Neurosurgeons require a high level of education and training to practice. They should also possess licenses and certifications, and have certain hard and soft skills to excel in the role. Neurosurgeons need a medical degree to become doctors. Degrees in pre-medicine, biology or psychology can prepare undergraduates for medical school. Students should focus on coursework in anatomy, microbiology, physiology and chemistry. Students can complete an allopathic or osteopathic medical program. After finishing an allopathic medical program, students earn a Doctor of Medicine M.
Osteopathic medical programs offer a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine D. Both programs typically last four years and teach students a variety of medical techniques and practices. In the first two years of school, students gain a foundational knowledge of medicine, including anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, patient interaction and infectious diseases. They receive most of their instruction through lectures and laboratory classes.
In the final two years of school, students undergo rotations in which they shadow doctors in hospitals and clinics. Rotations in the third year usually last four to six weeks and can focus on different medical specialties, such as pediatrics, emergency medicine and surgery.
In the fourth year, students complete longer rotations in which they learn more about the specific field they wish to enter. Students complete this day-long exam on a computer in an approved testing center.
Contains two exam portions—clinical knowledge and clinical skills. The clinical knowledge portion is a computer-based exam that students complete in an approved testing center. For the clinical skills section, students must perform patient encounters in which they complete basic examinations in a simulated environment. Most students complete Step 2 in their fourth year of school. Focuses on advanced knowledge in the medical field and the ability to apply practical concepts to real-life situations.
Step 3 is a two-day exam in which students complete a multiple-choice test and undergo simulated patient encounters. Some students choose to complete Step 3 directly after graduating from medical school while others wait until their first year of residency. Neurosurgeons gain most of their experience during residencies and fellowships. Once students graduate from medical school, they complete a one-year internship in a teaching hospital. After the internship, they undergo a residency that typically lasts seven to eight years.
During this residency, they learn the complexities of the brain and spinal cord and how to treat conditions that affect this system. In the first few years of a residency, they assist in medical procedures and shadow experienced neurosurgeons in operating rooms. In their final years, residents perform surgeries under the strict guidance of licensed medical professionals.
Some neurosurgeons undergo fellowships directly following their residencies. A fellowship allows a neurosurgeon to specialize in specific areas, such as pediatric neurosurgery, spine surgery or cerebrovascular surgery.
Fellowships could last one to three years. All medical doctors must earn state licensure to practice. Neurosurgeons also need to earn a neurosurgery board certification. While there is not a specific degree required for undergraduate study, aspiring neurosurgeons tend to concentrate their coursework in advanced biological sciences to meet admission requirements for medical school.
They must graduate from an accredited bachelor's degree program with pre-med prerequisite courses, such as microbiology and biochemistry. Also recommended are classes in English, advanced mathematics, and statistics. Most medical schools require a grade point average of at least 3. During undergraduate study it is also important for students to gain experience that will set them apart from other medical school applicants and prepare them for their chosen career.
This experience may include volunteering at a hospital, performing community service, and research work. Especially valuable are job shadowing programs, which allow students to follow neurosurgeons and other doctors throughout a workday. All of these activities demonstrate work ethic and dedication to the medical field. Whenever possible, these experiences should be documented on letters of recommendation, which can be submitted with medical school applications. Many schools share their incoming student MCAT score average on their website to inform undergraduates of how well they need to score to compete with other applicants.
To achieve their highest possible MCAT score, students are encouraged to take advantage of assistance available to them. This includes study materials, pre-tests, practice tests, and online and in-person tutoring.
These resources are designed to ensure that students attain the best possible score, which will open doors to medical schools. Medical school is a very challenging four years of study that is divided into two parts. The first part, comprising the first two years of the schooling, is focused on course and lab work that prepares students intellectually for patient interaction.
There are a number of tools a neurosurgeon must utilize to successfully treat nervous system conditions. These tools include cutting-edge technology and radiology utensils.
Additionally, neurosurgeons perform several intricate techniques that allow them to practice various types of surgery. Common tools that require procedural experience include:. Common types of surgery performed by neurosurgeons include:. Related: 12 Popular Careers in Neuroscience. There are several different subspecialties a neurosurgeon can choose to focus on.
Common neurosurgical subspecialties include:. Most neurosurgeons spend up to 12 years or more completing the education required to pursue this career. These years include school, internships, residencies and fellowships. Neurosurgeons must also take a licensure examination to become licensed medical doctors before they can legally practice medicine.
Because of how long it takes to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon, most neurosurgeons do not begin actually practicing neurosurgery until they are in their 30s if they began schooling right after high school. Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. Career Development. What are the neurosurgeon education requirements? Bachelor's degree. Medical school. Medical licensing exam.
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