How to Become an Ophthalmologist

According to the American College of Surgeons, ophthalmologists are "practitioners medically trained to diagnose and treat all eye and visual problems and provide treatment and prevention of medical disorders of the eye including surgery". Basically, ophthalmologists are eye surgeons.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Start preparing in high school if possible. Take lots of science courses and work hard to get good grades and good standardized test scores so you can get into college.

2. Receive a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree, preferably in a biology or chemistry. Once again, you will need to work very hard to get good grades so you can take the next step.

3. Get into medical school. This may take some time, since getting into medical school is extremely competitive. Good grades, good relationships with your professors and good scores on your Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) will help. Once you get into medical school, work very hard for four years so you can get your degree.

4. Begin a one year internship with an ophthalmologist.

5. Pass national tests so you can get your medical license for the state you plan to practice in.

6. Commence a three-year residency program with an approved surgical residency program.

7. Apply to the American Board of Ophthalmology if you wish to become board certified once you've completed all the other steps. You may find it easier to get a job, start an ophthalmology practice and serve your eye patients if you are board certified.

Resources

• For more information, see the American Board of Ophthalmology.
• For more information about becoming an eye surgeon, see the American Academy of Ophthalmology.