The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is a standardized exam one takes to enter medical school. The SAT is to college what the MCAT is to medical school. Cost: $210. (If one takes a prep course, such as from Kaplan, which unscrupulously advertises, “Your doctor took the Kaplan course,” include those exorbitant fees as well. I can’t bear to link to it.)

The AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) application is used to apply to medical school. Cost: One school costs $160; each school thereafter costs $30. (Most of my peers applied between ten and twenty medical schools. Also include the costs of purchasing a suit, travel expenses, and the alcohol consumed to quell the nerves. Just kidding about that last part.)

Enter medical school and pay for tuition (hooray for state schools with lower tuition!), books, caffeinated beverages, road trips, and class parties.

The USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam) has three parts. Part I is taken between the second (“pre-clinical”) and third years of medical school. Cost: $480.

USMLE Part II is taken during the beginning part of the fourth year of medical school to accompany residency applications. There are two sections to part II: a written exam and a clinical skills exam. (I did not have to take the clinical skills exam.) Cost of the written exam: $480. Cost of the clinical skills exam: $1025. (Also include travel and hotel expenses for the clinical skills exam, as it is held in a few select cities in the country.)

The ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) is used to apply to residencies. Cost: To apply to ten residencies or less, $60. Between 11 and 20 residencies, add $8 for each program (on top of the base rate of $60). Between 21 and 30 residencies, add $15 for each program (on top of the base rate of $60.) For over 31 residencies, add $25 for each program on top of the base rate.

You must transmit your USMLE scores along with your ERAS application. Cost: $50.

Congratulations! You’ve matched into a residency and have graduated from medical school (after consolidating your loans, of course). Include costs of relocating for residency.

One must have a medical license for the state to practice medicine. Cost: $335 (in the state of Washington—this is less expensive if one obtains a limited license, which permits the license holder to only practice within the purview of a residency training program.)

One must have a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) license to prescribe controlled substances. If one only practices within a residency training program, the fee is waived. I have no idea what the fee is if you apply for a license independently (though I will find out soon enough).

After completing an internship, one is eligible to take USMLE Step 3. Cost: $655.

One must renew the medical license to maintain the privilege of practicing medicine in the state. Cost: $470 (which covers two years in the state of Washington). (Again, renewal is less expensive if one has a limited license.)

To become a board certified psychiatrist, one must take exams for initial certification in the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. The exam has two parts. Cost for Part I: $700 application fee, $950 examination fee (!!!).

Holy cow!