How to become a surgeon

What is a surgeon?

Surgeons are trained to perform surgical procedures to investigate and treat diseases, and repair organs, systems, and structures in the human body. These procedures could include:

• implanting a donor organ
• fitting a medical device
• removing a tumour
• limb amputation
• reconstructing missing or repairing damaged tissue and skin
• replacing bones and joints with metal, ceramic, or plastic parts

Surgical specialties

In the NHS, there are 2 main types of surgery. Elective surgery means the surgical procedure is planned. Emergency surgery is where immediate action is needed after a cardiac event, severe injury or trauma, respiratory failure, or an aneurysm.

If someone wants cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance, they usually get it done in the private sector. 

There are 10 surgical specialties:

• cardiothoracic surgery
• general surgery
• neurosurgery
• oral and maxillofacial surgery
• otolaryngology (ENT)
• paediatric surgery
• plastic surgery
• trauma and orthopaedic surgery
• urology
• vascular surgery

Many of these specialties have sub-specialties focusing on a specific body part or surgical technique.
In addition to performing life-changing surgical procedures, surgeons are responsible for preoperative diagnosis and postoperative care.

Starting your career as a surgeon

Choosing subjects at school

Medical school is the first step on your path to becoming a surgeon. To get into medical school, useful school subjects include:

• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physics
• Maths
• English
• Religious, Moral, and Philosophical Studies
• Psychology
• Care

Speak to your guidance teacher or careers adviser about subjects offered at your school. You should also contact medical schools to learn more about their entry requirements.

Reach widening access project

Reach is a national project that supports senior school pupils from non-traditional backgrounds who want to study medicine. Universities offer on-campus events to help you gain insight into their undergraduate degree programme. You can also access the following:

• information sessions
• practical masterclasses
• UCAT preparation support
• UCAS application guidance
• personal statement workshops
• medical school interview practice and advice

Find out how Reach is widening access to medicine.

Education and training pathway

There are 5 universities where you can study medicine in Scotland:

• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of St Andrews

If you’re at school, thinking about changing careers or returning to education as an adult learner, there are many different routes into medical school.

University Clinical Aptitude Test

Whatever route you choose, you’ll need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). Medical schools use this test and UCAS applications, academic qualifications, and interviews to select applicants for their degree programmes.

Find out more about the UCAT computer-based admissions test.

Batchelor of Medicine and Surgery degree

To become a surgeon, you’ll need to complete a degree in medicine (MBChB or MBBS) at SCQF level 10. Undergraduate degree programmes take 4 to 6 years to complete, studying full-time.

You should contact each medical school to find out about specific entry requirements.

Medical school

At medical school, you’ll have lectures, tutorials, and simulation-based learning where you’ll do the following:

• learn about body systems and anatomy
• develop your practical skills
• learn how to do basic clinical examinations
• interact with real patients
• practice clinical skills with simulation mannequins
• learn the skills needed for surgical procedures

You’ll also have clinical placements to help you get experience in a wide range of clinical areas, such as:

• general medicine and surgery
• psychiatry
• obstetrics and gynaecology
• other hospital specialties and sub-specialties
• general practice

Search for undergraduate medical degree programmes on My World of Work.

Widening access to medical education

Are you a school leaver? Maybe you're an adult learner who doesn't have the qualifications needed for medical school. Don't worry, access routes to medical education are available!

There are also programmes for graduates with a biological science or healthcare-related honours degree at SCQF level 10.

Scottish Wider Access Programme

Widening participation supports adult learners who want to go to university. If you’re an adult with few or no qualifications, you could get into higher education through the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP).

Many universities also provide access programmes to help you get the entry qualifications you need to study medicine.

Graduate entry programme

If you already have an honours degree at SCQF level 10, you can choose this route to study medicine. Some universities offer an accelerated 4-year medical graduate entry programme. To apply, you must meet the academic and non-academic requirements set out by the universities.

You should contact each medical school to find out about their graduate entry programme requirements.

Applying for provisional registration

When you graduate from medical school, you’ll need to apply to the General Medical Council (GMC) for provisional registration with a licence to practise. This will allow you to take the next step in your medical training and join a foundation programme.

Find out more about provisional registration.

Foundation programme

A foundation programme is the first step in your postgraduate training after you graduate from medical school. You’ll also learn the skills you’ll need to deliver safe and effective person-centred care.

The Scottish Foundation School’s 2-year work-based training programme offers experience in a range of specialties and geographic locations. When you have a place on a foundation programme, you must apply for provisional registration with the GMC.

Foundation year 1

In your first year as a foundation doctor in training, you’ll develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies you gained in medical school. When you successfully complete your F1 year, you’ll be issued a Foundation Year 1 Certificate of Completion document. The Scottish Foundation School will send a certificate of completion to the GMC so you can apply for full registration. You’ll also progress to the second year of the foundation programme.

Foundation year 2

During your F2 year, you’ll continue to develop your clinical and professional knowledge. This will prepare you for the next stage of your medical training.
At the end of your F2 year, you’ll be issued a Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC), ready to apply for core surgery training.

Find out more about foundation training in Scotland.

UK surgical training programme

The UK surgical training programme has 2 stages. You’ll have practical assessments and written and oral exams. You must pass these to progress in the training programme.

Annual Review of Competence Progression

All doctors in training receive an annual review towards the end of their training year. The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) is used to:

• check that you’re meeting the standards required by the core or specialty training programme curriculum
• make sure you’re providing safe, effective, and high-quality patient care

A panel of senior doctors and medical educators decides ARCP outcomes. They will determine if you’re ready to progress to the next step in your training.

Core surgical training

Core surgical training (CST) is a 2-year generic programme that most surgical trainees need to complete. You’ll need to sit and pass the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) exam to apply.

Find out more about the MSRA exam.

An educational supervisor will support you throughout your training. You’ll also have a clinical supervisor for each hospital placement.

In your first year as a core training doctor, you’ll develop your knowledge and learn basic surgical skills common to all specialties. In year 2, you’ll start basic training in your chosen surgical specialty.

During the training programme, you must take and pass the Member of The Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) exams.

Learn more about the MRCS exams.

Surgical specialty training

As a specialty surgical registrar (StR), you’ll have a further 4 to 6 years of training to become a surgeon. In this role, you’ll continue to develop advanced clinical and technical skills for elective and emergency surgery in your chosen specialty.

Find out more about hospital specialty training in Scotland.

After you complete your surgical training, you must take and pass the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) exams.

Certificate of Completion of Training

You’ll be issued a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) when you complete speciality training. You can then join the GMC Specialist Register and apply for consultant surgeon vacancies in the NHS.

Learn more about the GMC Specialist Register.

Learning and development

As a consultant surgeon, you’re expected to engage in continuous professional development (CPD) activities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date. Seminars, webinars, and surgical skills courses to support your professional development are offered by:

• The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow

You can also find out more about CPD on the GMC website.

Revalidation

All doctors are legally required to revalidate to show that their knowledge and skills are up to date and that they are fit to practise. You’ll need to revalidate every 5 years to maintain your registration with the GMC.

Learn more about the revalidation process for doctors in the UK.

Career progression

You may choose to be a consultant surgeon throughout your medical career. You’ll keep up to date through CDP activities. Extra courses and workplace learning could lead to career progression to a senior surgeon or specialise in a surgical sub-specialty.

Some consultant surgeons take up teaching and research posts in the NHS, higher education, or the private sector.

Professional bodies

You can join the following organisations as a medical student or GMC-registered doctor:

• The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow
• British Medical Association

To work as a consultant surgeon in the NHS, you’ll need a licence to practise in the UK. You must also be on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register.

Find out more about the General Medical Council.