Board Certified - Medical licensing and career podcast

Considering a career in Ophthalmology? Dr. Nicholas Volpe, MD, is a distinguished leader in academic ophthalmology and currently serves as Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Volpe brings extensive clinical expertise and a strong commitment to advancing patient care, education, and research in the field of eye health. In this episode, Dr. Volpe discusses demonstrating culture fit and showing interest in chosen schools, following your passion in your application process, and the future of ophthalmology and how technology will change it.    Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Understanding the USMLE Step exams is crucial to obtaining your medical license. Dr. Abhiraj Yadav is the Founder of The Stenosis Report, a medical student-led research club, and a USMLE mentor and author. In this episode, Abhiraj walks us through the different USMLE Step exams, the best resources to ensure success, and a good timeline to follow so you feel confident with each one. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Coaching different demographics requires understanding nuances and applying various concepts. Conor Heeney is the Performance Sport Science Coordinator at Liverpool John Moores University and has been coaching athletes in strength and conditioning for over 11 years. In this episode, Conor guides us through the various coaching concepts for each demographic and how different training philosophies are necessary for different groups.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

What does the journey look like for a non-US IMG to become a licensed physician? Dr. Yulius Haryadi, MD, is a non-US IMG from Indonesia currently working as a PCP in the US after achieving high scores on his USMLE exams. In this episode, we discuss the overview of what is ‘classic’ and what other pathways are out there, steps to become eligible for your license, getting LORs, and more.  Check out Yulius's YouTube channel for more tips: https://www.youtube.com/@YuliusHaryadi7189   Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

How can you create a holistic medical school application to really impress admissions committees? Linda Abraham is the CEO of Accepted and has been an admissions consultant since 1994. In this episode, Linda shares her expert advice on building a strong, holistic medical school application, addressing weaknesses, and crafting a cohesive personal essay narrative for the most effective application. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

You're officially a CSCS, so how do you find work? Markus Fürst has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2019 and a full-time strength and conditioning coach since 2020. In this episode, Markus discusses how to use your certification to break into your career and grow in the industry.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Preparing for the MCAT can be a confusing and overwhelming experience. Shirag Shemmassian has been guiding students through medical school and residency admissions for over 20 years. In this episode, Shirag shares his unique insights into MCAT FAQs, including how long to prep, what score you need, and the best time to take your MCAT.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Preparing for the USMLE as an IMG can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Immanuel Olarinde, MD, has been a tutor in the USMLE since 2018 with over 20,000 hours of tutoring experience. In this episode, Immanuel covers the challenges many IMGs face when preparing for the USMLE exams and how to overcome them and achieve success.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

What are the different strength and conditioning certifications and which one is best for your career path? Conor Heeney is the Performance Sport Science Coordinator at Liverpool John Moores University and has been coaching athletes as a strength and conditioning coach for over 11 years. In this episode, Conor guides us through the various certifications in strength and conditioning, explains how to apply them to your career, and identifies which ones are better suited for specific career paths. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

The medications section on the PTCE can feel overwhelming. Lorraine Lohner is a pharmacy professor and hosts the YouTube channel, the PTCB Exam Tutor, helping students ace their pharmacy exams. She has won several awards for her work, including being a two-time Amazon best-selling author with her books, Top 200 Drugs: Memorizing Made Ridiculously Easy and Pharmacy Calculations Made Ridiculously Easy. In this episode, Lorraine breaks down the top 10 tips to ace the medications section on the PTCE and how to feel confident going into test day.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

How can you use practice exams to understand your mistakes when studying for the MCAT? Dr. Becca Güler, EdD is a medical educator that has guided hundreds of premed, MD/DO, and PA students and residents through all aspects of their training. She is also the author of Achievable's MCAT course. In this episode, Becca explains the best approach to practice exams, how to fix your mistakes, and what can really hold you back in your MCAT prep.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Are you curious if you should become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist? Markus Fürst has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2019 and a full-time strength and conditioning coach since 2020. In this episode, Markus discusses the types of backgrounds that benefit from obtaining the certification, the advantages of non-traditional applicants, and common misconceptions around the CSCS certification.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Anatomy is the most nuanced section of the USMLE Step 1. Aliza Kamran Khan has been helping students prepare for medical exams for over five years and works as a USMLE instructor. In this episode, Aliza discusses the most high-yield anatomy topics tested, how to effectively retain information for the exam, and common mistakes to avoid.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

How does the matching process work for IMGs? Dr Maheen Hashmi is an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, passing all three USMLE exams within a single academic year. In this episode, we discuss the significance of smart signaling, crafting a compelling personal statement, and strategically selecting programs.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

There are several different paths to take as a Pharmacy Technician, so which one is right for you? Sharon Denise Garrett is a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) with over 17 years of experience. In this episode, Sharon discusses various career settings, including retail pharmacies, hospitals, and other career paths available to pharmacy technicians.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

How can you set yourself up for success as a premed? Dr. Jessica Freedman is the founder of MedEdits Medical Admissions and has been guiding students through the premed admissions process since 2007. In this episode, Jessica walks us through a typical 4-5 year plan, the application timeline, and how to approach application materials.  https://info.mededits.com/med-school-tips-freshman-sophomore-premeds?hsCtaAttrib=194942259322 Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Are you an IMG preparing for the USMLE, wondering what it takes and who will support you on your journey? Dr. Yulius Haryadi, MD, is a non-US IMG from Indonesia currently working as a PCP in the US after achieving high scores on his USMLE exams. In this episode, we discuss evidence-based learning techniques, the timeline for preparing for these exams, and how to approach each stage of preparation.  https://www.youtube.com/@YuliusHaryadi7189 Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Are you thinking of taking a gap year before applying to medical school? Linda Abraham is the CEO of Accepted and has been an admissions consultant since 1994. In this episode, Linda shares her expert advice on how to best utilize a gap year, what you should accomplish in that time, and who benefits most from choosing this path.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Are you working toward becoming a pharmacy technician and curious about what it takes? Lorraine Lohner is a pharmacy professor and hosts the YouTube channel, the PTCB Exam Tutor, helping students ace their pharmacy exams. She has won several awards for her work, including being a two-time Amazon best-selling author with her books, Top 200 Drugs: Memorizing Made Ridiculously Easy and Pharmacy Calculations Made Ridiculously Easy. In this episode, Lorraine breaks down the journey of becoming a pharmacy technician, why the PTCE is an important milestone, and how to build confidence to pass on the first try.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Are you curious about how NGOs (non-governmental organizations) play a part in our global health? Angelo Moreno is the President of the IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations) and has worked with the organization in various roles for over five years. In this episode, Angelo discusses the importance of NGOs and how they contribute to global health efforts, the relationship between NGOs and global health policy-making, and how young health professionals can get involved in making a difference.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

The MCAT is one of the hardest exams, so what does it take to get a good score? Aliza Kamran Khan has been helping students prepare for the MCAT for over five years and works as a USMLE instructor. In this episode, Aliza talks about what a good MCAT score means, how to prepare and when to start studying, and effective strategies to improve performance across all sections. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

As an International Medical Graduate, it can be difficult to find a support system while you prepare for the USMLE. Dr. Abhiraj Yadav is the Founder of The Stenosis Report, a Medical Student led research club, and is a USMLE mentor and author. In this episode, Abhiraj walks us through his own medical journey and shares everything you need to know to be successful as an IMG.  Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

What's the difference between the PTCE and ExCPT exams, and how can they impact your pharmacy technician career? Sharon Denise Garrett is a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) with over 17 years of experience. In this episode, Sharon explains the key differences between the PTCE and ExCPT, including what the tests cover, which one is better suited for retail vs. non-retail roles, and how hard they are to pass. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Let's walk through the entirety of the USMLE medical doctor licensing program. Immanuel Olarinde, MD, has been a tutor in the USMLE since 2018 with over 20,000 hours of tutoring experience. In this episode, Immanuel covers the entire USMLE licensing exam process, including a detailed breakdown of each exam's contents, when you take it, and how to prepare for it. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Sure, you know you need good grades and a good MCAT score, but what else can help you get into your top choice medical school? Linda Abraham is the CEO of Accepted and has been an admissions consultant since 1994. In this episode, Linda shares her expert advice on medical school admissions, including what you can do beyond GPA and MCAT, how to make your clinical experience stand out, and how to emphasize the personal qualities schools look for in your essays. BONUS: see Accepted's deep dive on med school application mistakes to avoid here: https://bit.ly/AcceptedMedSchoolVideos Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

What's new with residency admissions in 2025? Shirag Shemmassian has been guiding students through medical school and residency admissions for over 20 years. In this episode, Shirag shares his unique insights into how residency admissions has changed in 2025, including which specialties are hot right now, how geography can affect your application, what's new in the process itself, and how the USMLE Step 1 is being weighted now. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.

Welcome to the Board Certified podcast, where we interview experts to discuss medical licenses and healthcare careers. Dr. Becca Güler, EdD is a medical educator that has guided hundreds of premed, MD/DO, and PA students and residents through all aspects of their training. She is also the author of Achievable's MCAT course. In this episode, Becca walks us through all aspects of the MCAT, including details about the test itself, how it factors into the medical school application process, timeline for taking it, and more. Achievable offers affordable and effective online prep courses for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, PTCE, NPTE, CSCS, and other medical exams. Visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try any of our courses for free and see if they're the right fit for you.