After completing medical school, physicians undertake further study in their chosen specialty field, areas such as orthopaedics, pediatrics, anesthesiology, family medicine, surgery and dermatology. This specialty training takes an additional three to eight years of study to complete. At the end of this time, a person becomes a full-fledged physician who is qualified to practice his or her specialty. Further practice or study of one to two more years is required to sit for board certification exams. Physicians participate in continuing medical education courses even after completing medical school, specialty training and board certification.
Many specialties now require periodic board exams for recertification.
This represents a seven to 12-year education process after college. The studies are year-round and require many night and weekend calls. The truth is, physicians may seem to be over-trained for much of what they do. However, this is indeed in the public's best interest. For a person to take on the responsibility for treating heart failure, for example, it is desirable that the person have a thorough understanding of how the heart and kidneys work.