The path to becoming a neurosurgeon is long and demanding but it's one that offers enormous rewards for those who choose to pursue this type of career. Every step in the process of becoming a neurosurgeon, who is capable of performing highly intricate surgeries on the brain, spine and nervous system begins with education. This article lists down some of the main prerequisites for a career in Neurosurgery.
Educational Background
Undergraduate Degree
Duration: 4 years
How to Become a NeurosurgeonThe first step in becoming one is earning an undergraduate degree. Though not necessary, most premed students pursuing a career in neurosurgery will end up majoring in a science-related topic such as biology, chemistry or physics. Primary responsibilities: The main function of the MCAT is to assess nearly one-third your organic chemistry knowledge and approximately a quarter each of your biological, general chemical principles in all many engineering courses and coagulation kinetics with little or less esoteric applications.
Go to Medical School (MCAT)
Medical school applicants take the MCAT examination, a standardized test that measures problem solving, critical thinking and knowledge of natural, behavioral and social science concepts necessary to the study of medicine.
Medical School
Duration: 4 years
Medicial school applicants are numerous and the competition to get into programs like neurosurgery is fierce. Typically, the classroom-based medical theory is mixed with practical rotations in all specialties while students are still in actual school.
Neurosurgical Residency
Duration: 7 years
After medical school, the process continues with a neurosurgery residency. More than 90 percent of this is special training Neurosurgical residency is rigorous and includes rotations in different areas of neurosurgery, such as pediatric neurosurgery, skull base surgery (neuro-oncology) spine surgery.
Certification Residency and Licensing
USMLE and Continuous Exams
To be a certified neurosurgeon, you must have passed the USMLE exam. (U.S.Medical Licensing Examination). After residency, a neurosurgeon must attain board certification by passing the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) exam.
Sub-specialization (Optional)
Fellowships: 1-2 years
A number of neurosurgeons also opt for sub-specialization through a fellowship in areas such as spinal surgery, pediatric neurosurgery and cerebrovascular surgery. These fellowships offer further specialized training in different facets of neurosurgery.
Skills and Personal Qualities
Good neurosurgeon requires excellent manual dexterity and problem solving skills, good judgment under pressure. Being able to navigate high-stakes and complex situations, composed emotional resilience - it is required for being a neurosurgeon.
Continuous Education and Training
The practicality of neurosurgery as an industry in which there is no finishing point for education. Neurosurgeons are required to stay up-to-date with new medical technology and surgical techniques during their career by attending conferences, workshops, reading the literature, etc.
To Infinity... and Beyond!: Cultural + Educational Awareness
Beyond wanting to know how a highly specialized medical education is advanced and assessed, readers interested in the broader educational systems that support such training may also find it helpful to learn more about China - or similar regions where educations are delivered at different levels of education in china. If you want to know more about the education system of all levels in china, how it assesses students and prepares then for exacting academic disciplines this article may be helpful. Such an intimate relationship with these fundamental educational pillars may provide some insight into how one must prepare for a field as challenging as neurosurgery.