To become a dermatologist in the US, you'll earn a bachelor's degree, complete four years of medical school for an M.D. or D.O., then train in a dermatology residency before getting a state medical license. Many dermatologists then certify with the American Board of Dermatology, whose first exam starts in year one of residency.
Dermatology is one of the best-paid routes in medicine, and a long one, so it helps to see the whole road before you start. Here's each stage, what it takes and what the job pays.
Pay and job figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for physicians and surgeons. Exam dates come from the American Board of Dermatology (ABD). Both were read on 26 October 2026.
The route at a glance
| Stage | What it involves | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | Any major, with the science courses medical schools expect | Usually 4 years |
| Medical school | M.D. or D.O. degree, entry based partly on the MCAT | 4 years |
| Residency | Supervised training in dermatology | BLS says 3 to 9 years across specialties |
| Fellowship (optional) | Subspecialty such as dermatopathology or pediatric dermatology | 1 to 3 years |
| License and board certification | State license plus ABD exams | Starts during residency |
How to become a dermatologist, step by step
- Finish a bachelor's degree. No specific major is required, but applicants usually study biology, physical science or a health-related field.
- Take the MCAT and apply to medical school. BLS says schools look at transcripts, Medical College Admission Test scores and recommendation letters, and competition is stiff.
- Earn your M.D. or D.O. Medical school takes four years, with lab work, classroom study and supervised patient care.
- Match into a dermatology residency. This is where you train in the specialty itself, under supervision, in hospitals and clinics.
- Get licensed. All states require physicians to be licensed, which means graduating from an accredited medical school, finishing residency and passing standardized national exams.
- Certify with the ABD. Certification is how patients and employers check that you've met the specialty's standards.
The board exams start earlier than people expect
Here's the detail most guides skip. Dermatology board certification isn't a single exam at the end of training. The ABD runs a series: a BASIC exam for first-year residents, then a CORE exam and finally an APPLIED exam. Its published calendar shows the BASIC exam for first-year residents on 9 April 2026 and 1 April 2027, CORE windows such as 21 October to 4 November 2026, and the APPLIED exam on 15 July 2027.
So you're sitting board exams while you're still learning the specialty. Treat the first year of residency as exam preparation as well as clinical training, and keep the ABD calendar bookmarked from day one.
The ABD also certifies subspecialties, including dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery, each with its own exam. Patients can check whether a dermatologist is board certified through the ABD's public lookup.
What dermatologists earn
| Measure | Figure (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Median pay, dermatologists | $328,730 a year |
| Median pay, all physicians and surgeons | $275,930 a year |
| Dermatologists employed in 2025 | 12,200 |
| Projected growth, all physicians 2025 to 2035 | 4% |
Those figures are as of October 2026. Dermatologists sit well above the physician median, though below surgical specialties such as orthopedic surgery. With only 12,200 dermatologists in the BLS count, it's a small specialty.
What the work involves
BLS describes dermatologists as doctors who care for diseases of the skin, hair and nails, including melanoma and other skin cancers, and who may offer both medical and surgical treatment. Most physicians work full time, and some work long or irregular hours or are on call.
If you're weighing other specialties that also need a long residency, compare this route with becoming a radiologist. If you want to work in a dermatology clinic sooner, the physician assistant route takes far less time.
What a dermatologist does each day
BLS lists the core duties every physician shares, and dermatologists do all of them with a focus on skin, hair and nails:
- Taking a patient's medical history and doing a physical exam
- Ordering tests and reviewing the results for anything abnormal
- Designing and carrying out a treatment plan
- Documenting findings and treatments in the patient's chart
- Answering patients' questions about their health
The skills BLS highlights for physicians fit dermatology especially well. You'll need to be detail oriented, because small changes in a mole or rash matter, and you'll need steady, sure hands for procedures. Communication counts too, since you'll explain diagnoses to worried patients and write clear reports for other doctors. If you love both close visual problem-solving and hands-on procedures, it's a strong fit.
Choosing between M.D. and D.O.
Both degrees lead to the same residency and licensing path. BLS says physicians need either a Medical Doctor (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, and both follow medical school with residency training. Choose the school that fits you best, then focus on strong grades and clinical experience, because those are what residency programs look at.
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My verdict
Becoming a dermatologist is at least an 11-year commitment once you count college, medical school and residency, and the competition starts long before residency applications. If you're sure it's the specialty for you, build strong science grades early, aim for a high MCAT score and plan for board exams from your first residency year. It's a long road, but it leads to one of the best-paid and most in-demand specialties in medicine.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a dermatologist?
Usually four years of college, four years of medical school and then a dermatology residency, with an optional one to three year fellowship for a subspecialty.
What degree do you need to be a dermatologist?
A medical degree, either an M.D. or a D.O., after a bachelor's degree, followed by residency training in dermatology.
How much does a dermatologist make?
BLS reports a median of $328,730 a year for dermatologists in May 2025, compared with $275,930 for all physicians and surgeons.
Do dermatologists need to be board certified?
A state license is required to practice. Board certification through the American Board of Dermatology is how most dermatologists show they've met the specialty's standards.
When do dermatology residents take their first board exam?
The ABD's BASIC exam is for first-year residents, so the exam series starts during the first year of residency.
Can you specialize further after dermatology?
Yes. The ABD offers subspecialty certification in dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery.
How many dermatologists are there in the US?
BLS counted 12,200 dermatologists in 2025.
Do dermatologists do surgery?
Yes. BLS says dermatologists may offer both medical and surgical dermatology services.
