Physician

Education

Typical entry: Doctorate / professional (MD, JD, PhD)

Bachelor's → medical school (MD/DO) → residency (7+ years after college).

1. 1

   Bachelor's degree

   Degree

   Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

   $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

2. 2

   Doctoral / professional degree (PhD, MD, JD…)

   Degree

   Three to seven years beyond the bachelor's. PhDs are often funded with a stipend; MD and JD programs are among the most expensive.

   $50,000–$260,000 · 4 years source

3. 3

   National & state licensure

   License

   A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

   $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Physician" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.