of the residency application process. But is it really necessary for you to complete a residency program after medical school? What happens if you don’t? Will you still be able to work as a doctor? Keep reading to find out!
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Is Residency Required After Medical School?
Your medical residency is the period in which you learn to perform all the tasks and duties of your specialty. Your objective as a medical resident is to become a fully independent physician, able to provide patient care without supervision. Residency programs are intensive and challenging, and represent thousands of hours of valuable hands-on experience, which is fundamental for healthcare professionals. But how important is it to complete a residency program? Let’s start by saying that completing a residency is not mandatory. You can choose not to pursue a residency, but you need to be aware of the fact that it will significantly narrow down your career options. Many healthcare professionals would agree that residency is where you start to become a genuine physician. As a doctor, you will find yourself in many scenarios which you won’t be able to control without gaining enough real-life experience first, which is why residency training is very important. So, if you choose to bypass a residency, be prepared to give up on becoming a physician in the US or Canada.
But if you’ve finished medical school, you’ve still made it pretty far! The knowledge you have acquired can serve many purposes besides clinical practice; so there is still a wide variety of options for you to consider as potential professional paths. While some of them do not require residency, they might require some sort of additional training, certification, or experience.
Still debating if residency is for you and unsure if you're on the right track for residency applications? Check this infographic:
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Can I Get a Medical License Without Completing a Residency Program?
Your medical license is what will allow you to practice medicine legally and examine patients without supervision. Unfortunately, a medical license is not something you automatically obtain when you earn your medical degree. Each country has different requirements and regulations, but obtaining your license will typically require you to complete at least one year of residency. If you want to obtain your medical license in the United States, you will have to pass the USMLE step 1, the USMLE step 2 CK, and the USMLE step 3, as well as at least one year of a medical residency program. Requirements vary slightly from state to state, and they are also different for international medical graduates. This means that if you want to obtain a medical license and become a practicing physician, you cannot avoid the residency application and interview processes, as well as at least some minimal residency training.
If you are an MD or DO who thinks that residency is not an option for you, consider the career options we list below.
Career Options for MDs or DOs Without Residency or Medical License
Medical research offers a variety of options for doctors who want to contribute to medical science. You can work in research teams conducting clinical trials, and participating in the development of new medications and treatments. Research teams are composed by different kinds of professionals from different academic and professional backgrounds, and represent exciting and challenging professional opportunities. Careers in the field of research are especially attractive to those MDs who prefer to avoid interacting with patients. Keep in mind that if you are a graduate of one of the MD-PhD programs, you will be an especially valuable asset in a research team. As an MD, there are many roles you can adopt in the pharmaceutical industry. As a medical advisor, you will be in charge of assessing research possibilities, supervising clinical studies, and providing scientific information and medical advice in board meetings, among other tasks related to linking the clinical and the corporate sides of the development of new drugs and medicines. If you are interested in sleep medicine, you can pursue a career as a registered sleep technologist (RST). RSTs are in charge of assisting sleep specialists in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related disorders. RSTs need to get their certification from the American Board of Sleep Medicine, but do not require residency. Also known as ambulance technicians, these professionals are in charge of assisting patients following a set of protocols during an emergency. This role involves lots of hazardous situations such as getting exposed to infectious diseases, managing heavy equipment, lifting patients, and working in moving vehicles such as ambulances and helicopters. Becoming an EMT requires special training and certification. Many medical school hopefuls wonder about the differences between PA vs MD. PAs are skilled physicians who are in charge or providing support to doctors and surgeons during medical procedures, diagnosing and treating illnesses, and prescribing medication. As opposed to research, a career as a physician assistant is ideal for those MDs that are interested in a patient-focused approach to medicine. You don’t need to complete a residency program to become a PA, although you do need to complete a physician assistant program. Before you apply, don’t forget to make sure you meet all the PA school requirements, especially the number of clinical work hours expected by most schools. SAs are healthcare professionals who work under a surgeon’s supervision and assist them in the preparation and performance of surgeries. Their main objective is to minimize patients’ risks. As an SA you will be in charge of performing certain medical procedures such as inserting catheters, checking vital signs, preparing the operating room, and performing life-saving maneuvers, among other essential tasks involved in a surgical procedure. Surgical assistants require a special certification. Anesthesiologist assistants help anesthesiologists develop and implement anesthesia care plans. As an anesthesiology assistant you will play a vital role in the operating room. You will have to assist the anesthesiology team with procedures surrounding anesthesia, such as calibrating systems, placing catheters, and adjusting anesthesia levels throughout the surgery. You will also have to interact with patients to perform tests and studies before and after anesthesia, to determine if the anesthesia plan needs modifications, or if there were complications after the surgery. You will also have to assist with CPR and life support, including airway management, if there are complications during a procedure. This career option requires completing a training program for anesthesia assistants. Electrodiagnostic medicine is a subspecialty that aims at detecting and treating impairments in the neurological, neuromuscular and muscular systems. As a technician of this field, you will be able to diagnose nerve or muscular conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and nerve injuries in the neck and back. Although you might be required to complete a residency program in neurology, there are specific electrodiagnostic medicine programs that you can pursue instead. Also known as diagnostic medical sonographer or sonographer, an ultrasound technician uses special equipment to capture images of a patient’s internal organs with the aim of helping doctors detect illnesses. Ultrasound technicians are in high demand, which brings medical graduates the possibility to enter the workforce quickly. To become a sonographer, you must attend a formal education program. If you are not willing to invest a good couple of years in a Master’s degree, this career path might be more appealing. If you are bilingual or have a superb knowledge of one or more foreign languages, you could consider pursuing a career in scientific translation. Translating scientific studies and publications is not easy if you are not familiar with the subject. Interpreting complex sentences and finding exact word equivalences is only possible if you are both a medical and a language expert. Medical translators are scarce and highly sought-after by medical researchers of all areas. You don’t need any kind of license to work as a translator, as long as the texts and documents you translate are not legal. If working with texts sounds more appealing to you than working with patients, this could be a great career option for you. Medical editors help doctors make their scientific writing more precise. They make sure data and statistics were used correctly, and that every sentence is cohesive and coherent. In order to become a medical editor, you should have expertise in academic writing, relevant publications, and a solid knowledge of grammar, spelling, and punctuation, as you will be required to proofread other people’s articles before they are submitted for publication. Medical journals have extremely strict formatting guidelines and it is common for authors to end up submitting their work several times before it gets accepted. As a medical editor, it will be your job to reduce the chances of rejection. Massage therapists are also considered to be healthcare providers, and as such, they should have special certifications that allow them to practice their profession. Massage therapy is highly beneficial for patients’ overall wellbeing. It helps patients relieve pain, release stress, and recover from injuries. You will also be able to explore different specialties and practices within massage therapy, such as lymphatic drainage, reflexology, and sports massages. Becoming certified as a massage therapist is not hard. You will need to complete a training program, and you will be able to work in a variety of environments, such as physician’s offices, spas, or even own a practice. Instead of treating individual patients, public health officers are in charge of preserving the overall health of a community by developing prevention campaigns, educating the public, training medical staff, identifying population groups that might be vulnerable to a certain disease, and coordinating the resources and staff of healthcare institutions, among other tasks. To become a public health officer, you only need a degree in medicine. Medical consultants are healthcare professionals whose job is to provide medical advice on a variety of situations. From helping other doctors start their own practice to reviewing scripts from TV shows and movies to ensure the accuracy of medical facts, the job possibilities for medical consultants are countless, making it a very attractive career option. They usually work in collaboration with professionals from other areas, and all you need is a degree in medicine. If you are interested in sports, nutrition and wellbeing, you could perhaps consider becoming a fitness counselor. They usually work one-on-one with individual clients to help them develop strategies to achieve a healthy lifestyle, lose weight, or gain muscle. Fitness counselors often provide exercise techniques, special diets, and motivation. You might require special training, such as CPR skills, and knowledge of sport techniques and nutrition, but fitness counselors work in very diverse environments, ranging from sports clubs to private homes, so depending on where you want to work, you will be required to present specific certifications.
Conclusion
If you thought that being an MD without residency wouldn’t take you far professionally, you were wrong. While not having a residency does limit your career options significantly, there are numerous alternative paths that you might have never considered if you were to pursue a medical specialty. In most cases you will have to undertake additional training, although as an MD you will have a huge advantage over people who are just starting to get involved in medicine. Do a little introspection and find out what your interests are, and what kind of job attracts you the most. Do you like patient interaction? Do you feel more inclined towards a desk job? Are you willing to invest a couple of years in a Master’s degree or are you looking for ways to enter the workforce as quickly as possible? Don’t worry, the possibilities are endless!
FAQs
1. Is residency mandatory after medical school?
No. Completing a residency program is not mandatory, but choosing not to undertake residency will prevent you from becoming an independent physician. However, there are many alternative paths that you can follow without residency training.
2. How important is residency?
Completing a residency program will allow you to become a fully independent and capable physician in your chosen medical specialty. Residency programs are intensive and require years of hard work and commitment. It is during your residency that you will gain significant work experience and develop all the skills that you will need to practice medicine.
3. How long is a residency program?
Medical school is normally 4 years long, but how long is residency? Depending on the specialty, residency programs usually last 3 to 8 years.
4. I want to keep studying but I don’t want to pursue a specialty. What are my options?
Doctors are life-long learners and there will always be something new to discover or learn about in the field of medicine. As an MD you have already acquired valuable knowledge of the human body and medical science in general, so completing additional courses and certifications will not be as time-consuming and challenging as if you were doing it from scratch. Courses in aesthetic medicine, massage therapy, and wound care will allow you to consider more diverse career opportunities within healthcare. If you are up for a challenge, you might like the idea of pursuing a Master’s.
5. Do I automatically obtain a medical license after finishing medical school?
Unfortunately, not. In order to obtain a medical license in the USA you are required to pass a series of exams and complete at least a year of residency.
6. Can I still work in healthcare without a license?
Yes, roles in medicine are extremely diverse and there are options for all kinds of doctors. The most common careers for MDs without a license are those which don’t involve patient interaction, such as roles in the pharmaceutical industry, research and academic work in general.
7. Do I need to have completed residency to work in medical research?
No. Research teams are composed by a variety of professionals from diverse scientific fields and academic backgrounds. You can even take part in research projects as a medical student, which is actually greatly encouraged to improve your residency CV.
8. I don’t like interacting with patients. What career options would be more suitable for me?
When we think of the medical profession, we picture hospitals, practices, and patients. However, there are quite a few desk jobs that you can consider as an MD. If you master a foreign language and have solid knowledge of grammar and punctuation, medical translation could be an exciting option for you. If you only speak your native language but still like the idea of working with scientific texts and publications, you can also become a medical editor and help other doctors work on their own papers. You can even become self-employed and work from home.