When a student finishes medical school, he or she is is awarded a dcotrate degree in medicine. However, the residency training is required in order for doctors to practice medicine. Although residents are doctors, they cannot make diagnoses alone. They must have all diagnoses, treatments, and procedures approved by an attending physician before any treatment can be administered to the patient. Residents practice medicine under the supervision of these highly trained and more experienced physicians.
Residents learn how to diagnose and care for patients, and they work to develop their people skills.
They will also learn how medical conditions can deviate from textbook descriptions. As they grow more experienced. Residents assume more responsibility and independence until at last they graduate from their training program and can practice on their own. On average, a residency lasts three years, but the lengths of residency programs vary considerably between specialties and even a little within individual specialties. In general, the surgical specialties require longer residencies.