Medical Careers: This Is How to Become a Surgeon

Unless you already know what type of doctor you want to be, choosing among physician specialties could be somewhat overwhelming.

Do you want to be a family practice physician so that you can see patients of all ages? Or perhaps you want to be an internist? It’s a good option if you want a more hospital-based practice.

Now, if you’ve always wanted to be a surgeon, you should know that training to become one is a lot longer than that of a primary care doctor. That being said, here’s how to become a surgeon–from earning a bachelor’s degree to getting a license and certification.

Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

While it’s true that the healthcare industry has jobs for those who finished a non-life science course, becoming a surgeon requires a doctoral degree.

Before that, though, you have to earn a bachelor’s degree, which doesn’t have to be in science. However, if you’ve taken courses in biology, chemistry, physiology, etc., it would help prepare you for handling the typical med school curriculum.

Remember that the competition to get into a medical school can be fierce. Some institutions even prioritize students with an advanced degree. Choosing a suitable bachelor’s degree will also ensure you don’t have to do a lot of catching up. The last thing you want is to juggle a heavy load with the already hectic schedule of a medical school program.

Study Hard And Take The MCAT

The path to becoming a surgeon is quite long, but you can’t be on that road if you don’t take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

Now, you may have heard or read that the MCAT is just a set of multiple-choice questions. However, that doesn’t mean you can ace it through sheer luck. Tons of preparation is critical, and some students even take it a year before entering medical school.

If you don’t have plenty of time to prepare, take advantage of everything available. That includes study materials, tutoring, pre-tests, practice tests, etc.

Complete Medical School And A Residency Program

So you’ve been accepted to medical school. Congratulations.

Your first two years will be mostly coursework and laboratory classes. You’ll also have to decide if you’re going to be an M.D. or Doctor of Medicine or D.O. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

In the following two years, you’ll do Rotations. Here, you’ll experience different specialties, which would be helpful if, along the way, you decide to switch medical careers. Last would be entering a residency program.

Be sure to look into the types of surgeons so you can choose the best-fitting program to specialize in for you.

Pass The Licensing Exam And Get Certified

You’ve finished with your residency, and now it’s time to take either the USMLE or U.S. Medical Licensing Exam or the COMLEX-USA or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam.

You can also opt to get board-certified, which many employers and patients prefer. Once you’re working as a surgeon, be sure to go for additional training. For example, if the hospital you’re working for is sponsoring a seminar on how to prevent sharp injuries or needle safety, it would be best not to miss it.

How To Become A Surgeon: Are You Up For The Challenge?

Now that you know what lies ahead of you, should you decide to become a surgeon, are you sure you want to be one?

If you need more info on how to become a surgeon, be sure to do your homework. You can start by browsing our other posts for more career tips and advice.