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Studies & Degrees in Dermatology

Dermatology is the medical specialty that deals with the skin, hair and nails. Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer in patients of all ages. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes them as physicians who provide care for diseases relating to the skin, hair and nails, and who may offer both medical and surgical services. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a board-certified dermatologist can diagnose and treat more than 3,000 diseases of the skin, hair and nails.

Dermatology is not a first degree. In every country it is a specialisation that follows a full medical degree. A student therefore makes two choices: where to study medicine, and later where to train as a specialist.

What trainees learn

The official Spanish training programme gives a good picture of the field. It defines the specialty as the study, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment and prevention of diseases of the skin, and it includes venereology: the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. The techniques it lists include dermatological surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery and laser therapy.

Programmes in other countries cover similar ground. At Yale University, residents rotate through inpatient and outpatient adult and paediatric dermatology, specialty clinics, dermatologic surgery, laser and aesthetics, and dermatopathology (the laboratory diagnosis of skin samples).

Qualifications and levels

  • United States. Physicians typically need a bachelor's degree and a degree from a medical school, which takes four more years. The AAD lists a year-long internship in medicine followed by three years of residency in dermatology. The residency at Yale University, for example, is a three-year programme accredited by the ACGME, and candidates must first complete one year of graduate medical training. All states require physicians to be licensed.
  • Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits. Graduates then enter specialist training through an annual national call. Training takes place as a residency in accredited centres. The specialty is officially called Dermatología Médico-Quirúrgica y Venereología and the residency lasts four years.
  • United Kingdom. After medical school, doctors join the paid two-year foundation programme. Specialty training to become a dermatologist then takes a minimum of six or seven years, according to NHS Health Careers.
  • Subspecialties. After specialist training, some dermatologists take a fellowship; in the United States these last one to three years. Yale University offers fellowships in dermatopathology and paediatric dermatology. Saint Louis University offers fellowships in dermatopathology, dermatology research and Mohs surgery, a technique for removing skin cancer.

Rules differ in other countries. Ask each university or teaching hospital how long specialist training lasts, how places are awarded and whether a foreign medical degree is accepted.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 15 active schools for dermatology. Six are in the United States. Spain, Mexico, Switzerland, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Russia have one each.

The schools in the United States include Stanford University, Yale University, Saint Louis University, New York University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The Department of Dermatology at Stanford University combines patient care with research into new treatments for skin diseases. In Spain the list includes the Vitoria campus of the Universidad del País Vasco. Elsewhere it includes the University of Bern, the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, the University of Delhi, Kathmandu University, Obafemi Awolowo University and Addis Ababa University.

Specialist training means treating patients. Trainees therefore need a strong command of the language of the country where they train, as well as a medical degree that the country recognises.

Careers

Dermatologists work in hospitals, private practices and university departments. Some concentrate on skin surgery, on children or on laboratory diagnosis. The BLS counted about 12,200 dermatologists among the 862,800 physician and surgeon jobs in the United States in 2025. It projects employment of physicians and surgeons as a whole to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. Board certification in a specialty is not required in the United States, but the BLS notes that it may increase employment opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study dermatology as a bachelor's degree?

No. Dermatology is a medical specialty. You first complete a medical degree and then apply for specialist training in dermatology.

How long does it take to become a dermatologist?

It depends on the country. In the United States the AAD counts four years of college, four years of medical school, a one-year internship and three years of residency. In Spain the residency lasts four years after the 360-credit degree in Medicine.

How do doctors enter dermatology training in Spain?

Through the annual national call for specialist training. Successful candidates train as residents in accredited centres for four years.

Is dermatology a surgical specialty?

Partly. Dermatologists offer both medical and surgical care, and the official Spanish name of the specialty includes the words "médico-quirúrgica" (medical-surgical).