Summary: Becoming a plastic surgeon requires applicants to pass a number of exams during medical school and residency that test knowledge of health science, disease process and treatments. Learn about becoming a plastic surgeon with tips from a medical administrator in this free video on career information.
Mark MacBayne, with a Master of Public Health degree, is a practice manager at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. MacBayne is in charge of interviewing and...read more
"The path to becoming a plastic surgeon begins much like the path any physician would take. You need to first start by completing a bachelors degree which is a four year course of study at a college or university. Now most premed students will choose to major in a science however it's not required. You do, if you choose not to major in a science however, you do want to make sure you take all of the science prerequisites that are required for what's known as the Medical College Admissions Test or the MCAT. Now the MCAT is an entrance exam that all medical school applicants must take. The schools use this along with your GPA, your course of study and the college you attend to make their acceptance decisions. The MCAT covers your basic knowledge of physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning and writing. Upon starting medical school you need to, you will focus the first two years on your didactic training in health science. After you've completed these first two years you must pass what's known as the United States Medical License Exam step 1. And this exam covers your basic knowledge of health science, disease process and treatment modalities. You must then complete your second two years of medical school which is typically focused on really learning the basic clinical skills that will allow you to practice medicine. Upon completing your second two years of medical school you must pass the USMLE step 2 which tests your competency in basic clinical care. It is at this point that you could actually begin your training in surgery. Now plastic surgery is one of those disciplines that does not use the National Match Program. They have their own match program for what's known as your residency. And it is during your residency that you'll actually learn the surgical skills that will allow you to be a plastic surgeon. Once you have completed your residency in plastic surgery then you can take the board exam in the state in which you wish to practice or multiple states if you want to be licensed in multiple states and you are ready to practice surgery as a plastic surgeon."