Educational Requirements. Necessary education to become a nephrologist includes a medical doctoral degree, completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) internal medicine residency program and at least two years of professional experience working with patients.ducational Requirements. Necessary education to become a nephrologist includes a medical doctoral degree, completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) internal medicine residency program and at least two years of professional experience working with patients.