What are the different types of doctors and how many years of schooling do they require? Learn about the top 8 popular medical specialties and the years of residency/fellowship needed to reach the top of each career.

Unveiling the Diverse World of Medical Specialties

Embarking on a medical career is a challenging yet rewarding path, often requiring years of dedication and rigorous training. As aspiring doctors navigate the vast landscape of medical specialties, understanding the distinct focus areas and educational requirements of each field becomes crucial. This comprehensive guide delves into the 8 most popular types of doctors, shedding light on their areas of expertise and the extensive schooling necessary to excel in these diverse fields.

Dermatology: Skin, Hair, and Nails Mastery

Dermatologists are medical specialists who dedicate their practice to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the skin, hair, and nails. From managing skin cancer to addressing common concerns like acne and eczema, dermatologists play a vital role in maintaining overall skin health. Aspiring dermatologists must complete 4 years of medical school, followed by a 4-year dermatology residency program. Those interested in subspecialties such as dermatopathology or pediatric dermatology will require an additional 1-2 years of fellowship training.

Emergency Medicine: Rapid Response and Life-Saving Expertise

Emergency medicine physicians are the heroes of the healthcare system, responsible for providing immediate care to patients in critical, life-threatening situations. These doctors must be skilled in making quick decisions and working effectively under pressure. Popular subspecialties in emergency medicine include pediatric emergency medicine, sports medicine, and toxicology. Becoming an emergency medicine physician requires 4 years of medical school, followed by a 3-4 year residency program, with an additional 1-2 years of fellowship training for subspecialties.

Family Medicine: Holistic Care for the Entire Family

Family medicine doctors are the generalists of the healthcare world, trained to provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages. They are well-versed in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology, enabling them to address the diverse health needs of families. Those interested in specializing in geriatric care can pursue an additional 2-year fellowship program after completing the 3-year family medicine residency.

Neurology: Unraveling the Complexities of the Brain and Nervous System

Neurological specialists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles. From Parkinson’s disease to epilepsy, these doctors play a crucial role in managing a wide range of neurological conditions. Subspecialties in neurology include electromyography, neuro-oncology, and neuromuscular diseases, each requiring an additional 1-2 years of fellowship training after the 4-year neurology residency.

Ophthalmology: Guardians of Sight

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors responsible for the prevention and treatment of eye diseases and disorders. They possess the expertise to perform eye surgeries, treat infections, and prescribe eyeglasses and other corrective lenses. Subspecialties within ophthalmology include neuro-ophthalmology, retina, glaucoma, and oculoplastic surgery, each requiring 1-2 years of additional fellowship training following the 4-year ophthalmology residency.

Plastic Surgery: Reconstructing and Enhancing

Plastic surgeons are medical specialists who focus on reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. They work with patients who have experienced birth defects, illnesses, injuries, or simply desire aesthetic enhancements. Plastic surgery training typically involves a 5-6 year residency program, with an additional 2-year fellowship for those interested in hand surgery.

Internal Medicine: Mastering the Intricacies of the Body

Internal medicine specialists are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases affecting the internal organs and body systems. Within internal medicine, subspecialties such as allergy and immunology require an additional 2-year fellowship program following the 3-year internal medicine residency.

8 Popular Types of Doctors & Years of Schooling – willpeachMD

After starting medical school, deciding on a specialty is a big decision. It takes years of education and hard work to become a doctor. You would need to complete your high school and then attend 

• 4 years of undergraduate
• 4 years of medical college
• 3-7 years for residency

In total it can take you about 11-15 years or more to become a doctor!

Here are the 8 most popular types of doctors and the years of residency/fellowship needed to reach the top of each career.

Types of Doctors

Dermatologists

Dermatologists focus on treating diseases related to skin, hair, and nails. They also take care of conditions such as skin cancer, acne, eczema, etc. 

Popular subspecialties include:

Dermatopathology:

They combine the study of dermatology and pathology. They examine skin, hair, and nail samples to diagnose diseases.

Pediatric Dermatology:

This is a field of dermatology that mainly focuses on children and treating and preventing diseases related to skin, hair, and nails in children.

Years of fellowship training:

Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine physicians work in the emergency room. They are often responsible for making life and death decisions. They need to be quick, work well under pressure, and help in preventing death or disability.

Popular subspecialties include:

Paediatric Emergency Medicine:

They mainly focus on teens and children who come to the emergency room. They are specialized in treating children who are acutely ill or injured.

Sports Medicine:

A branch of medicine that deals with preventing injury during sports and exercise.

Toxicology:

Toxicology physicians deal with monitoring, preventing, and treatment of injury and illness of diseases related to exposure to chemical, biological and radiological agents.

Years of fellowship training:

Family Medicine

Family medicine doctors focus on the health and well-being of the whole family. They are superficially trained in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology.

Popular subspecialties include:

Geriatrics:

Geriatric family doctors get additional training to treat older patients.

Years of fellowship training:

Neurology

A neurological specialist deals with diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral, nerves, and muscles. These include diseases such as Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, etc.  

Popular subspecialties include:

Electromyography (EMG):

Electromyography physicians specialize mainly in brain and nerve disorders. They play a major role in diagnosing muscle and nerve dysfunction.

Neuro-oncology:

Neurooncologists diagnose and treat tumors of the brain and nervous systems.

Neuromuscular diseases:

These types of doctors provide care for patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Years of fellowship training:

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmologists are responsible for preventing and treating eye diseases. They perform eye surgeries, treat infections, prescribe eyeglasses, etc.

Popular subspecialties include:

Neuro-ophthalmology:

A neuro-ophthalmologist is a doctor that specializes in eye diseases that result from neurological problems.

Retina:

A retina specialist is a doctor that specializes in eye conditions mainly related to the retina and the vitreous body of the eye. They are also called vitreoretinal specialists.

Glaucoma:

Glaucoma specialists are ophthalmologists that, after training, are skilled to treat patients with glaucoma.

Oculoplastic surgery:

Oncoplastic surgeons are specialized ophthalmologists that perform surgeries around the eye. These surgeries can be performed for cosmetic reasons or medical conditions.

Years of fellowship training:

Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgeons mainly work on reconstructive procedures. They help patients with birth defects, illnesses, burns, etc. Some also perform surgeries for cosmetic reasons.  

Popular subspecialties include:

Hand Surgery:

They are specialized in doing reconstructive procedures of the upper extremities. These include the fingers, wrists, arms, elbows, etc.

Years of fellowship training:

Internal Medicine

Internal medicine specialists are doctors that help in the treatment and prevention of internal diseases. They specialize in internal organs and the systems of the body.

Popular subspecialties include:

Allergy And Immunology:

These are physicians who are trained to treat different types of allergic and immunological diseases. For example, asthma, and other immunodeficiency disorders.

Cardiology:

Cardiology is a specialty of internal medicine that mainly deals with the heart and its disorders. It involves the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions such as congenital heart diseases, heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, electrophysiology, etc.

Critical Care:

These are skilled doctors that take care of patients who are critically ill, and in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Endocrinology:

Endocrinologists treat diseases that are related to different hormonal problems. These include diseases such as diabetes, thyroid problems, menopause, etc.

Hematology And Oncology:

These are doctors that are specialized in treating cancers of the blood. This includes screening, preventing, and treating blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, etc.

Years of fellowship training:

Obstetrics/Gynaecology:

An obstetrics/gynecologist is a doctor that specializes in female reproductive health. Obstetrics is mainly involved with pregnant women and delivering babies. While a gynecologist is involved in the overall health of the reproductive system and deals with, sexually transmitted disease, urinary tract diseases, cervical cancer, etc. Some doctors specialize in both fields.

Popular subspecialties include:

Infertility:

Infertility experts are doctors that help patients get pregnant who are unable to conceive. They deal with disorders for both males and females that may be the cause for the patient’s infertility.

Years of fellowship training:

Related Articles

• How Much Do Doctors Make A Day: Specialty Breakdowns

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

23 Types of Doctors and What They Do

Medical school is a long process that really begins in your undergraduate years as a pre-med student. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, all aspiring physicians must go to medical school for four years, and then complete a one year internship and a three or four year residency. It’s a lot of work, and that’s not even including all the grueling applications!

Doctors choose their medical specialty in their third year of medical school. Many of us are familiar with some of the different types of doctors, since we’ve seen specialists for a variety of reasons, but may not be as familiar with what those specialists do.

In addition to choosing their field of practice, doctors can also specialize further after their residencies by proceeding with a fellowship. For example, a surgeon can further specialize in orthopedic surgery, or an oncologist can specialize in a certain type of cancer. While we don’t have every breakdown of every specialist, you can find a list of common types of doctors below, which can serve as a point of reference when researching your future specialty.

23 Types of Doctors

The medical field is growing fast as our population ages and grows at a rapid pace. Overall, jobs for physicians and surgeons are expected to increase by 13% by 2026, which is faster than the overall national average for all jobs. This list is in order of mean salary. Keep in mind that salaries and job growth projections are not exact.

Podiatrist

Podiatrists are specialists in the feet and the lower limbs. They treat and manage pain and diseases, as well as injuries, to help keep people active and pain free. A lot of common issues are treatable by podiatrists, such as bunions. They can also help with ongoing issues or injuries.

Mean salary: $148,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2014)

General Practitioner

A general practitioner is trained to provide healthcare to patients of any sex or age. General practitioners often work as primary care physicians (PCPs), see their patients regularly, and are familiar with their medical backgrounds. Most people do (or should) see a PCP at least once a year. When you suspect something else is going on, your first stop is a PCP since they’re responsible for your overall care and well-being. They can then refer you to the right specialist.

Mean salary: $195,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2016)

Pediatrician

A pediatrician is a doctor that specializes in childhood medicine, or those under 18. Some pediatricians will see their patients until they are 21. Pediatricians oversee the health and development of babies and children. They administer vaccines. keep track of a child’s growth, and are the first contact when a child a sick.

Mean salary: $212,000

Job growth: 10% over 10 years (2014)

Endocrinologist

Endocrinologists specialize in glands and all the hormones they produce. Endocrinologists commonly treat diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and reproductive health. You may see an endocrinologist for any of the above, and will usually be referred by your PCP if you report symptoms or have related discrepancies in your blood work. Some endocrinologists do focus specifically on one area of the body. For example, a reproductive endocrinologists focuses on the reproductive system, and people often work with these doctors when seeking fertility treatments.

Mean salary: $212,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2014)

Neurologist

A neurologist focuses on the anatomy, functions, and disorders of the nerves and nervous systems. Neurologists work with people who have had strokes and those with degenerative diseases of the nervous system, like multiple sclerosis. If you exhibit loss of motor of cognitive function, you could be referred to a neurologist.

Mean salary: $244,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2014)

Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist is a specialist in internal medicine of joints, muscles, and bones. Another specialist on our list, an orthopedist, also works with the joints, muscles, and bones, but a rheumatologist is unique because they focus on the origin of the problem, and the body’s overall movement and health. Orthopedists tend to focus on more acute areas of pain and injury. We’ll get into more about orthopedists later. One of the main reasons to see a rheumatologist is because of arthritis, but they also work with patients who have tendinitis, lupus, gout, and more, to manage chronic pain.

Mean salary: $257,000

Job growth: 15% over 10 years (2016)

Allergist/Immunologist

Allergist/Immunologists are trained to treat allergies and disease of the immune system, such as asthma. If allergies can’t be managed by over the counter medicines, you may see an allergist. You may also go to an allergist/immunologist if you need ongoing support managing an autoimmune disease, like Celiac disease.

Mean salary: $272,000

Job growth: 14.9% over 10 years (2014)

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists focus exclusively on mental health. You may see a psychiatrist if you believe you have symptoms of mental illness. People usually seek out psychiatrists themselves, but some PCP’s now are adding mental health screenings to yearly checkups, and may provide a referral. Psychiatrists can specialize in more than one mental illness, and can also specialize in treating substance abuse. Psychiatrists can informally specialize in specific age groups, though some informally prefer to work with different ages and on different illnesses as they gain experience with patients.

Mean salary: $273,000

Job growth: 11% over 10 years (2016)

Nephrologist

Nephrology is a specialty that focuses on diseases of the kidneys. Nephrologists deal with failure and serious chronic conditions of the kidneys. If your PCP suspects you have a kidney specific disease, they will refer you to a nephrologist.

Mean salary: $294,000

Job growth: 15% over 10 years (2016)

OB/GYN

An obstetrician/gynecologist, this title is commonly shortened to OB/GYN. Gynecologists specialize in diseases of the female reproductive organs, and obstetricians specialize in pregnancy and childbirth. Doctors often specialize in both so that they can help patients with a full range of reproductive medicine. Common reasons for visiting an OB/GYN are: you’re seeking a contraceptive method, are experience irregular period symptoms or pelvic pain, or are seeking prenatal care. It’s also recommended that patients with female reproductive organs have an exam by the OB/GYN once per year.

Mean salary: $300,000

Job growth: 16% over 10 years (2016)

Pulmonologist

Pulmonologists focus on the the respiratory organs — the lungs, airway and respiratory muscles. the A PCP will refer you to a pulmonologist if you have a respiratory infection or a chronic issue, like COPD or sleep apnea.

Mean salary: $312,000

Job growth: 18% over 10 years (2012)

Surgeon

A surgeon’s primary function is to perform surgery. They analyze a patient’s health and history, and create a surgical plan that prioritize the patient’s safety and recovery. They also coordinate other staff that participates in surgery, and work with other physicians post-op.

You might see a surgeon for a variety of reasons. Surgeries are typically scheduled in advance, except emergency surgery. Surgeries can be major or minor, and have varying recovering times. Surgeons can specialize in many areas of medicine. Common specializations are cardiac surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and emergency surgeons.

Mean Salary: $322,000

Note: Specialized surgeons have the potential to earn more than general surgeons

Job growth: 20% over 10 years (2014)

Emergency Physician

Emergency physicians are trained as physicians, and then go through additional training to master their skills in acute diagnosis in illness and injury. You will see an emergency physician if experiencing a medical emergency and in the emergency room in a hospital. Medical professionals assess a condition in order to determine the immediacy of a medical emergency, and then doctors diagnose, prescribe treatment, and decide whether or not a patient needs to be admitted to the hospital.

Mean salary: $350,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2016)

Ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist is a type of eye doctor who is trained and certified to provide eye care and perform oral surgery. You would see an ophthalmologist if your PCP or optometrist suspects you have a more serious eye disease, or might need surgery. Some people choose to see ophthalmologists for annual eye exams as well.

Mean salary: $357,000

Job growth: 13% over 10 years (2016)

Oncologist

Oncologists are doctors that deal with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. You will see an oncologist if your usual doctor suspects you have cancer. Your oncologist will order tests, confirm, diagnose, and stage your cancer. They will also develop and oversee your treatment plan. Many other people will be involved in a cancer care team, but an oncologist is the leader of that team.

Oncologists have a wide range of specialties, and almost all of them further specialize once they complete their oncology training. Oncologists can specialize in most types of cancer.

Mean salary: $363,000

Job growth: 18% by 2022

Urologist

A urologist specializes in function and treatment of the urinary system. If your PCP thinks thinks you have symptoms a urinary disease, such as excessive urinating, they will refer you to a urologist. Urologists often work with other doctors to treat illnesses; for example, a urologist may be involved in treating prostate of bladder cancer alongside an oncologist.

Mean salary: $373,000

Job growth: 15% over 10 years (2016)

Otolaryngologist

Otolaryngologists are often referred to as ENTs, for Ear, Nose, and Throat. ENTs work with diseases of the ear, nose, and throat, hence the nickname. You may see an ENT for infections or for chronic issues like a deviated septum.

Mean salary: $383,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2016)

Anesthesiologist

Anesthesiologists are pain managers. They oversee pain medications, and administer them during surgeries; we mostly know anesthesiologists as the ones who “put us to sleep” for surgery, and administer a wide range of pain medicines. Though you’re unlikely to see an anesthesiologist outside of the hospital, you’ll work with one before and after surgery to make sure you’re not in pain and your body is healthy overall. Some anesthesiologists do work with patients in the maintenance of chronic pain, and other specialize in different areas of medicine like pediatrics or obstetrics.

Mean salary: $386,000

Job growth: 15% over 10 years (2016)

Dermatologist

A dermatologist is a doctor specializing in the skin. Dermatologists treat chronic and short-term, including cancer, psoriasis, and acne. A primary care doctor would refer you to a dermatologist if a skin condition was beyond the scope of their understanding, or needed more advances care.

Mean salary: $392,000

Job growth: 14% over 10 years (2014)

Radiologist

Radiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating illnesses using medical imaging. Radiologists work with MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, and PET scans. They can decide what tests to run, oversee the tests, and review them to make a diagnosis. Radiologists often work with other care providers; for example, if you came into the ER with a head injury, you would see an emergency doctor, a radiologist, and possible others depending on the diagnosis and extent of the injury.

Radiologists specialize in the types of diseases they diagnose, such as radiation oncology. They can also specialize in interventional or diagnostic radiology, and can help provide diagnoses and treatment plans depending on their specializations.

Mean salary: $401,000

Job growth: 18% over 10 years (2013)

Gastroenterologist

A gastroenterologist is a doctor who manages the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver. Persistent symptoms like stomach pain, heartburn, and diarrhea could send you to the gastroenterologist.

Mean salary: $408,000

Job growth: 18% over 10 years (2012)

Cardiologist

Cardiologists treat and diagnose problems with the heart and blood vessels. Cardiologists focus on preventative care, while a cardiac surgeon is responsible for surgery.

Usually, a primary care physician will refer a patient to a cardiologist if the PCP suspects something isn’t right with the heart and cardiovascular system. The cardiologist can then run tests and decide on a treatment plan. Some sub-specialties include invasive or noninvasive cardiologists. Invasive means that they perform tests that are internal, while noninvasive cardiologists only perform tests that are external, like echocardiograms.

Mean salary: $423,000

Job growth: 20% over 10 years (2015)

Orthopedist

Orthopedic doctors treat musculoskeletal problems. They often work with injuries like broken bones, torn ligaments, etc. Orthopedists can also treat chronic issues in the hips, back, and neck, as well as treat arthritis.

You’re the most likely to see an orthopedist if you’ve sustained an injury. Some injuries will heal on their own, but injuries that cause serious pain and greatly decreased mobility should be looked at by an orthopedist.

Mean salary: $497,000

Job Growth: 14% over 10 years (2016)

How to Choose a Medical Specialty

We’ve described the common types of doctors, but how do you pick the right one for you?

Understand Why Your Speciality Matters

Without a doubt, choosing a medical specialty is a huge decision, since there are many different types of doctors. You have to consider your interests, and what your goals will be once you’re a physician. Some students aim to specialize in an area where there is a lack of physicians, or work toward a specific cause.

Others want to specialize in something they’re interested in, and continue working in research spaces. Picking your specialization comes with a lot of pressure, since the intense and specific training makes it hard to switch if you change your mind. Luckily, there are resources available to help make this decision, and preparing in advance can help you make smart decisions for your medical career.

Explore Different Options

Most medical schools offer shadowing and internship programs. It might be helpful to even look into shadowing and interning when you’re pre-med, so you have time to try different things to see if you like them. Some students begin shadowing even as high schoolers.

Shadowing also helps you understand the culture among doctors within that field, what type of patients you’ll be seeing, and the potential mental and emotional toll. Some specializations deal more directly with vulnerable people and life and death situations, so you need to be prepared.

Consider Other Factors

It’s also important to consider the skill set you’ve developed when choosing what type of physician you wan to be. You may be very interested in cardiac surgery, but did better in courses related to urology. Since you’re going to be practicing your specialization for many years, you have to make sure you will find it rewarding and challenging.

You’ll also need to have at least one backup specialty in mind. Some fields are more competitive, and since the specialization process relies on matching, you may not get matched to your preferred specialty. It’s best to make sure you have at least two specialties that you’re very enthusiastic about and would be equally as happy receiving. 

Residencies are matched through an application process like a job, so you have to make sure that your resume is tailored to those specializations. It’s good to start thinking about it early on, so you can decide if it’s right for you and have time to build a strong application to that field.

Professors and doctors can help guide you. They might be able to see something you’ve missed, like that you’re great with kids, or that you were passionate about vaccination or immunology. Since they’re already practicing and teaching, they’re an integral part in helping you learn about the different types of physicians and where you see yourself. 

Becoming a doctor is a long journey, filled with difficult decisions that will impact your future. A lot of aspiring doctors have been thinking about becoming a doctor since they were young, and are ready to jump into the process full speed ahead. Remember, being a physician is not only important to you, but to your future patients. Make sure to trust your advisers and trust your gut when making these decisions, so that your career as a physician is everything you’ve dreamed of, and you know you’re doing your best work.

What’s Next?

Thinking about becoming a doctor? Make sure you start early! Check out these 59 Great Medical Programs for High School Students and read about How to Prepare for Pre-Med in High School.

If you’re looking at taking your next steps, check out this guide to The 11 Best Pre-Med Schools and our guide on what to expect from your pre-med program.

While you’re at it, add to your reading list with The 7 Books Every Pre-Med Student should read.

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About the Author

Carrie holds a Bachelors in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, and is currently pursuing an MFA. She worked in book publishing for several years, and believes that books can open up new worlds. She loves reading, the outdoors, and learning about new things.

How many years study at the Medical University.

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Terms of study: from admission to graduation

Physicians are trained only full-time. At medical universities they study for a long time, from 5.5-6 years. Becoming a doctor takes a lot of patience and effort.

The training program must be chosen according to preferences. Studying will not bring benefits and pleasure to students if there is no interest in the specialty. Choosing the difficult path of a physician means analyzing the following risks before admission and accepting them:

• big competition;
• admission difficulties and high requirements, in-depth knowledge of chemistry, biology;
• the specifics of the specialty may turn out to be psychologically difficult – one has to deal with open wounds, injuries. – paraphrase

There is no need to idealize the chosen program – it has pluses and minuses. The term of training for specialists is from 5.5 to 6 years at the full-time department, depending on whether the applicant enters after school or after college.

Doctors are always and everywhere needed – this dignity of the specialty is indisputable. With such an education, you can always find a job. It is important to know the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen program.

Colleges provide secondary vocational education. The duration of study is shorter and the cost is less. They enter the university for a degree. They study longer there and pay more money for education.

Residency is required for doctors to obtain a narrower focus (urologist, gynecologist, cardiologist, surgeon, neurologist). Depending on the direction, residency lasts from 2 to 4 years. They go there after graduating.

College years

College occupations:

• pharmacist;
• nurse/brother;
• paramedic.

After 9th grade students study for 3 years and 10 months. After grade 11 – 2 years and 10 months.

You don’t need to take the Unified State Examination to get into college, it’s cheaper to study there. In a few years you can go to work. But with such qualifications, it is difficult to move up the career ladder and earn a lot, so many graduates enter universities.

After the 9th grade of the school, in the first year they study both general education and highly specialized subjects. They study drugs, their properties, how and when they are prescribed. the structure of the human body and how its organs work. They go through the basics of the specialty and how to provide medical services.

Terms of study at the university

5.5 – 6 years of study to become a general practitioner. Dentist – 5 years.

They always go to classes in a cap and a white coat, even in philosophy, a foreign language. There should be several kits. They need to be washed regularly and always taken with you.

The first course is the most difficult. Its end is the time when every fifth student wants to drop out. Freshmen are repelled by the complexity of the subjects, the strictness of the teachers, and the heavy workload. Many cannot stand the sight of wounds, blood, corpses.

After 11th grade they study for 6 years, after college – 5.5 years. Graduates undergo primary accreditation. They test their theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

After successful completion, you can work as a therapist. To become a surgeon, a cardiologist, a doctor of another narrow focus, you need to study in residency.

Admission conditions

With a secondary medical education, they pass entrance examinations in the Russian language, biology, chemistry. To enter after school, you need to pass the exam.

Applicants with Russian citizenship submit a package of documents, consisting of: application, personal data questionnaire, certificate, passport, photographs, health certificate.

Medicine – for those who know the natural sciences. In the absence of basic knowledge, it is better to choose a college or another direction.

When choosing a private school, make sure you are accredited. You need to be sure that this will not cause obstacles in obtaining a diploma and starting a career.

Peculiarities of the educational process

There is a so-called “primary dropout” in a medical university – after finishing one semester, many leave. First-year students are frightened by anatomy, the smell of formalin. On the model, it will not be possible to find out the features of the operation, the location of the organs. I have to work with corpses, periodically visit the pathoanatomical department. Working with biomaterial is obligatory, therefore impressionable people are advised not to enter the medical field.

Another feature is what third-year students experience. During this period, the student has already received a decent amount of skills, developed memory. Skills are poorly structured. A picture arises – the student begins to discover the symptoms of many studied diseases (the so-called “third-year syndrome”).

Medical school is characterized by strict discipline. It is not easy to study – lateness, absenteeism, debts are prohibited. If you do not submit work on time and miss classes, expulsion is guaranteed.

Each applicant must assess the prospects, the demand for the profession. Medicine is an opportunity to develop in different directions. A prestigious profession is worth the effort, maximum willpower. To obtain a diploma requires perseverance, endurance, love for the chosen field.

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How many years to study to be a doctor?

How many years to study to be a doctor?

Subjects: colleges, universities, medical education0105 3-4 years , in universities – 5-6 years . Immediately after graduation, graduates of honey. colleges have the opportunity to get a job in a hospital or clinic. Depending on the specialty they have acquired, they can work as a nurse (brother), midwife, diagnostic laboratory assistant, massage therapist, paramedic, dental technician, pharmacist, etc. In addition to higher medical education, a graduate must receive a certificate of specialist accreditation. Without accreditation, he does not have the right to engage in independent medical or pharmaceutical activities. He can only work in low positions and under the supervision of accredited medical specialists or engage in other activities not related to the direct management of patients. In 2016, a law was adopted on the phased abolition of internships (Order No. 127n dated February 25, 2016). This means that immediately after graduation, specialists receive a diploma, then they are accredited and can start practical medical activities or go to residency. Medical graduates who have passed accreditation can continue their studies in residency . The duration of residency training has not yet been finally determined and may vary depending on the specialty (for example, neurosurgeons study for at least 5 years, and a pediatrician for only 2 years). Upon completion of residency, graduates are also accredited. Residency graduates have the opportunity to continue their education in postgraduate studies. A postgraduate student can receive a PhD degree after 3 years of full-time study or after 4 years of part-time study. Candidate of Sciences has the right to enter doctoral studies. The term of study here is 3 years. However, it is worth noting that postgraduate and doctoral studies are not compulsory. Now, after doing some calculations, you will find out that today the path to becoming a doctor can take from 4 to 22 years old (college – university – residency – postgraduate – doctoral studies). It all depends on what goals the future specialist sets for himself. And if we also take into account refresher courses and accreditation once every five years, it turns out that a healthcare specialist studies all his life. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website