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Another resource – The timeline can seem daunting. Four years for medical school, a minimum of three years for residency, and a few more if you want to specialize with a fellowship. Combine that with an average starting age of 24 (or 26 for DO—Doctor of Osteopathic—applicants), and this means the vast majority of medical students don’t become independent physicians until their early 30s.Residency?is a stage of graduate?medical training. A?resident or?house officer?is a?physician?(one who holds the degree of?M.D.,?D.O., or?MBBS, MBChB, or BMed)[1][2][3]?who practices medicine usually in a?hospital?or clinic under the direct or indirect supervision of an?attending physician. Successful completion of a residency program is a requirement to obtaining an unrestricted license to practice medicine in many jurisdictions. Residency training may be followed by?fellowship or "sub-specialty" training.Whereas?medical school?teaches physicians a broad range of medical knowledge, basic clinical skills, and supervised experience practicing medicine in a variety of fields, medical residency gives in-depth training within a specific branch of medicine. A physician may choose a residency in?anesthesiology,?ophthalmology,?cardiothoracic surgery,?dermatology,?emergency medicine,?family medicine,?internal medicine,?neurology,?neurosurgery,?obstetrics and gynecology,?otolaryngology,?pathology,?pediatrics,?plastic and reconstructive surgery,?psychiatry,?physical medicine and rehabilitation,?radiology,?radiation oncology,?oral and maxillofacial surgery,?general surgery,?urology?or other medical?specialties.[4]Residency involves specialized training in your area of focus. The exact skills and procedures you will learn differ by specialty. For example, you may learn different procedures as an emergency medicine resident than you would during a urology residency.In general, you will be responsible for assessing patients on admission including performing physical exams. Residents also order appropriate diagnostic tests and consult with other specialties as needed.Attending patient rounds and performing treatments and diagnostic procedures appropriate to your specialty are also resident responsibilities. In addition, as a resident, you will be prescribing treatment, providing patient education and writing discharge summaries. In some specialties, you will assist with surgical procedures and respond to emergencies, such as trauma pages or codes.During your first year of residency, you are likely supervised closely by senior residents and attending physicians. As you progress in your residency, you are given more responsibility and more independence. Each?year brings a bit more of both. In your second year of residency, you may be supervising medical students. By the time you make it to the third year of residency, you are supervising first-year residents and will have many of the same responsibilities as an attending physician.?Residency lengthThe length of your residency depends on the specialty you are pursuing. Most residencies are between three and seven years. For example, a three-year residency is required for doctors in family practice, internal medicine and pediatrics. Longer residencies exist for certain specialties, such as surgery and urology. Keep in mind; depending on your goals, you may be required to obtain additional training in the form of a fellowship after residency. Fellowship training will vary and is often one to three years depending on your subspecialty.SalariesSalaries for medical residencies vary. The specialty you are pursuing, as well as the part of the country you are living determine your salary. According to the American Medical Association, the average salary for first-year residents in the United States in 2012 was between $40,000 and $50,000 a year. Salaries also increase with each year of residency. You will likely earn more as a second and third-year resident than you did as a first-year resident. ................
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