How to Become an Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor

An ear, nose and throat doctor examines the inside of the ears.

Becoming an ear, nose and throat doctor, or ENT, involves a great deal of practical and classroom learning. This type of doctor plays a vital role in the healthcare industry, and many people rely on this type of physician to provide relief from serious medical conditions. An ENT has to provide many different types of care --- including surgical procedures. If you are interested in becoming an ear, nose and throat specialist, be prepared for a large commitment of time and effort.

Instructions

1. Obtain your high school diploma and enter into an undergraduate degree program. You could potentially get any type of four-year degree, but getting a premed degree would be most helpful. While you are still in undergraduate school, take the MCAT exam to become qualified to enter into medical school. Once you pass this exam, you can start applying for admission into medical school. You may need to apply to several medical schools before you are accepted to one, as there are a limited number of schools and many applicants.

2. Complete medical school by taking approximately 4 years of additional studies. The process of completing medical school involves a great deal of classroom instruction, as well as clinical studies in real medical facilities. Medical school will require a great deal of study and hard work to complete. During this process and during your undergraduate studies, you will simply be laying the groundwork for your later studies as an ear, nose and throat specialist. You may be able to take some classes in this area, but the majority of your studies in this discipline will take place later on.

3. Enter into and complete surgical residency programs. In most cases, you will need to complete a one-year residency program for general surgery requirements. After you complete this one-year program, you will be able to enter into an ear, nose and throat surgical residency program. This type of residency is much more involved and it allows you to specialize in this particular field. The residency program should take you approximately four years to finish. You may also want to complete a fellowship program so that you can specialize even further.

4. Become licensed to practice as an ear, nose and throat specialist in your state. Once you have obtained your medical degree and completed the residency programs, you can take a licensing exam in your state. You have to pass this exam before you can start working.

5. Find a job opening in your area and apply for it. You could also choose to start your own practice. Some ear, nose and throat specialists choose to work in existing medical facilities, while others prefer to start their own business. You will have to interview for the position at a medical facility in order to be hired. It may take some time to find a facility with an opening.

References

• Degree Finders: How to Become an ENT Surgeon
• Page Rank Studio: Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist