prescribing medication

[ExistentialistPhilosopher]

This is just out of curiosity, and it is a dumb, ignorant question, but at what point in one's medical career can one start prescribing medicine independently to patients? Do you have to finish whatever residency you enter before you can prescribe medication of any kind?

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[Coalboy]

My sister is in the first year of her residency, and she can prescribe medications.

 

[Jim Picotte]

After you graduate from medical school, you apply for an education limited license and DEA number. This means that while working under your residency program you can prescribe medications. You really don't want to be prescribing medications to just anyone at this point. I'd probably still not prescribe to family (it's a bad idea no matter where in your training) just yet and stick to your patients in your program. Depending on the state and after you pass Step 3, you can get your permanent license and then you can do whatever you want because if you screw up, it's your license.