Medical residency for doctors typically lasts between 3 to 7 years, depending on the medical specialty chosen. For example:
- Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics usually require about 3 years.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Dermatology often take around 4 years.
- General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Urology generally require about 5 years.
- Plastic Surgery and Interventional Radiology can take 6 years.
- Neurosurgery and Thoracic Surgery may require up to 7 years of residency training
Residency is a period of supervised, hands-on training after medical school where new doctors develop specialized skills necessary for independent practice. The first year is commonly called the intern year, focusing on broad clinical experience
. After completing residency, some doctors pursue additional fellowship training in subspecialties, which can add 1 to 5 more years depending on the field
