How to Become A Surgeon In South Africa

A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that may require surgery, or physically changing the human body. Surgeries can be done to diagnose or treat disease or injury. In the operating room, surgeons lead a team of other doctors and nurses to make sure that a procedure goes smoothly.

What is the role of a surgeon?

As a surgeon, you’ll perform operations by cutting open a patient’s body to repair, remove or replace the diseased or damaged part. As well as operating, you’ll carry out ward rounds and outpatients clinics and will take on a range of administrative duties and teaching responsibilities.

Do surgeons only do surgery?

All surgeons are physicians, but not all physicians are surgeons! Surgeons can be general surgeons and perform all types of surgery, or they can be specialized, such as heart surgeons, brain surgeons, dentists, or veterinarians.

Which subject is best for surgeon?

Surgeons typically start out by enrolling in a university or college with a strong pre-medical program and by choosing a major related to medicine, such as biology, physics, or chemistry. After earning a bachelor’s degree, they must pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in order to apply to medical school.

Essential Information

Surgeons perform operations and other medical procedures to treat injuries, diseases and deformities. Becoming a surgeon is a lengthy process, generally requiring four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and 3-10 years of residency and fellowship training. Surgeons also continue the education process throughout their careers in order to maintain licensure and stay informed of medical advances.

Degree LevelDoctorate degree and post-doctoral training
Degree Field(s)Pre-med or biological sciences
Surgeon RequirementsLicensure and board-certification in all states
Experience3-10 years of residency training depending on specialty
Projected Job Growth (2019-29)4% for all surgeons and physicians*
Mean Salary (2019)R 3712549.34

Below are steps to Become A Surgeon In South Africa

Bachelor’s Degree

Before entering medical school, aspiring surgeons must complete undergraduate school to earn a bachelor’s degree. These 4-year degrees do not have to focus specifically on medicine; however, curricula should focus heavily on the physical sciences to prepare students for the strong emphasis on science in medical school. Courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry, math and physiology may be beneficial. Some medical schools admit students after only three years of undergraduate school.

The MCAT

The path to becoming a surgeon continues after a bachelor’s degree with the MCAT, or the Medical College Admission Test. Preparation for the MCAT should begin sometime before graduation from a bachelor’s degree program, as the examination is extensive.

The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) has several online guides to help students who wish to become surgeons or other medical professionals to prepare for the MCAT.

Medical Degree

With bachelor’s degrees, students are prepared to attend medical school and pursue Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degrees. M.D. degree program curricula are generally divided into two years of foundational medical courses followed by two years of clinical clerkships.

During clerkships, students work directly with patients, applying classroom instruction obtained in the first two years to diagnose illnesses and provide healthcare.

Post-Doctoral Surgical Training

After medical school, students typically continue their medical training in residency programs, gaining practical experience in a chosen specialty under the supervision of licensed physicians. Some specialties include general surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, or urology.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), these programs can last 3-7 years depending on the specialty, though general surgery residencies typically take five years to complete.

Surgeons who wish to focus their careers on sub-specialties of the profession must complete an additional 1-3 years of post-doctoral training in fellowship programs.

Surgeon Requirements

Along with extensive, formal training from an accredited medical school, all states require surgeons to obtain medical licensure. Licensure entails passage of the United States Medical Licensing Examination or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam.

Surgeons must also become board-certified in surgery and any subspecialties by the American Board of Medical Specialists or American Osteopathic Association. Surgeons are generally required to complete continuing education credits throughout their careers to maintain licensure and certification.

Job Challenges and Benefits

Now that you know how to become a surgeon, it is important to think about whether this career is right for you. There are a number of benefits to becoming a surgeon. The job has a high salary and is highly regarded both within and outside of the medical community.

There are ample options for advancement for many surgeons, particularly those who specialize in particular kinds of surgery. Helping people to recover from serious illnesses is also an aspect of the work that many surgeons find rewarding.

On the other hand, being a surgeon can be extremely stressful. The fact that patients’ lives are often reliant on surgeons puts an enormous amount of pressure on those who work in this field.

Many surgeons will also experience a patient dying during or after a surgery at least once in their careers, which can be extremely psychologically challenging for many people. All of these things are challenges that prospective surgeons need to be aware of when choosing their careers.

Skills to Acquire


Surgeons need a wide array of skills in their toolkit. You will need a deep background of knowledge of the human body and its biology. In particular, you must be an absolute expert regarding the part of the body that comprises your practice. Thus, if you are a heart surgeon, you must have an intimate knowledge of that organ, just as a neurosurgeon must know the brain.

One of the foremost skills or abilities you must have is a steady hand. You must be able to make very precise cuts into the human body so that you don’t accidentally nick an artery, or puncture a lung, for instance.

You should also be able to communicate clearly with the nurses and other professionals you work alongside. Lightning-fast decision making is also imperative, as is a highly nuanced strategic mind that understands how to best open a surgery so that it closes as neatly as possible.

How long does it take to become a surgeon in South Africa?

To become a doctor in South Africa you have to study for 6 years (5 years at UFS) or 7 years if you are on the extended programme provided you do not fail any year.

Which subjects are required for surgeon in South Africa?

If you prefer to take up medicine as your career, you must pass your Grade 12 with English, Mathematics, Physics/Chemistry, and Life Science. In South Africa, medical aspirants have two options to get into a medical school.

Where can I study to become a surgeon in South Africa?

WHERE CAN I STUDY?

University of the Western Cape. Bachelor of Medicine.

University of the Witwatersrand. Bachelor of Medicine.

North-West University. Bachelor of Medicine.

University of Pretoria.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

University of Stellenbosch.

University of KwaZulu-Natal.

University of Cape Town.

How much does it cost to become a surgeon in South Africa?

The cost of tuition can vary quite a lot for medicine in South Africa. The cheapest can be R 27250.50 per year, while the most expensive is around R 20950.01

Do medical students get paid in South Africa?

During the student’s internship and community service training, the National Department of Health of South Africa will employ the student, and the student will receive a salary.

How many years does it take to be a surgeon in South Africa ?

Becoming a surgeon is a lengthy process, generally requiring four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and 3-10 years of residency and fellowship training. Surgeons also continue the education process throughout their careers in order to maintain licensure and stay informed of medical advances.

What subjects do you need to be a surgeon in South Africa ?

You’ll usually need:

at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences.
3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry.

How much money does a surgeon make in South Africa?

Salary Recap

The average pay for a General Surgeon is ZAR 2,426,007 a year and ZAR 1,166 an hour in South Africa. The average salary range for a General Surgeon is between ZAR 1,593,132 and ZAR 3,377,939. On average, a Doctorate Degree is the highest level of education for a General Surgeon.

Which university can I study to be a doctor in South Africa?

You can only study medicine in accredited South African Universities. There are nine medical universities in South Africa, including the University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University. How Can I become a medical doctor in South Africa?

What subjects should I take in Grade 10 to become a doctor in South Africa?

The key subjects here are Mathematics, Physical Science and Life Sciences. These subjects are required for many options in Engineering, Science, Health Sciences and some business courses.

Is it hard to become a surgeon in South Africa ?

No it is not hard to become a surgeon IF THAT IS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT. Sure at times it was long hours, hard work, but you will enjoy every bit of it . Including medical school it takes about 13 years to be a plastic surgeon.

How many hours does a surgeon work in South Africa ?

After training, the average general surgeon works 50-60 hours per week (not including time available for call). Depending on the practice situation chosen, you can be on call as much as all the time (if in private solo practice) to once a week (if in a large group practice).

What is the easiest type of surgeon in South Africa ?

First, because general surgery is compensated less than other specialties, is the easiest surgical specialty to get into, and deals with a lot of more nausea-inducing pathologies, I’ve heard other medical students or doctors suggest that general surgery is for people who couldn’t get into a more competitive and “better .

Do surgeons wear diapers in South Africa ?

Do surgeons wear diapers? Except during an emergency like the pandemic whereby every second count to never-ending patients, surgeons and doctors do not wear diapers at all.

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