Doctors Who Thought They Were Done—But Found New Opportunities After Retirement

10: Unretire with a Re-entry Program

If you’re a retired doctor itching to get back into the game—mostly because your savings account is starting to look like a ghost town—then the re-entry program might be your golden ticket. Sounds simple enough, right? After all, with years of experience under your belt, you’d think you could waltz back into your old role without any extra effort. Well, hold onto your stethoscope—turns out, you might need a little refresher.

If you’ve let your license expire and have been away from the hospital scene for a while (we’re talking one or two years, depending on your state), you’ll need to jump through some hoops. These hoops might include taking continuing education classes and passing the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX)—because, let’s face it, you’ve probably forgotten more about medicine than most people will ever know. And since technology has evolved faster than the speed of light, you’ll need to brush up on the latest gadgets and gizmos, like electronic medical records, which, let’s be honest, are probably more complicated than operating a spaceship.

Luckily, some states have re-entry programs that will help you dust off your skills and get back on your feet. However, don’t be too quick to celebrate just yet. These programs can cost a pretty penny, sometimes as much as $20,000! So, before you sign up, check whether your state foots the bill—or if you’re stuck covering the cost.