Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many years of postgraduate training do surgical residents undergo?
Once medical school has been successfully completed the graduate school experience begins in the form of a residency, which focuses on a particular medical specialty. Residencies can last from three to seven years, with surgical residencies lasting a minimum of five years.
| Surgical Specialty | Length of Residency Training |
| General Surgery | Five years |
| Thoracic Surgery | General surgery training plus two additional years |
| Colon and Rectal Surgery | General surgery training plus one additional year completing a colon and rectal surgery residency |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | Four years: Three years entirely in obstetrics and gynecology, plus one elective year |
| Gynecologic Oncology | Four years in an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training program plus a minimum of 2-3 years in gynecological oncology |
| Neurological Surgery | One year of general surgery training plus five years of neurological surgery training |
| Ophthalmic Surgery | One year of patient care in one of the following: internal medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, or family practice; followed by three years in ophthalmology |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | A four-year graduate degree in dentistry plus a minimum of four years in a general surgery training program |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | One year in a broadly-based, patient-related program, plus four in orthopaedic surgery |
| Otorhinolaryngology | One year of general surgery training plus three years of otorhinolaryngology, followed by one year of elective training |
| Pediatric Surgery | General surgery training plus two years of full time education in an approved pediatric surgery fellowship program |
| Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery | Three years of prepatory surgery training plus two years of plastic surgery training. Many physicians add an additional six to 12 months of training for a particular field of interest |
| Urology | Two years of general surgery training plus a minimum of three years, but usually four years, in urology |
| Vascular Surgery | General surgery training plus one to two years of training in the specialty of vascular surgery |
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