Can medical college students transfer to become doctors?

Many students studying at the College and University of Medicine are looking for opportunities to further their careers, especially the dream of becoming a doctor. This path is not easy, but according to current regulations and training roadmaps at many universities, the door to becoming a doctor is still wide open.

Opportunity to become a doctor: An "easier" path

According to Master Ly Men Ten, Acting Head of Training Department of Nam Can Tho University, in 2025 the school will continue to enroll students from junior college and college to university in many health-related fields, including medicine. This opens up special opportunities for students who graduate from junior college and college medical school or general practitioner who want to transfer to become a doctor.

Master Ten said that to participate in the medical doctor program, candidates can choose 1 of 2 methods: admission (based on high school and intermediate school results) or entrance exam (3 multiple choice subjects including math, anatomy - physiology, pathology). The training period from general practitioner to general practitioner lasts 4 years, equivalent to 8 semesters with 150 credits. Students will study directly on weekends, combined with online study in the evenings, the first year tuition fee is about 3 million VND/credit.

Not only Can Tho University, many other schools such as Tan Tao University, Buon Ma Thuot University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy... are also implementing transfer programs from college, junior college to university in the health sector. At the college level, students can study at Pham Ngoc Thach Medical College, Saigon College of Pharmacy, Vien Dong College, Dai Viet Saigon College, Thai Binh Medical College... and then continue to transfer to university if they meet the requirements.

According to Decision No. 18/2017 of the Prime Minister , for the health sector, applicants must have a college degree or a college degree in the health sector, in which those with a medical degree can register to apply for the university level in general medicine, traditional medicine, preventive medicine, and dentistry; those with a pharmacy college degree or a pharmacy college degree can register to apply for the university level in pharmacy. This regulation is the legal basis for students of general medicine colleges to realize their dream of becoming doctors.

Admission to the joint training program between the college and university levels is carried out by examination or selection or a combination of examination and selection as decided by the head of the university according to current regulations on university admission of the Ministry of Education and Training.

According to Master Phan Thi Le Thu, Vice Principal of Far East College, this route is actually feasible and “easier to breathe” than taking the direct entrance exam to medical university, which has extremely high admission scores. After about 2.5 to 3 years of studying general medicine at the college level, students will need another 4 - 4.5 years at the university level (depending on the school) to complete the medical training program. In total, this process lasts 6 - 7 years, almost equivalent to the time of regular medical training.

According to information from Pham Ngoc Thach Medical College, it is worth noting that nursing graduates or students from other medical fields who want to become doctors must first switch to general practitioners, because there is a big difference in knowledge and skills between nurses and doctors. This is also the reason why this path is only really suitable for those who have clearly defined their career orientation from the beginning.

In addition to the path to becoming a doctor, medical college and university students have many other paths.

PHOTO: YEN THI

Many career paths: Not just the destination of being a doctor

Although the door to transfer from College of General Practitioners to General Practitioners is wide open, according to Master Phan Thi Le Thu, not everyone needs or is suitable to pursue this path.

“Each major in the health sector has its own value and high social demand. Therefore, besides the goal of becoming a doctor, students still have many other paths to develop their careers,” said Master Thu.

For nursing students: Many choose to transfer to nursing university instead of becoming a doctor, because this path is shorter and closer to the field they studied. Others, after graduating, will work in hospitals because the demand for nursing human resources is currently very high, especially the opportunity to work in Japan and Germany.

For pharmacy and testing students: Students can continue studying to get a university degree in the same major. If they do not wish to study further, students are still capable of working in hospitals, laboratories...

For general practitioner students: In addition to transferring to become a doctor, many people choose to work at preventive health centers, commune health stations or basic clinics. This is a highly practical job, helping to accumulate experience and creating conditions for further advanced studies later.

International orientation: Some students choose to transfer their diploma to Germany or Japan to work in the nursing or nursing assistant industry, depending on their professional certification. This is also an attractive option due to the income and settlement opportunities.

Master Thu emphasized that the biggest advantage of students following the path of physician-physician connection is practical experience. During their time practicing as physicians at medical facilities, students have accumulated basic skills in care and treatment. When studying to become doctors, this practical foundation will become the foundation, helping them to be more confident in receiving knowledge and clinical skills at a high level.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sinh-vien-cd-y-co-the-hoc-lien-thong-tro-thanh-bac-si-185250917162526927.htm