Getting to be an orthopedist, or an orthopedic surgeon, is a demanding process that consumes in total roughly 14 years of rigorous studies. This encompasses starting with four years of undergraduate studies and ought to have at least two years of chemistry, one year of physics, and one year of biology - courses usually provided as part of a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) major at almost all accredited colleges and universities.

Having finished that, a would be orthopedist must then pass an admissions test for the Medical College, which lasts around a day. Successfully completing this exam demonstrates enough education in the fields of biology and physics, and encompasses both written and verbal tests. After that, the student needs to apply for admittance into a Medical College. Arising from their quite competitive character - most schools admit just 5 to 10 pecent of the applicants - the admissions process typically has a first round and a second round, and then an interview with the candidate.

Medical School alone takes four years of studies - the first two of these within a class room, and the final two training in a hospital. Over this timeframe, he or she must take National Board Examinations - once upon completion of the second year, and one upon finishing the third year; each exam involves a whole day of thorough tests of medicinal education. Having graduated, the student gets his or her doctorate of medicine, or even better, a D.O. degree specialized for Osteopathic health.

Then the next autumn, the future practitioner offers his or her application for Residency in Orthopedics. Accepted applications result in an interview with the candidate being conducted that winter. All medical students find out the result of their residency application together on one highly anticipated day, known as Match Day. Residency starts with a year of interning beforehand, beginning on July 1, at a chosen hospital, concentrating on general surgical practice. Following this year, another four years in residency are necessary, in which period the practitioner is thoroughly taught all the fundamentals of orthopedic practice in his or her apprenticeship role. He or she can be benefitted by spending some amount of time at many of the typical specialties in the field, such as hips, knees, shoulders, or more, instead of focusing restrictively on one selected specialty. Ultimately, the optional year of fellowship with a certain specialty permits the orthopedic surgeon to concentrate on his selected specialty of treatment, whether it be sports accidents, pediatric orthopedics, or the like.

Just roughly ten percent of resident orthopedists are female, and around twenty percent of all orthopedic residents belong to a minority group. Around 700 doctors a year across the United States finish the necessary five years of orthopedic residency training; they are considered to account for only 3 to 4 percent of all physicians who practice. Once residency is finished, the surgeon is allowed to apply for Board certification, which necessitates another written and verbal exam and concentration on the applicant's performance record when a resident; within the United States, certificates are given out by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. The sum total of orthopedic doctors in the US at this time is reckoned to be about 20,400.