An individual interested in an orthopedic surgeon career needs approximate eight years of education and about five years of training.
An orthopedic surgeon diagnoses and treats medical conditions of the musculoskeletal system such as arthritis, cerebral palsy and osteoporosis. If you're interested in an orthopedic surgeon career, you need approximately eight years of education and about five years of training. Also, you must meet licensure requirements before practicing as an orthopedic surgeon. According to Degree Finder, in 2009, an orthopedic surgeon earned a salary from $310,276 to $497,585 a year.
Undergraduate Degree
As a first step, you would pursue a four-year undergraduate degree. Although you can't major in orthopedic surgery at the undergraduate level, the degree is the minimum requirement to work in the orthopedic field. The four-year degree includes courses in humanities, English, math and social sciences. You should to take medical courses during undergraduate study to prepare for an orthopedic surgeon career. For instance, you may major in pre-medical studies and take inorganic and organic chemistry, biology and physics.
Medical School Preparation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), you must prepare for entrance into a medical college while studying as an undergraduate. Typically, a person volunteers at a clinic or hospital to gain practical experience in the health field. You would also need a high grade point average and letters of recommendation.
Orthopedic Surgery Degree
You must complete four years of orthopedic surgeon education. You would enroll in a program accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
During the first two years you divide time between classroom and laboratory instruction. You receive training in diagnosing medical conditions, examining patients and taking patients' medical histories. Also, you'd take courses in biochemistry, medical ethics and anatomy. During the last two years you'd gain practical experience by working in health care clinics or hospitals and complete rotation in different areas of medicine such as family practice, gynecology and surgery. Under the direction of a supervisor you will work with patients, diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
Residency Training
After graduation you will undergo five years of residency training. The residency includes one year of general surgery training and four years of orthopedic training, according to Degree Finders. The latter gives you training in hand surgery, orthopedic trauma and pediatric orthopedics.
Licensure
An orthopedic surgeon needs to be licensed to practice. The American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) offers the licensure. The examination includes a combination of oral and written sections. You must meet requirements, such as completing a residency program to take the examination. According to Surgery Channel, the licensure needs to re-take the examination every seven to 10 years to continue practicing.
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