How to Become a Surgeon?

Are you thinking of becoming a Surgeon or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Surgeon, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Surgeon job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.

Steps to Become a Surgeon

If you're considering starting your Surgeon career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Surgeon and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Surgeon career.
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1

Earn a Degree

To begin your Surgeon career path, a Graduate Degree in Other or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Surgeon internship may be required to earn your Graduate Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.
2

Choose a Specialty in Your Field

As an Surgeon, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Surgeon field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Surgeon specialty.
3

Get an Entry-Level Position as a Surgeon

Once you've acquired a Graduate Degree in Other or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Surgeon. In general, you can become a Surgeon after completing your 2 year Graduate Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Surgeon role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in nccpa certification.
4

Advance in Your Surgeon Career

Following entry-level, there are several Surgeon career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Surgeon to progress to the next seniority level position. Each advanced Surgeon position requires approximately 8 years of experience at each level to advance in your Surgeon career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Surgeon career path.
5

Continued Education for Your Surgeon Career Path

Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Surgeon career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in Other can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $511,948 compared to $129,597 for those without that type of degree.

We don't have enough career path data for Surgeon jobs. Below are job titles that share similar skill sets.

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Related Careers in the Healthcare Industry

Interested in other Healthcare careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Surgeon skills. Discover some of the most common Surgeon career transitions, along with skills overlap.

Primary Care Physician
0% skills overlap
13% transitioned to Primary Care Physician