Venturing into a career as a medical doctor can be challenging and demanding. It also requires a high sense of focus to scale through. Before you decide to take up a career in medicine, it is essential to understand the perks required of this field and the steps to take along the way.

I will walk you through the knowledge needed before you embark on a medical career.

A doctor is someone skilled and certified to practice medicine to help maintain or restore physical and mental health. A doctor is tasked with interacting with patients, diagnosing medical problems and successfully treating illness or injury.

It’s also important to note that a medical doctor is split into two major categories:

1. General Practitioner: A GP typically refers to a General Practitioner, also known as a family doctor or primary care physician. A GP is a medical doctor who provides general medical care and treatment to patients of all ages. They are usually the first point of contact for individuals seeking medical assistance and are trained to diagnose and manage various health conditions. GPs play a crucial role in preventive care, routine check-ups, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medications, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They provide comprehensive healthcare services and often develop long-term relationships with their patients. 
2. Specialist Doctor: Specialist doctors are medical professionals who have completed additional training and education in a specific field of medicine beyond their basic medical degree. They specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing specific medical conditions or diseases within their area of expertise.

A formal education is required to get into this profession with a minimum of 4 – 8 years of extensive studies and on-the-job training.

Steps to Becoming a Medical Doctor In Nigeria

There are various steps to be taken before becoming a medical doctor and some of those steps are different in each country for example, in Nigeria, before you apply to a medical school you must write and pass your WAEC, JAMB and POST-JAMB. These examinations are standard in Nigeria and a minimum score of 200 is required to apply for medicine but it’s advantageous if you can get 250 – 300+ in your JAMB; having a combination of subjects like Biology, English Language, Chemistry and Physics. Getting into a medical school in Nigeria typically involves several steps. Below is a list:

1. Obtain a Secondary School Certificate: Complete your secondary education and obtain the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) or its equivalent, such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or the National Examination Council (NECO) certificate.
2. Meet the Admission Requirements: Ensure that you meet the admission requirements of the medical school you wish to apply. Requirements may vary between universities but typically include a minimum number of credits in specific subjects such as English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
3. Register for and Take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME): Register for the UTME, which is the entrance examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Nigeria. Prepare for the exam by studying the recommended subjects and topics, which usually include English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
4. Obtain a Good UTME Score: Achieve a competitive score in the UTME to increase your chances of admission. The specific score required varies among universities, so research the minimum score required by the medical schools you are interested in.
5. Apply to Medical Schools: After receiving your UTME score, apply to the medical schools of your choice through the JAMB portal or directly to the respective universities. Follow the application guidelines and deadlines provided by each institution.
6. Prepare for and Take the Post-UTME Examination: Many Nigerian universities conduct a post-UTME examination as part of the admission process. Prepare for this exam by studying relevant subjects and topics. The score obtained in the post-UTME exam, along with your UTME score, will be used to evaluate your eligibility for admission.
7. Meet the Cut-Off Mark: Obtain a score in the UTME and post-UTME examinations that meet or exceeds the cut-off mark set by the medical school you applied to. Cut-off marks vary among universities and may differ for different programs. If you are successful in the admission process, you will receive an admission offer from the medical school. Follow the instructions provided to accept the offer and proceed with the enrollment process.

It’s important to note that the specific steps and requirements may vary slightly between different medical schools in Nigeria. It’s advisable to research the admission guidelines and processes of the specific institutions you are interested in and stay updated with any changes or updates to the admission procedures.

List of accredited federal and state medical schools in Nigeria to pursue a medical career

• The University of Abuja.
• Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
• Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
• Gombe State University
• Abia State University Uturu, Abia State
• University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi, Anambra State
• University of Maiduguri, Borno State
• University of Calabar, Cross River State
• Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State
• Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
• University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State
• Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State
• Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State
• The University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu State
• Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Enugu State
• Imo State University Owerri, Imo State
• Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State
• University of Ilorin, Kwara State
• University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State
• Lagos State University Ikeja, Lagos State
• Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State
• University of Ibadan, Oyo State
• University of Jos, Plateau State
• Madonna University Elele, Rivers State
• University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State

This list isn’t exhaustive as there are thousands of private universities in Nigeria offering medicine as a course of study.

To finish up this post, it’s important to know that becoming a doctor takes a lot of hard work and grit. It is therefore crucial that when a decision is made to venture on this journey, you should get yourself acquainted with the right information and set to begin on the right foot and at the 

The average salary of a medical doctor is within the range of  200k to 2+ million (naira)

Good luck 

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