How many years of college do you have to go through to become a neurosurgeon?

Answer 1

The brain, with all its millions of neural connections, weighs just 3 pounds. Cutting one open requires nerves of steel, guts and intellect. If you think you've got the right stuff--and the patience to train for 14 to 20 years--read on. Steps: 1. Ask yourself whether you have what it takes to do the job before you commit to decades of training. Brain surgeons not only need skill, stamina and dexterity, but also have to keep their cool in highly emotional situations. Interview several neurosurgeons. 2. Get into the best school you can (see 150 Get Into a Top College or University) and earn a four-year pre-med degree. Some medical schools require only three years of pre-med studies, but most applicants have a bachelor's or advanced degree. Excel in Biology, chemistry and mathematics. 3. Prepare for fierce competition when applying to medical school. Schools look at transcripts, letters of recommendation and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, as well as extracurricular activities. Find out from medical students what to expect in your interview with a medical school's admissions committee. See 151 Ace the College Admissions Tests and 155 Get Into Grad School. 4. Go to medical school. (A few schools combine pre-med and medical school into a six-year program, but usually you face four years of undergraduate study and four years of medical school.) In the first two years, you will take classes and begin to examine patients. In the second two years, you will gain real-life experience under the tutelage of practicing physicians. 5. Complete six grueling years of residency in neurosurgery, your chosen specialty. Finally you've attained a paid position. If you're like many brain surgeons, you'll spend another year or two doing advanced study in neuroscience. 6. Pass a licensing exam in any state. Many--but not all--states allow reciprocity, which means you don't have to get licensed again if you move to a new state. 7. Become board certified in neurosurgery. This involves studying for and taking a rigorous professional test. It isn't necessarily required to get a job but may be expected later. 8. Find a job through your professional network. Ask the program director of your residency program to spread the word that you're looking for work. Network at meetings of professional societies and look at the employment ads in professional journals. See 201 Make a Networking Plan. Overall Tips: Unless you're independently wealthy, look into major financial assistance. Only 20 percent of medical students get through school without borrowing money. Even after two decades of training, you'll keep studying. To deliver the best care, you need to stay on top of medical advances throughout your career. Surgeons earned a median annual income of $255,438 in 2002. Fifty years ago, half of brain surgeries were fatal. Now it's less than 10 percent. Overall Warnings: Brain surgery is physically as well as mentally demanding. You need stamina to stand still for hours, performing minute surgical moves. Expect to pay an outrageously high price for malpractice insurance. Premiums have risen so much in recent years that some surgeons have gone on strike to protest them.

Answer 2

to become a neurosurgeon, one must:

graduate from an accredited medical school (four years);

complete a six month to one-year surgical internship program, to build fundamental clinical skills;

Complete five to seven years in a neurosurgical residency program accredited by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and/or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). During residency training, neurosurgeons are trained in all aspects of neurosurgery, including the cerebrovascular system, the spine and spinal cord, trauma, tumors, pain management and pediatric surgery. Residents must complete a minimum of 60 months of training in the neurological sciences, with at least 36 of those months devoted to clinical neurosurgery and a minimum of three months devoted to clinical neurology

Answer 3

Neurosurgery has one of the longest training periods of any medical specialty due to the extreme complexity of the nervous system and the advanced techniques used in neurosurgical operations. To become a neurosurgeon, a physician must accomplish the following: * graduate from an accredited medical school (four years); * complete a six month to one-year surgical internship program, to build fundamental clinical skills; * complete five to seven years in a neurosurgical residency program accredited by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). During residency training, neurosurgeons are trained in all aspects of neurosurgery, including the cerebrovascular system, the spine and spinal cord, trauma, tumors, pain management and pediatric surgery. Residents must complete a minimum of 60 months of training in the neurological sciences, with at least 36 of those months devoted to clinical neurosurgery and a minimum of three months devoted to clinical neurology. Some neurosurgeons opt to complete an additional fellowship in a particular specialized area of study after their residency.

Answer 4

In the United States, a neurosurgeon must generally complete four years of college, four years of medical school, a year-long internship (PGY-1) that is usually affiliated with their residency program, and five to six years of neurosurgery residency (PGY-2-7).[3] Most, but not all, residency programs have some component of basic science or clinical research. Neurosurgeons may pursue an additional training in a fellowship, after residency or in some cases, as a senior resident. These fellowships include pediatric neurosurgery, trauma/neurocritical care, functional and stereotactic surgery, surgical neuro-oncology, radiosurgery, neurovascular surgery, Interventional neuroradiology, peripheral nerve, spine surgery and skull base surgery.[4] Neurosurgeons can also pursue fellowship training inneuropathology and neuro-ophthalmology.

Answer 5

It would take four years for The Bachelor's degree with completion of all prerequisite coursework required by medical schools and four years of medical school. While many individuals who pursue a career as a physician major in biology at the undergraduate level, many others come from a variety of other educational backgrounds. The best major to take should be based on a contingency plan. In other words, what happens if you do not go to medical school? What will you be able to do with the degree that you have, and will it provide you with a satisfying career or career path? You should meet with a career counselor at the college or university you attend for what options exist for you. The important issue is acquiring the appropriate prerequisites required for medical school. The student should have a strong background in the following areas.

• Communication (written and oral)
• Higher level math's (algebra, trigonometry, calculus)
• Biology (cell biology, biology of the organism)
• Chemistry (inorganic, organic)
• Physics
• Computer literacy
• Development of good critical thinking skills.

Following the bachelor's degree, would be four years of medical school to obtain the MD or DO degree. There will also be an additional three or more years to complete the internship and residency requirements depending on the specialty.

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Answer 6

Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation-4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 rather than the customary 8 years.

Answer 7

Medical schools (in the U.S. anyway) are four years. However, an additional 7 years are required to become a neurosurgeon (with few exceptions).

Answer 8

4 years of medical school

4+ years of residency

2+ years of fellowship

Answer 9

You need to go to medical school for about 10 years. Then you need to spend another 6 to 8 years in residency as a neurosurgeon.