Path to Surgery: Academic Requirements and Training

Pre-med:

- Biology (including lab)

- Chemistry (including lab)

- Physics (including lab)

- Math (including calculus)

- English

- Humanities or social sciences

Medical school:

- Four years of medical school, which includes coursework and clinical rotations.

Residency:

- Five to eight years of surgical residency, during which you will work under the supervision of experienced surgeons.

Fellowship:

- One to two years of fellowship, which is optional but can help you specialize in a particular area of surgery.

Board certification:

- After completing your residency and fellowship, you will need to pass the American Board of Surgery (ABS) exam to become board-certified.

Continuing education:

- Surgeons must complete continuing education credits throughout their career to stay up-to-date on the latest advances in surgical techniques and patient care.