With the rising need to ward off healthcare emergencies, the healthcare industry has witnessed an upsurge in the demand for skilled professionals. The changing roles of professionals and the inclusion of technological interventions in surgical and diagnosing procedures have revolutionized modern healthcare. ENT specialists have been in great demand.
This blog will unveil the process of becoming an ENT Specialist.
What is ENT Specialist?
Also known as the Otolaryngologist, the ENT Doctor is concerned with the treatment of disorders related to ears, nose, and throat. The medical specialization is one of the oldest and the professionals are commonly referred to as ENT physicians. The professionals are trained in both diagnosing and surgery of sinuses, larynx, and oral cavity. Among the most versatile professionals in the healthcare sector, ENT specialists are in great demand as most of the diseases are seen to be in these three organs.
ENT Courses
- Diploma in Laryngology and Otology (DLO)
- Diploma in Otorhinolaryngology
- B.Sc Audiology for ENT
- B.Sc (Audiology and speech language pathology)
- MSc Otorhinolaryngology
- MS (ENT)
- MCh (ENT)
- MD (ENT)
- PhD (ENT)
Passing Medical Entrance Exam
The journey to becoming a certified ENT Specialist, for obvious reasons is a lengthy one as it involves dealing with delicate organs that might suffer damage or permanent impairment in case of a mistake. The primary thing in the process is to pass a medical entrance exam. The medical colleges offer admissions to selected candidates to maintain a high level of professionalism during the course and to screen out the best candidates, they rely on entrance exams. In India, NEET is the common entrance exam for all medical schools and it is conducted every year. Students who have qualified for their 12th class examinations with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their main subjects can appear in the exam. In order to qualify for MBBS, you need to be among the top scorers in the entrance exam.
Also Read:
- Importance of NEET Mock Test
- Best Books for NEET
- How to Prepare for NEET
Getting a Bachelor’s Degree
Once you have entered medical school, the next 5-6 years in the journey of becoming an ENT Specialist would be dedicated to rigorous learning in an MBBS program. During the degree, you will learn the basic as well as the advanced concepts of Medicine and Surgery. The MBBS syllabus which is divided into 9-10 semesters studies different aspects of healthcare and the last year of the degree is dedicated to the internship during which a student is apprenticed to a senior doctor. If you are planning to pursue MBBS abroad, then you need to qualify MCAT exam which is a standard test for medical schools in the US.
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Taking Up a Specialized Degree
After the MBBS degree, the next step is to take up a specialization degree, for which an entrance exam is to be qualified. The entrance exam is conducted and evaluated by the medical school you want to study in. The exam tests your knowledge that you have studied during the course of your MBBS degree. The exam is highly competitive and only a handful of candidates are selected for the master’s degree programs. After qualifying for the exam, the next two years are spent studying the specialization. To become an ENT Specialist, you need to choose ENT as your specialization area. At the end of the degree, you will be awarded Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of Surgery (MS) which qualifies you to practice as a specialist.
Passing Licensure Exam to Become an ENT Specialist
The final stage towards making your career as an ENT Specialist is to qualify the licensure exam. These exams are country-specific and an exam qualified in one country may not be valid in other countries. Medical Council of India (MCI) is the standard licensure exam in India, qualifying that would make you a certified specialist within the country. Besides, a few years of working experience is required to build a strong portfolio to be considered for the exam.
Also Read:
- How to Become a General Surgeon
- How to Become a Cardiologist
- How to Become a Gastroenterologist
- How to Become an Orthopedic Doctor
- How to Become a Skin Doctor
- How to Become a Stem Cell Therapist
- How to Become a Veterinary Doctor
By now, you would be aware of the journey to becoming an ENT Specialist. Understanding each stage and having clarity of mind is the fundamental step towards achieving the goal. If you want to pursue MBBS from top medical schools abroad, reach out to our team of experts at Leverage Edu. From the application process to getting a visa for you, we will handle it all.