Education requirements?

[KyleDodd]

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Could someone please clarify the schooling required to become an anesthesiologist? I specifically want to know how many years of what type of schooling is needed, including possible internship and residency once out of medschool. I am confused but from what I gather it is something like this: 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of med school and then I believe intership and residence. However, that is the part I am confused on and can't seem to find conclusive information.

Thank you and I apologize ahead of time if this was posted in the wrong place.

🙂

 

[lakersbaby]

Could someone please clarify the schooling required to become an anesthesiologist? I specifically want to know how many years of what type of schooling is needed, including possible internship and residency once out of medschool. I am confused but from what I gather it is something like this: 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of med school and then I believe intership and residence. However, that is the part I am confused on and can't seem to find conclusive information.

Thank you and I apologize ahead of time if this was posted in the wrong place.

🙂

4 years of undergraduate
4 years of medical school
4 years of residency (including intern year)
then if you want to further specialize you can do fellowships usu 1-2 more years.

 

[cfdavid]

Could someone please clarify the schooling required to become an anesthesiologist? I specifically want to know how many years of what type of schooling is needed, including possible internship and residency once out of medschool. I am confused but from what I gather it is something like this: 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of med school and then I believe intership and residence. However, that is the part I am confused on and can't seem to find conclusive information.

Thank you and I apologize ahead of time if this was posted in the wrong place.

🙂

Like lakersbaby said, but the 4 years of undergrad should be clarified.

While different medical schools have different pre-requisites, they ALL share some. Then, certain medical schools will have biochem, physiology, genetics as either required, or "strongly encouraged" (which should be read, take them, in this competitive environment). Others may require 1 or 2 years of calculus, as well.

OP, I'm not trying to discourage you. However, we often get "trolls" on this forum whom attempt to ask "simple" questions for nefarious means. So, I wanted to elaborate on the "4 years of basket weaving" idea that many in the advanced practice nursing community like to suggest.

Sure, you can major in a non-science degree. But, you better have ALL of the basic pre-req's and then at LEAST a few mid-upper level science courses (again, physio, biochem, genetics mostly, but this could include immunology, microbiology etc.) in order to make oneself truly competitive. Remember, that the basic pre-requisites (including 1 year in each of gen. chem, biology, physics, organic chem) are JUST THAT. They are the basic prerequisites. The minimum to qualify to even apply.

So, if you choose to do a non-science major, fine, but be prepared to spend an additional 6 months to 1 year of undergraduate studies in order to be most competitive (i.e. to leave room for the "extra" upper level science courses).

****It's worth mentioning that the science courses required for medical school ARE NOT the "arm-chair" courses that nurses very often take for their BSN requirements. This is a fact. But, it's always best to do your own due-dillegence on this stuff so that you'll be most informed. Go to your target undergrad (ideally one with a med school), and look at the course lists for any given science major versus that of a BSN degree. Also, look at the pre-requisites (and those which are "highly recommended") courses required by that medical school. You'll see for yourself that what I'm saying is not reverse-propaganda, but rather reality.

All that being said, and giving you the benefit of the doubt on your very first post (hey, we all had a first post at one point), you shouldn't be discouraged or intimidated. Hard work, apptitude, and determination will allow you to succeed if you wish to become a successful candidate to medical school.

cf

 

[Coastie]

Could someone please clarify the schooling required to become an anesthesiologist? I specifically want to know how many years of what type of schooling is needed, including possible internship and residency once out of medschool. I am confused but from what I gather it is something like this: 4 years of pre-med, then 4 years of med school and then I believe intership and residence. However, that is the part I am confused on and can't seem to find conclusive information.

Thank you and I apologize ahead of time if this was posted in the wrong place.

🙂

Be the top in your undergrad...top in hard science prereqs and your bachelors.

Get a top score on the MCAT...which is weighted against similar people who did well in undergrad, just like you.

Get into a good med school...if you can. It's pretty tough even with a good GPA/MCAT these days.

Do above-average in med school..in grades..clinical rotations....board scores (1 & 2). Also pass 2CS.

Get into residency..where you'll do more call than most other specialties.

+/- fellowship.

12-13 years.

Or...

Get an AA in general studies..Next 2 years are nursing classes. Pretty fluff in terms of difficulty.

Do a year in the ICU...where you can work 36 hours a week, make a very good living...probably 1.5x the median income of the USA.

Then do 27 months of CRNA school...you can do it a local weedsville community hospital, like Doctor Nurse Robert.

6 years of work.....a lifetime of doctor income 👍

 

[G-Man82]

Sure, you can major in a non-science degree. But, you better have ALL of the basic pre-req's and then at LEAST a few mid-upper level science courses (again, physio, biochem, genetics mostly, but this could include immunology, microbiology etc.) in order to make oneself truly competitive. Remember, that the basic pre-requisites (including 1 year in each of gen. chem, biology, physics, organic chem) are JUST THAT. They are the basic prerequisites. The minimum to qualify to even apply.

So, if you choose to do a non-science major, fine, but be prepared to spend an additional 6 months to 1 year of undergraduate studies in order to be most competitive (i.e. to leave room for the "extra" upper level science courses).

cf

Going along with what you said, I went to a big 10 school in the midwest for undergrad. I needed 120 credits to graduate in total, and this included creds from AP exams in high school. I was a non-science major, and that major required 30-33 credits. The pre-med requirements (bio, chem, physics, biochem, genetics, organic chem, p chem, and 2 upper level bio classes) took up about 30-35 credits as well. So really, to all those out there who think we physicians only do minimum 7 years of medical training (4 years med school + 3 years minimum residency) and that our non-science major is useless because it isn't science, realize that we also do another "major" that often is more credits than our actual major. The rest is elective. So even though we don't get credit for a "pre-med" major, we still put in quite a bit of work! Some of those labs met twice a week for 4 hours each! Not many undergrads (and I suspect BSNs - though not familiar with their curriculum) would give up that much of their college life.

 

[KyleDodd]

Like lakersbaby said, but the 4 years of undergrad should be clarified.

While different medical schools have different pre-requisites, they ALL share some. Then, certain medical schools will have biochem, physiology, genetics as either required, or "strongly encouraged" (which should be read, take them, in this competitive environment). Others may require 1 or 2 years of calculus, as well.

OP, I'm not trying to discourage you. However, we often get "trolls" on this forum whom attempt to ask "simple" questions for nefarious means. So, I wanted to elaborate on the "4 years of basket weaving" idea that many in the advanced practice nursing community like to suggest.

Sure, you can major in a non-science degree. But, you better have ALL of the basic pre-req's and then at LEAST a few mid-upper level science courses (again, physio, biochem, genetics mostly, but this could include immunology, microbiology etc.) in order to make oneself truly competitive. Remember, that the basic pre-requisites (including 1 year in each of gen. chem, biology, physics, organic chem) are JUST THAT. They are the basic prerequisites. The minimum to qualify to even apply.

So, if you choose to do a non-science major, fine, but be prepared to spend an additional 6 months to 1 year of undergraduate studies in order to be most competitive (i.e. to leave room for the "extra" upper level science courses).

****It's worth mentioning that the science courses required for medical school ARE NOT the "arm-chair" courses that nurses very often take for their BSN requirements. This is a fact. But, it's always best to do your own due-dillegence on this stuff so that you'll be most informed. Go to your target undergrad (ideally one with a med school), and look at the course lists for any given science major versus that of a BSN degree. Also, look at the pre-requisites (and those which are "highly recommended") courses required by that medical school. You'll see for yourself that what I'm saying is not reverse-propaganda, but rather reality.

All that being said, and giving you the benefit of the doubt on your very first post (hey, we all had a first post at one point), you shouldn't be discouraged or intimidated. Hard work, apptitude, and determination will allow you to succeed if you wish to become a successful candidate to medical school.

cf

Thank you so much for your information, I do plan on having a science major (biology) since many universitites are making away with their premed programs. The one decision I am debating is my two options: Anesthesiologist or CRNA.

 

[KyleDodd]

Be the top in your undergrad...top in hard science prereqs and your bachelors.

Get a top score on the MCAT...which is weighted against similar people who did well in undergrad, just like you.

Get into a good med school...if you can. It's pretty tough even with a good GPA/MCAT these days.

Do above-average in med school..in grades..clinical rotations....board scores (1 & 2). Also pass 2CS.

Get into residency..where you'll do more call than most other specialties.

+/- fellowship.

12-13 years.

Or...

Get an AA in general studies..Next 2 years are nursing classes. Pretty fluff in terms of difficulty.

Do a year in the ICU...where you can work 36 hours a week, make a very good living...probably 1.5x the median income of the USA.

Then do 27 months of CRNA school...you can do it a local weedsville community hospital, like Doctor Nurse Robert.

6 years of work.....a lifetime of doctor income 👍

Yes, so 6 years vs. 12 or 13, the time invested in studying doubles. However the last 4 years of becoming an anesthesiologist is intership and residency which isnt really school, does that mean that there is only a 2 year difference in the schooling required?

 

[countingdays]

Yes, so 6 years vs. 12 or 13, the time invested in studying doubles. However the last 4 years of becoming an anesthesiologist is intership and residency which isnt really school, does that mean that there is only a 2 year difference in the schooling required?

If instead of calendar years you measure schooling in a more meaningful way, like hours studying or amount learned, then the difference isn't double, it's at least 5 or 6 times the 'schooling.'

 

[G-Man82]

Also, instead of anesthesiologist vs. crna, you should first decide whether you want to become a Doctor or a Nurse, because that's the main difference in the pathways you're deciding between. Also, these are highly specialized fields, so I find it odd that you've already zero-ed in on those 2 fields. Do you know someone who is an Anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist? I really didn't know what an Anesthesiologist was until probably 3rd year of medical school. To be fair, I also didn't know RNs could get advanced degrees until I was in medical school and saw RNs walking around in long white coats who I mistakenly thought were my Attendings while shadowing early 1st year. Apparently he was assisting my FP attending.