Becoming an orthopedic surgeon is a long and arduous journey. Many people make the mistake of thinking that it’s easy to become an orthopedic surgeon, but in reality, it takes years of hard work and dedication.
The first thing you need to do is go to school. You should get your bachelor’s degree in biology or kinesiology, as well as your medical doctorate from an accredited school. This will take about 10 years to complete if you start out in high school. After that, you’ll need another 3-4 years for residency training in orthopedics and sports medicine at a hospital or clinic before you can practice on your own.
If you want to become an orthopedic surgeon, make sure that you have the right personality traits as well—you need someone who is willing to spend hours upon hours studying every day without fail! Only then will you be able to succeed at becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
How To Become An Orthopedic Surgeon
Orthopedic surgeons are medical specialists who focus on the structural systems of the human body. They are both physicians and surgeons who prevent, diagnose and treat conditions related to bones and muscles. Orthopedic surgeons undergo extensive training and participate in ongoing education to advance their skills as they relate to scientific breakthroughs or technological innovations. In this article, we explain who orthopedic surgeons are, what they do and outline the steps it takes to become one of these specialized surgeons.
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What is an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedic surgeons gain vast knowledge of the diseases and injuries that affect the musculoskeletal system. This system includes the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Orthopedic surgeons treat congenital concerns like scoliosis, injuries such as broken hips, or degenerative diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis.
Orthopedic surgeons focus on improving the life of their patients through therapies and treatments. They address the root causes of pain or determine why a patient lacks mobility in order to form a treatment plan and restore quality of life. In the course of their day, an orthopedic surgeon may correct bone deformities through surgery, prescribe medications and treatments or prescribe non-surgical treatments in the form of medication or rehabilitative physical therapy.
What does an orthopedic surgeon do?
Orthopedic surgeons perform surgeries or treatments to improve a patient’s condition, relieve ongoing pain or suppress degeneration. For example, scheduling a hip replacement may alleviate arthritis pain, restore mobility and arrest bone loss.
The musculoskeletal system is a complex network of bone and muscle and orthopedic surgeons are adept at the mechanical aspects of surgery to treat the body’s entire structural system.
Although a good part of their day is spent in surgery, orthopedic surgeons also:
- Consult with patients
- Educate patients on their condition
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests like MRIs or X-rays
- Perform surgical techniques such as arthroscopy to diagnose joint issues or set broken bones
- Prescribe medication or post-surgery rehabilitation
- Account for bacterial or viral infections
- Address genetic conditions
- Complete accurate charting for patient records
- Be on call to respond to emergencies like car accidents or trauma
Read more: Learn About Being an Orthopedic Surgeon
Why should you consider becoming an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedic surgeons work to return patients to their normal lifestyle through surgery or therapy. This can yield immediate results so patients can feel better sooner than later, leading to job satisfaction and fulfillment. These professionals help their patients return to health and contribute to positive improvements in people’s lives.
Orthopedic surgeons regularly work with new advancements such as robotics or implants. They might choose to become specialists in their field, such as treating sports injuries and working with professional sports teams. Orthopedic surgeons may choose to practice orthopedic oncology to remove tumors from the musculoskeletal system, potentially saving lives.
Orthopedic surgeons typically work:
- In solo practice
- For a private practice group
- In academia (teaching hospitals)
- For government agencies
- In the military
Related: 10 Popular Sports Medicine Careers
Requirements for becoming an orthopedic surgeon
On the average, it takes approximately 14 years to meet all the requirements to become a board certified orthopedic surgeon. Because they study the vast and complex nature of the body’s framework, future orthopedic surgeons must have excellent test scores, a high GPA, and recommendations from their teachers or employers.
The typical path to board certification is:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree
- Pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Complete medical school as DO or MD
- Complete residency
- Complete fellowship
- Earn national and/or state license
- Become board certified
How to become an orthopedic surgeon
Orthopedic surgeons invest substantial time and energy into extensive education and training before entering this challenging environment. Orthopedists spend many years studying the vast and complex musculoskeletal system and may advance to a subspecialty or specialize in specific areas of the body such as the spine, ankle or hand.
Here are the seven steps to become an orthopedic surgeon:
1. Earn a degree
First, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Coursework includes the study of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and English. Students can take pre-med classes or apply for an internship and choose science-based electives. On the average, it takes four years to earn a bachelor’s degree.
2. Pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
Next, you’ll sit for a seven hour test to prove your fitness for medical school. The test comprises individually scored sections to earn an overall score between 472-528. Potential orthopedic surgeons should score as high as possible.
MCAT section focuses:
- Physical Sciences
- CARS
- Biological Sciences
- Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior
3. Attend medical school
Once you’ve passed the MCAT, you’ll apply to medical school. Orthopedic surgeons earn their medical degree as either a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). During four years of medical school, you’ll study:
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Genetics
You’ll also participate in clinical rotations in standard medical specialties such as:
- Surgery
- Medicine
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Radiology
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
4. Complete residency
Next, you’ll spend five years of on-the-job training during a residency. Students spend the first two or more years in general surgery then advance to orthopedic procedure during the last few years. During this time, students work alongside attending physicians and gain confidence in their abilities while learning to build patient rapport.
5. Complete a fellowship
Most orthopedic surgeons go on to complete a fellowship for in-depth study of a particular body part, or to enter a subspecialty. A fellowship generally takes one to two years to complete and is where orthopedic surgeons study:
- Hand, foot, ankle, spine surgery
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Orthopedic oncology
- Reconstructive surgery
- Surgical sports medicine
6. Earn your license
Once training requirements are met, orthopedic surgeons take and pass the national US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure Examination (COMLEX) in order to practice medicine. Licensing requirements can vary from state-to-state, so it’s best to find out if your locale has additional licensing requisites.
7. Become board certified
Once licensed, orthopedic surgeons don’t necessarily have to pass a board exam to practice, however, the designation conveys a level of trust in patients and confirms the surgeon’s dedication to their profession. Board certification ensures orthopedic surgeons pass inspection by a jury of their peers and deemed competent and knowledgeable.
Board exams, administered by either the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) or the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS), consist of 320 multiple-choice, computer-based questions. Following the written portion, surgeons take and pass an oral question and answer exam that analyzes their knowledge of and expertise in surgical procedure.
To remain board certified, orthopedic surgeons must participate in continuing education and renew their certification through board evaluation and exams every seven to ten years. These requirements ensure surgeons stay current on research and new innovations.
