Requirements to Become an Orthopedic Doctor
Orthopedic doctors address problems of the spine and are qualified to treat conditions including lower and upper back pain, sciatica and ruptured disks. The requirements to become an orthopedic doctor are enforced by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. These organizations require aspiring orthopedic doctors to complete several years of classroom training and a residency program in order to offer orthopedic care to the public.
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Education
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The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons sets forth the educational guidelines and requirements to become an orthopedic surgeon. The AAOS reports that all aspiring surgeons must complete four years of college at an accredited institution followed by four years of medical school and then five years of graduate medical education at an accredited college or university. Some educational programs also require the completion of a specialized residency program and two to three additional years of clinical studies in the field of orthopedic study.
The minimum educational requirement for entry into medical school is three years of college or a bachelor's degree in a health-related field.
Residency Training
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According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, aspiring orthopedic surgeons must complete one year of general surgery training as part of their residency requirement, followed by four years of orthopedic surgery training. Residency programs offer students the opportunity to perform procedures, diagnose patients and work with an affiliated hospital so that they can get hands-on experience in the field.
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Board Certification
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The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ABOS) is a private, nonprofit organization that establishes the educational standards of orthopedic surgeons. The ABOS is the only organization in the United States that can certify orthopedic surgeons after the surgeon has met the educational, evaluation and examination requirements of the board.
Orthopedic surgeons who want to to take the board examination must have completed their orthopedic residency program successfully and been practicing orthopedic surgery for at least two years.
In order to maintain board certification, surgeons must complete 120 hours of continuing medical education and undergo a rigorous peer review process every seven to 10 years in order to maintain board certification.
Considerations
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Some orthopedic doctors choose to specialize in a subspecialty. Subspecialties in the field of orthopedic surgery are: surgery of the hand and orthopedic sports medicine. Surgeons who become specialists in the surgery of the hand offer surgical and rehabilitative care for any problems with the hand and wrist. Surgeons who become specialists in the field of orthopedic sports medicine offer care and treatment to athletes who are experiencing musculoskeletal problems.
Career Outlook
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The Office of Science Education reports that the median annual income of orthopedic surgeons in 2005 was $145,600. Compensation for orthopedic surgeons varies depending on years of experience, location of the practice and field of specialization.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians and surgeons across all specialties is expected to grow 14 percent from 2006 to 2016.
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