How to Become a Surgeon

Video Transcript

"The path to becoming a surgeon begins in completing a four year undergraduate program. Most premed students will choose to major in a science; however, it's not required. If you do not major in a science however, you want to make sure that you do all of your required coursework. That's a year in general chemistry, a year in physics, two years in biological sciences, and this will prepare you for a standardized entrance exam that is called the MCAT, or the Medical College Admissions Testing. All candidates who are applying to medical school must take the MCAT, and it tests the student's individual knowledge of biological sciences, physical sciences, verbal reasoning, and writing. With the MCAT behind you, you're now ready to apply to medical school. It's a very competitive process, and you want to really, during your undergraduate career, focus on keeping your GPA at 3.75, or higher to be a strong candidate. When you begin medical school, you're it's an additional four year commitment; the first two of which are typically reserved for didactic instruction in the health sciences, and the second two are typically reserved for training in the clinical skills and knowledge. Along the way, you must also pass both parts of the United States Medical License Examination, or the USMLE. Upon completing medical school and passing the USMLE, you are conferred the degree of MD, so you are now a doctor, but you're not ready to be a surgeon. The next step along the path towards becoming a surgeon is applying for a surgical residency. Now, residency is considered the phase in a doctors training where they can specialize in a given type of medicine. The length of residency depends on the individual specialty, but for surgery it's a minimum of five years; the first five years of which are dedicated to learning general surgery, and then if you want to go on to specialize further, in say; cardiovascular surgery, you would do and some additional training beyond that. Upon completing your residency, you are ready to take the state board exam in the state in which you want to practice. You can actually be licensed to practice in multiple states, and with license in hand; you are ready to practice as a surgeon."