What degree do I need to be a surgeon?

Surgeons are skilled medical professionals who can hold their patients’ lives in their hands on a daily basis. The decision is become a surgeon certainly isn’t one to be taken lightly: It comes with huge responsibility and requires heartfelt commitment. If you think you have what it takes to make a difference in the operating room, a solid medical training can help you garner the skills needed to excel in this sector.

It takes a vast body of knowledge to deal with life-or-death medical emergencies as frequently as today’s surgeons do. These medical professionals have dedicated a huge portion of their lives to gaining the skills needed to make crucial decisions for the patients under their care. According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all physicians must complete at least four years of undergraduate education resulting in a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, and between three and eight years of residency programs and internships depending on specialty. A few medical schools have been able to streamline the process by combining pre-med and medical school programs into one six-or-seven year degree path.

Future surgeons will also have to obtain licensure. Though the BLS asserts requirements can vary by state, all surgeon candidates will need to graduate from an accredited medical program, complete a residency or internship and pass national board exams.