How To Become A Dermatologist: Career Guide And Advice

Planning how to become a dermatologist? It’s an exciting path for anyone interested in skin health and medicine.

Dermatology involves experts who focus on treating skin disorders together with conditions of hair and nails which include diagnoses such as eczema and psoriasis and skin cancer. It combines healthcare and scientific knowledge with practical skills because of its nature.

Skincare issues form the main focus of medical work for doctors who specialise as dermatologists. They need to conduct thorough examinations, take patient histories and perform diagnostic tests.

There are more than 2,000 recognised skin diseases (some more common than others) according to ScienceDirect. Both private clinics and NHS hospitals treat these various skin conditions, including rare diseases.

Dermatologists’ treatment options can include everything from prescribing topical or oral medicines to guiding patients on their skincare routines. They also need to perform minor surgical procedures and administer cosmetic treatments.

This guide explains the process of how to become a dermatologist in the UK. We’ll cover the education and training involved to help you assess this career’s suitability.

Education

In secondary school, subjects like biology and chemistry are highly valuable and prepare you for medical training. 

Medical schools often ask for AAA or even three A*s at A-Level, alongside strong GCSEs, so aim high before applying to a medical school.

Chat with a teacher or careers adviser if you’re unsure about your options. Getting this bit right sets you up for the next stage.

Brush up on how to write a CV education section.

Applying to a medical school

To become a dermatologist, you need a medical degree first. Entry is competitive – so you’ll need great grades, a strong personal statement, and good scores on the UCAT or BMAT.

There are many differences between these two tests, used as part of UK university medical school admission processes.

Here’s a guide from 6med but a key consideration is which university requires UCAT or BMAT:

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT):

• Accepted by 32 medical schools at the time of writing
• Aberdeen, Aston, Bristol, Cardiff, Edge Hill, Exeter, Hull York, Kent and Medway, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Newcastle, Norwich, Queen Mary University of London, Sheffield, St Andrews, Sunderland, Anglia Ruskin, Birmingham, Brunel, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Keele, King’s College London, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Plymouth, Queen’s University Belfast, Southampton, St George’s, Warwick

BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT):

• Accepted by six medical schools for domestic students at the time of writing
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Lancaster University, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London

These check your reasoning and suitability for medicine.

Medical school takes five or six years, depending on the course. Those who already have a bachelor’s degree can complete a four year postgraduate medical degree.

Training

With your degree in hand, you start training as a dermatologist to learn the necessary hard skills. 

• First there is the two-year long foundation programme, working in hospitals. You’ll try different areas of the profession, getting real experience.
• After that, you apply for specialty training in dermatology – it’s a popular field, so competition is stiff. Once accepted, dermatology training lasts six or seven years. 

You’ll work with experienced doctors, learning to spot and treat skin conditions. This includes time in wards and outpatient clinics plus passing the Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) in Dermatology.

That test shows you’re ready to go solo – you’ll also keep a record of your cases to prove your skills. You can then register with the General Medical Council (GMC) and become an official consultant dermatologist.

Consultants earn a basic salary of £105,504 to £139,882 a year from 1 March 2024 according to NHS pay for doctors. In addition, consultants can receive more pay by working in private practice or taking on extra responsibilities in management or education.

You need the right soft skills too, such as a strong attention to detail and impressive interpersonal skills.

Being thorough is vital, as similar-looking skin problems can need different fixes. Patience helps when patients are shy about their issues.

You’ll also need to explain things clearly, as the patients need straightforward advice.

How long does it take to become a dermatologist?

Here’s the breakdown for the UK: 

• Medical school is five years minimum
• The foundation programme takes two years
• Dermatology training adds six more years at least

So that’s 13 years in total at least after A-levels. If you do an extra year for a BSc or take a break, it will take more time.

It’s a long process, but each part builds your expertise and you will earn pay from the foundation programme onwards.

The job itself is fulfilling – you can help people feel better about their skin and appearance, sometimes spotting serious issues early.

Dermatologists are in high demand, with more people aware of skin-related concerns than ever before. In addition, many patients also need dermatologists for cosmetic procedures including botox injections and laser treatments. 

Final thoughts: How to become a dermatologist (UK)

Interested in medicine but not sure yet if dermatology is right for you? It’s well worth thinking about the wide range of medical careers out there!

Take a look at the A-Z of careers listed on Step Into The NHS for starters. If you already completed a bachelor’s, check out Prospects – what can I do with my medicine degree? 

Considering career options beyond medicine and not sure which path is right for you? Why not browse through our other career guides to see some of the different options:

• #1 How To Become An Accountant (UK)
• #2 How To Become A Lawyer
• #3 How To Become A Financial Adviser
• #4 How Do You Become A Professor?
• #5 How To Become A Life Coach

Here at PurpleCV, we specialise in helping candidates with all parts of their career journey – looking for jobs, writing CVs, preparing for interviews, impressing at work and moving up the ladder!

If you’re applying for jobs right now, take a look at our CV writing service and find out about our 1:1 interview coaching on our accessories page. For any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.