One of the most arduous and prolonged paths within all of the medical community is that of a neurosurgeon. It requires not only high level academic preparation, but also years of intensive training. In hitting the high points (and there are far more low ones) of an educational timeline for aspiring neurosurgeons from college, through medical school and residency. Cameco breaks it all down.
Undergraduate Education
Duration: 4 Years
To become a neurosurgeon, you will need to first obtain a 4-year undergraduate degree. Many neurosurgeons major in biology, chemistry, physics or other related fields as part of their overall pre-med track. The basic education is necessary to equip the students with relevant medical knowledge needed for further studies and also to write Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Medical School
Duration: 4 Years
It is a four year program after you have receive an undergraduate degree. In general, the 1st and 2nd years of medical school are devoted to classroom and laboratory instruction. The remainder of the four-year program is made up of two years of clinical rotations in a wide range of medical disciplines, such as general surgery, neurology, etc., giving students first hand exposure to diagnosing and treating patients.
Residency Program
Duration: 6-8 Years
After medical school, they enter residency program in neurosurgery which is the real start of specialization in neurosurgery. It is neurosurgery residency and again notoriously brutal, taking six to eight years typically. This time has specific training in neurosurgical operations, patient care, and regular research for residents.
Fellowship (Optional)
Duration: 1-2 Years
They may also opt to participate in a fellowship after residency. These are programs for further specialized training in particular areas of neurosurgery, like pediatric neurosurgery, spinal surgery or cerebrovascular surgery and usually last one to two years.
CE requirements and board certification
Ongoing Throughout Career
After completing a residency—and often also a fellowship—neurosurgeons must pass a difficult board certification examination given by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. You can also expect neurosurgeons to continue learning more about their field throughout their careers as the medical field continues to advance human knowledge.
The total path to become a practicing neurosurgeon generally is 14 to 16 years post high school education. Given the stakes in neurosurgery and nature of issues facing practitioners, this rigorous training is necessary.
Read this link to learn how many hours a day Chinese students attend school for those of you curious about the student workloads demanded from other competitive fields, especially in another culture. By delving into these education systems, we gain an understanding of the global academic landscape and the kind of hard work that goes into different fields.