Becoming a urologist requires years of education and training, including college, medical school, residency, and fellowship. High school students interested in the field should excel in math and science, and may be able to shadow a urologist. After medical school, students spend at least five years in urology residency, and may specialize further. Continuing education is necessary to stay up-to-date with new techniques.
It can take many years to become a urologist. People must attend college and medical school (or a combination of both in the UK) and then spend years, usually at least five, in residency and fellowship training. They will also require board certification to practice this specialty, which involves treating issues related to the urinary tract in both men and women and the reproductive system in men. It is a field that demands a high degree of competence and sensitivity, in addition to surgical skill.
When a high school student thinks he or she might want to become a urologist, he or she should try to do exceptionally well in math and science studies in high school. It may also help to discuss this decision with local urologists. It may be possible to sneak in a urologist for a few days at a local clinic or volunteer at a urology office. As this field of practice involves examination of the genitals and urinary system, there may be some resistance from some physicians to allowing teenagers to offer this profession. They may be happier to accept a college student, but it is important for anyone who considers the shadow to exhibit professional demeanor and not do anything that might embarrass the self or the patients being seen.
In the US, students need to earn a college degree before going to medical school to become a urologist. Again, the focus should be on the sciences, and many students specialize in pre-med prep to attend medical school. Students will need to obtain good grades and high marks on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). These are very important for getting into a medical school, which can be competitive.
Once in medical school, students spend four years in combined learning and training before becoming licensed to practice medicine. In this final year of training, students can begin enrolling in programs that offer residencies in specialties such as urology. To continue on the path of becoming a urologist, a student will need to be accepted into a urology residency, where they will likely spend another five years. This program is usually split so that at least one year is spent in general surgery, three are spent in urology, and the final year can be further study in surgery or other specialties.
Even when that training is completed, and a person can earn board certification to become a urologist, they may spend another year or two in even more specialized scholarship programs. Some people choose to become pediatric urologists, for example, and others may specialize in kidney transplants or treating cancers. There are several subspecialties of urology that require extra training.
In total, it will take a minimum of 13 years for most people to become a urologist. This is just the beginning. This field is constantly advancing and physicians must continue training in new techniques, especially minimally invasive ones like laser therapy. Medical boards will issue specific rules about how much continuing education physicians need to maintain their licenses.
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