High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's Degree

Medical School Graduate

Complete an internship

Pass a state licensing exam

Complete a five-year residency program in surgery

Pass additional exams to become board certified

May be on-call for emergencies.

May work nights or weekends if an emergency room surgeon.

May have an unpredictable schedule if an emergency room surgeon.

SURGEONS will:

Repair organs, blood vessels, and other parts of the body.

Treat people who are seriously injured in accidents.

SURGEONS frequently:

Work with teams of people that include nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgical technologists.

Make sure everything is sterile and all safety precautions are followed during a surgery.

Specialize in one area of the body or one type of disorder.

Are exposed to infection and diseases from contact with patients on a daily basis.

It is important that SURGEONS be able to:

Must be very exact in their work and be sure all details are complete. Errors or omissions could seriously endanger the health and safety of patients.

Stay current on advances in medicine.