How to become a Doctor
A doctor is a professional who practices
medicine. They are concerned over the health of their patients. They diagnose
and treat injuries and sickness. They are also referred to as general
practitioners. Becoming a doctor requires a lot of preparation from an early
age. Subjects at school level, such as Biology, Mathematics and Science need to
be above a certain standard in order to qualify for further studies at a
University. Profgrad would like to
discuss in detail how one will go about becoming a doctor. Profgrad.co.za
provides a summary of how to become a doctor on the website below.
How
many years of study?
In order to become a doctor one needs to
study and complete the necessary training at an approved University. In South
Africa not all Universities offer this as a degree. The degree will be offered
at University of Pretoria, University of Stellenbosch, University of the
Witwatersrand, Walter Sisulu University, University of KwaZulu Natal,
University of the Free State, University of Cape Town and University of Limpopo.
You would need to apply to a University of your choice. The selection process
is quite strict and only a select few applications get approved. It will be
good if you could do job shadowing and charity volunteering before you apply. You
might want to apply at more than one University. This degree should take you 6
years to complete.
What
is the degree called?
This degree is generally known as a MBChB.
This abbreviation is short for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. This
name is used by all the Universities in South Africa and does not differ from
one to another. For more information on the degree please see the link below:
Do I
Need to do Community Service?
You will need to register with the Health
Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). In order to become a doctor you
would need to do 2 years internship. Internship will require you to work in a
hospital under medical supervision. During this period you will learn a lot
from experienced doctors and will be able to apply the knowledge gained while
studying in a practical environment. When you have completed your 2 year
internship you will need to also do 1 year of community service. During this
year you will work at a public Hospital and will need to complete a certain
amount of hours. For more information on the requirements to register with the
HPCSA please see the link below.
A general description of your life as a doctor
After studying, doing internship and
community service and registering with the HPCSA you will finally become a
doctor. Being a doctor offers many challenges and opportunities. You need to
work well with people as this is one of the main tasks a doctor does on a daily
basis. You will also need to diagnose and treat illnesses on a daily basis. You
will work long hours and might be in the office a lot. You will need to work
hard to build up a client base initially and it could take a few years before
you reap the benefits.
Do you plan to become a doctor?
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