Neurologists are specialists in the field of medicine. They are particularly concerned with disorders that affect the brain, or to a greater extent, the central nervous system, which could include degenerative brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or brain injuries caused trauma or stroke. A person must complete extensive training to become a neurologist.
Graduating from high school is the first step toward becoming a neurologist, and it’s important to take a lot of math and science classes because these skills are required for continued medical training. The next step is either a four-year university degree or, as in the UK, a direct application to medical school. In the United States, people must first obtain a bachelor’s degree before applying to medical school, and there are specific application requirements. These are excellent grades and MCAT scores, and admission to some of the best schools is extremely competitive.
In the United States, a person will spend three to four years in medical school before being eligible for licensing as a physician. They may also need to spend an additional year as interns, with medicine/surgery or internal medicine being the most common options for those aspiring to be neurologist interns. People must look for fellowship or residency programs that will accept them for neurology training after this is completed, and even during the internship. In order to obtain a specialist residency, it helps to have good grades in medical school.
At this point, the person is a doctor, and if neurology no longer interests them, they can pursue other specialties or practice general medicine. If the person still wants to be a neurologist, however, he or she will have to devote much more time to training. Because neurology has subspecialties, this training takes at least three years, and some doctors may take longer.
If a person wants to work as a pediatric neurologist in many parts of the world, there are significant differences. This is not a subspecialty, but rather a three-year residency program that focuses solely on pediatrics and then pediatric neurology. Both specialties are distinct from one another. Doctors must complete one final step after completing their training in pediatric or adult neurology. They usually have to take exams to become board certified in their field, which allows them to call themselves neurologists and practice their specialty as such.
To become a neurologist, it can take anywhere from eleven to twelve years after high school graduation. It is a well-paid field, but it can also be a difficult one to work in. People and their families may be devastated illnesses that affect the central nervous system. Those interested in pursuing this field should have a high level of compassion.