Steps to Becoming a Surgeon
Becoming a surgeon is a long, arduous task that will take you at least 13 years to obtain after you receive a high school diploma. If you want to become a surgeon, the following guide will help you start on the right path.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
First, before you can even go to Medical School, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree. You can go pre-med, or you can get a degree in many different disciplines, including but not limited to:
Biology
Physiology
Biochemistry
Nursing
Etc.
Medical College Administration Test
Once you graduate, you’ll need to take the Medical College Administration Test (MCAT). You'll need to pass this test to get into medical school.
Complete Medical School
Medical school is your first real taste of the medical field, and it will take four years to complete if you’re attending full-time. You'll have to go through clinical rotations, spend time in laboratories and more.
You should enter a surgical residency while in med school because it will be easier to enter.
Pass Licensing Exam
All medical school graduates need to pass a licensing exam at the end of medical school. The license will allow you to work in the medical field and begin your surgical training. At this point, you’re a doctor and can begin practicing to start your career.
Enter Surgical Residency
Finally, you can make headway in becoming a surgeon. You'll need to research your state’s requirements for surgeons because every state differs. However, you will likely need to enter a residency program that lasts 3 to 7 years in total.
For example, an ophthalmology specialization will demand a 3-year residency, and an orthopedic surgeon will spend five years in residency.
However, if you want to become a neurosurgeon, you’ll need to spend seven years in a residency program. You'll want to begin exploring what specialty you may want to follow when you’re in medical school.
You can also ask your advisor to see the easiest path to residency and becoming a surgeon in your area of expertise.
Obtain Your State License
Once you’ve completed your residency, it’s time to become a surgeon. You'll need to pass a state exam to become a licensed surgeon. Every exam is different and changes at the state level.
However, the exam will validate your competency as a surgeon.
For example, a general surgeon will need to take what is known as the General Surgery Qualifying Exam, or QE. The exam is:
Held annually
One of two exams you need to pass
Consists of 300 questions
Lasts 8 hours over a single day
Four 115-minute sessions are held for the exam
Certification Exam (CE) must be completed after and is an oral examination
The American Board of Surgery asserts that you have seven academic years from the time you finish your surgical residency to take the QE and CE exams.
Becoming a surgeon is not an easy task, but you’ll enter a field with security. Your skills and expertise will always be in demand, especially as the population continues to age.
