The general population is growing and aging, and healthcare needs tend to increase sharply with age. Physicians do not tend to drift to other careers, so the need for replacement is on a retirement basis. Primary care physicians will be most needed in the future. With the drive to control health care costs, there will be a decline in the number of places for specialists in the healthcare system. Shortages of physicians are reported in rural and low income areas.
Specialists tend to earn more.
The length of residency programs will vary based on specialization. All states require their physicians to be licensed. To do this, a physician must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete a residency program. In addition, those wishing board certification are required to pass a final exam after residency given by the American Board of Medical Specialists. Osteopathic physicians, or D.O.'s, use all accepted methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, to treat their patients.