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An ENT doctor specializes in treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat, and the head and neck. In the US, becoming an ENT doctor requires a bachelor’s degree, medical school, residency, and possible subspecialty training, taking at least 12 years and costing a lot of money. People can choose to specialize in different areas of ENT, and scholarships are available but limited.
An ENT doctor is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and throat and, in general, the head and neck. This specialty can also be called otolaryngology, but frankly, otolaryngology is easier to say and has more common usage among lay people. Otolaryngologists are licensed physicians who have completed additional training requirements to become certified in their area of expertise. The amount of training to become an ENT specialist can vary by country, and those investigating this career as a possible option should consult medical schools or state ENT licensing boards to determine specific requirements.
In the US, an ENT physician first earns a bachelor’s degree in college, usually in the sciences, and usually specifically in pre-med studies. They must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and apply to medical school. Once accepted, they will complete three to four years of medical school and practical training before sitting for licensing exams. The licensed physician can determine whether to specialize and is usually given many opportunities to work in different specialties in later years of medical school.
Those wishing to become an ENT doctor will choose to enroll in surgical programs that allow them to specialize in ENT. This additional training, called residency, takes four to five years to complete. To make things a little more confusing, some people decide on a subspecialty. There are several subspecialties of ENT practice. Some physicians choose to work with patients who are children and become pediatric otolaryngologists, while others may specialize in facial reconstructive surgery or voice therapy; there are many options. Subspecialties can extend training for several years after completion of residencies and fellowships.
The road to becoming an ENT doctor is a long one. People can expect to spend at least 12 years, counting graduation work, in training. Taking a subspecialty can easily increase that time to 14 or 15 years. It can also cost a lot of money, and many people have to take out loans to complete their full training. It is not uncommon for people specializing in various medical fields to owe upwards of $100,000 in student loans when they finish medical school and complete other training requirements. While some scholarships are available, they can only go to some students and most must find other means of paying for college.
A person who wants to become a doctor does not necessarily have to decide to be an ENT doctor at the beginning of training. People can be attracted to one specialty or another for many different reasons. The actual practice of otolaryngology can require highly proficient and delicate surgical skills, and some people may be better suited to this than others because of their greater manual dexterity and ability to do delicate work with their hands.
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