How to Become an Orthopedic Doctor?

Among the most respectable professions, Medicine is crowned as the noblest one. Doctors are venerated as the saviours for their tireless efforts at contributing to the improvement of global healthcare. In order to become a doctor, an MBBS degree is a prerequisite but getting into a medical school is not that easy. The profession demands a high level of competency and seriousness to work with patients. Even the slightest mistake can cost a life which certainly is something no one wishes for. Thus, standardized tests are conducted to evaluate the calibre of the student. One such test is MCAT, which is valid in the US, Canada, Australia and the Carribean Islands. Once the candidate is through MCAT or country’s standard test for admission to a medical school, the next five years are spent on a general MBBS degree and after that, a specialisation degree can be done. In this blog, we will explore the question of how to become an Orthopedic doctor.

Also Read: 

• MBBS Admission Process
• How to Get Direct Admission in MBBS

Who is an Orthopedic Surgeon?

One of the most well-known names in medical sciences is orthopaedics. Muscles and bones are associated to this branch. Together, they form a branch that studies the human body’s musculoskeletal system. The human skeletal system is what gives the body total support and facilitates movement. A multitude of skeletal system abnormalities can be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon. The orthopaedic surgeon can correct abnormalities using a variety of surgical and non-surgical techniques.

In your capacity as an orthopaedic surgeon, you will deal with:

• Arthritis and Osteoporosis
• Bone Tumors
• Club foot and Unequal leg lengths.
• Damaged Joints
• Dislocations and Fractures
• Disorders of Joints, Nerves, Ligaments, Muscles, Tendons, and Skin.
• Pulled Muscles
• Spinal Injuries.
• Tendon injuries
• Torn Cartilage

So, if you want to learn more about how to become an orthopaedic surgeon, keep reading since we’ve covered some more fascinating topics.

Steps to Become an Orthopedic Doctor

The following are the steps to become an Orthopedic Doctor:

Getting into the Medical School

To seek admission to a medical university, students should have completed their 10
+2 with BiPC subjects. The next thing would be to qualify a medical entrance test which may vary in different countries even though the exam pattern is very similar. If you are planning to study in USA, Canada or Australia, you can go for a single standardized medical test — MCAT.  This long exhaustive test lasting for a duration of 7.5 hours evaluates candidate’s competence on various parameters which include Logical Reasoning, Comprehension and Subjective Knowledge. Based on the overall score in the entrance exam, students are offered admission in medical schools across the world. To advance as an Orthopedic doctor or choosing any other specialization, the most primary thing is to get admission in one of the medical school. 

Also Read: 

• MBBS in New Zealand
• MBBS in Germany – Study Medicine With No Tuition Fees!

Completing MBBS Degree

Once you get into the medical institution, the stage marks the beginning of the rigorous program which lasts for 5 to 6 years. An MBBS is a highly demanding degree program that aims at giving you a comprehensive knowledge of both medicine and surgery. Divided into 9 to 10 semesters, an MBBS includes an overview of major Medical Science courses like Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopaedics, besides the general fundamental subjects like Human Anatomy, Physiology, etc. With 4.5 years completely focusing on theoretical aspects of the profession, the last semester involves mandatory internship at the hospital. The training lasts for 6 months to 1 year during which the interns are apprenticed to a senior doctor. Candidates with good academic score in MBBS can definitely opt to become an Orthopedic doctor.

Also Read: 

• Popular Destinations to Study MBBS from Abroad
• MBBS in Foreign Countries

Choosing a Specialisation Degree

After completing your MBBS, you can apply for a specialization degree program in Orthopedics. There are several medical colleges which give admissions to specialized courses after MBBS based on the candidate’s score in entrance exams conducted by the admission council. Some top institution may also consider MBBS score beside the merit in the entrance exam. Since the intake for the specialization degree programs is very limited, cracking the exam can be quite challenging. An MS in Orthopaedics can stretch over 1 to 2 years depending on the medical college pupils choose to study in. On the commencement of the specialization, graduates are awarded the degree which makes them eligible for the next phase to become an Orthopedic doctor.

Also Read: Different Medical Courses After 12th

Qualifying a Licensure Exam

To develop as an Orthopedic doctor in a hospital or practice independently, it is essential for you to pass a licensure exam, that may vary in different countries. This is licensing test are conducted by the government-appointed boards, just like Medical Council of India administers the exams in India while as in the USA, the Federation of State Medical Boards conducts the exam for licensure which are highly competitive and needs intensive study. 

Eligibility Criteria:

There are requirements that you must complete in order to be eligible to become an orthopaedic surgeon. The following is what you must do:

• You ought to have graduated from a reputable institution after higher secondary school.
• You should graduate from a reputable college with a minimum grade point average of 60% for your 12th standard.
• Make sure that your key subjects in the 12th grade are biology, chemistry, and physics.
• To be accepted into the MBBS programme, you must pass the entrance exam.
• You should finish the five and a half-year MBBS curriculum, which also includes the one-year internship requirement.

If you meet all of these requirements, you can enrol in a post-graduate programme to become an orthopaedic surgeon.

Admission Process

• You should take the NEET-UG and enrol in a college of your choosing for MBBS.
• You should take the NEET PG entrance exam once your five and a half years of MBBS study and internship are finished.
• You must participate in counselling after passing the entrance exam.
• For admission to the Master of Surgery Orthopedic Surgeon programme, you must have at least a 55 percent average in your MBBS.
• The study will last three years, and depending on the institute you select, the tuition would range from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 60 lakhs.
• Prior to beginning your practise, you must finish a residency programme under the supervision of a senior surgeon.

You can take some important entrance exams like

To enrol in any college to complete your Master of Surgery in Orthopedic Surgeon, you must pass an entrance exam. For students studying medicine, NEET is one of the most popular entrance exams. In addition, there are numerous other entrance exams that are accepted by the majority of Indian colleges. Some of them are listed below for you:

NEET PG: As we just discussed, this is the admission exam that most colleges accept. This test is computer-based and is administered by the National Board of Examinations. Admission to M.S. and M.D. programmes is helpful in many academic fields. You will have three and a half hours to complete the 300 questions on the exam. The test consists of multiple-choice questions.

AIIMS PG: You can enrol in the M.Ch, MDS, D.M., MD, and M.S. programmes by passing this test, which is offered by the AIIMS, New Delhi. You will have three hours to complete the 200 questions on this test.

JIPMER PG: Every year, this exam is held at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research PostGraduate in Pondicherry for candidates seeking admission to the Master of Surgery programme. This is an admission exam for the 19 M.D. courses and five M.S. programmes that are available. This test, which lasts three hours, requires that you have finished your MBBS. This test is taken online.

PGIMER: PGIMER, another well-liked admission exam, is also available online. You will be admitted to D.M., MD, MS, and MDS programmes. You will have three hours to complete the 250 multiple-choice questions on the test.

The best orthopaedics courses in India, along with their length:

• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Orthopedics needs Graduation, and it is a 2 Year course.
• Master of Surgery (M.S.) in Orthopedics needs MBBS, and it is a course of 3 Years.
• Diploma in Orthopedics (D.Ortho.) needs Higher Secondary with Science stream and is a course of 2 Years.
• Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Exam in Orthopedics (D.N.B.) needs Graduation as eligibility, and it is a course of 3 Years.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Orthopedics needs Post Graduation, and it is 3 Years course.
• Certificate Courses in Orthopedics needs a Higher Secondary, and the course duration is for 6 to 12 months.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Orthopedics needs MBBS, which is a course of 2 Years.

Career scope

• Medical Assistant
• Orthopedic Surgeon: You must perform procedures on patients who have issues such bone damage, trauma, or other injuries as an orthopaedic surgeon.
• Medical Consultant: In your role as a consultant, you will advise patients about the appropriate therapies, and occasionally you will also be required to provide those treatments.
• Pediatric Surgeon: Children and young children with birth abnormalities or damage to the bones will be treated by paediatric surgeons.
• Orthopedic Professors: You will be able to instruct in medical colleges as an orthopaedic professor. After completing your Master of Surgery programme, you will be fully knowledgeable in the field and able to instruct the students.

Salary

A doctor is always paid the most in terms of wage structure. However, it also depends on the hospital or organisation where you’ll work and the amount of time you’ve spent working in the industry. At the start of your surgical career, if you work as an orthopaedic surgeon in a reputable hospital, you could make up to 20 lakhs per year. A paediatric surgeon can earn between Rs 10 lakhs and Rs 15 lakhs annually. Additionally, you can make up to Rs 5 lakhs as an orthopaedic professor. Therefore, it all relies on the route you take after earning your Master of Surgery in orthopaedic surgery.

Best Colleges in India to become Orthopedic Surgeon

• Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospitals, Pondicherry
• AIIMS, New Delhi
• Al-Ameen Medical College, Bangalore
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
• AMU, Uttar Pradesh
• Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
• B J Medical College, Gujarat
• Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune
• Christian Medical College, Tamil Nadu
• Darbhanga Medical College, Darbhanga
• Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh
• JIPMER, Pondicherry
• K.S. Hedge Medical Academy, Mangalore
• Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
• Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
• Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
• Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
• Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi
• PGIMER, Chandigarh

FAQs

Orthopedic doctors diagnose and treat the musculoskeletal system and spend a significant amount of time performing surgery. In this competitive world with graduates aiming to acquire a seat in one of the top medical colleges in the world, it becomes crucial for you to stand out amongst pool of candidates. Let the experts of Leverage Edu, carve out your path of success and help you in choosing the right place to begin your medical career.