In order to be a family practitioner, one must complete many years of schooling. First, they must complete a bachelor's degree program. Common undergraduate majors for aspiring family practitioners include biology, chemistry, and exercise science. Once they have attained their bachelor's degree, they need to take the MCAT and apply to medical school. Medical school takes four years of studying on top of the four years of school someone has already completed when they are awarded an undergraduate degree. After medical school, a doctor must complete their residency and internship. Generally, it take between eight and twelve years of school for someone to become a family practitioner.

In addition to the required schooling, some family practitioners opt to gain additional certifications so that they can perform more complex procedures, such as delivering a baby. The more a doctor wants to be able to do, the longer they will need to go to school. Medical school requires a lot of money, so many future family practitioners find themselves needing to take out extensive student loans. As such, some argue that it takes money for someone to become a family doctor.