Your pathway library
Your routes into medicine, untangled.
Find the entry point that fits your stage. Compare the preparation, application process and training ahead of you, across medicine and seven more ways to care for patients.
Traditional medicine
Undergraduate preparation → MD → residency
Doctor of Medicine
College graduates who completed pre-med preparation.
- Training
- Usually 4 years of medical school
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation
Osteopathic medicine
Whole-person training → DO → residency
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
College graduates; a parallel physician route with its own schools.
- Training
- Usually 4 years of medical school
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation
Combined MD pathway
Undergraduate + MD · conditional progression
Combined undergraduate + MD
High-school seniors (some programs admit early in college).
- Training
- Often 6–8 years before residency
- Entry
- Usually high school
Combined DO pathway
Undergraduate + DO · partnership-specific
Combined undergraduate + DO
High-school seniors or early college students.
- Training
- Varies by partnership; often 7–8 years
- Entry
- High school or early college
Accelerated primary care
Three-year MD phase → primary care residency
Primary Care Accelerated Program
Medical applicants or students committed to primary care; entry depends on the school.
- Training
- 3-year MD, followed by residency
- Entry
- School-specific MD / PCAP selection
Canadian medicine
Faculty-specific entry → MD → residency
Canadian medical school pathway
Applicants meeting each Canadian faculty's academic and residency requirements.
- Training
- Usually 3–4 years of MD training
- Entry
- Faculty-specific undergraduate requirements
Medicine across borders
Medical degree → certification → residency
International medicine & IMG transitions
Students considering medical study abroad and graduates seeking US or Canadian training.
- Training
- Degree and transition timelines vary
- Entry
- Country and destination-specific
Physician-scientist
MD years + funded PhD → research-track residency
Physician-scientist (MD-PhD, MSTP)
Students who want research to drive a medical career and already work in a lab.
- Training
- 7 to 8 funded years, then residency
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation with sustained research
Podiatric medicine
Four years → three-year surgical residency
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
College students who want surgical, musculoskeletal practice with a fixed three-year residency.
- Training
- 4 years of school, then 3 years residency
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation
Optometry
OAT → four years → practice; residency optional
Doctor of Optometry
College students drawn to eye care who want a four-year doctorate with no required residency.
- Training
- 4 years; residency optional
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation
Dentistry
DAT → four years → practice or specialty match
Dentistry
College students with good hands and spatial sense who want procedural, independent practice.
- Training
- 4 years; residency optional
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation
Pharmacy
Three to four years → NAPLEX; residency optional
Doctor of Pharmacy
Students who like chemistry and medicines; some programs admit after two to three years of college.
- Training
- 3 to 4 years; residency optional
- Entry
- Two to three years of college, or a bachelor's
Physician assistant
Patient-care hours → two years → PANCE
Physician Assistant
Students who want to practise medicine within about two years of college and can build paid patient-care hours first.
- Training
- 2 to 2.5 years; residency optional
- Entry
- Bachelor's plus paid patient-care hours
Physical therapy
Observation hours → three years → NPTE
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Students drawn to movement and rehabilitation who want a three-year clinical doctorate.
- Training
- 3 years; residency optional
- Entry
- Undergraduate preparation
Combined programs have school-specific continuation conditions. PCAP accelerates the MD phase, not undergraduate study. International eligibility depends on the destination and the specific school.