Surgeons are among the best-paid doctors in most countries, and the same is true in Ireland. Here, we'll discuss all the steps to becoming a doctor and then a surgeon.
Secondary Education
The journey to becoming a doctor really begins in secondary school. While all of your schooling before the end of secondary is important in building a foundation, none of the results are important for becoming a doctor or surgeon other than your final years of secondary school.
During this time, you'll complete your Leaving Certificate like most of the students, but as an aspiring doctor and surgeon, you'll also be required to complete the HPAT-Ireland. These exams are crucial as they determine your eligibility for medical school and the specific field of study you can pursue.
Leaving Cert
The Irish Leaving Certificate, also called the Leaving Cert, is the qualification awarded to Irish secondary school students after their final exams in secondary school.
Students take several different subjects at Leaving Cert, and the Central Applications Office (CAO) converts the results of their best subjects into points.
These CAO points are listed as one of the requirements for medical schools in Ireland (as well as other universities). With a maximum of 625 available from the Leaving Cert, most medical schools in Ireland ask for at least 500 CAO points from your Leaving Cert.
HPAT-Ireland
The Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT) is a standardised aptitude test taken by undergraduates who want to pursue a medical degree. It is a rigorous exam that tests logical reasoning, problem-solving, interpersonal understanding, and non-verbal reasoning. The test is scored and the results are converted into CAO points for admission to Ireland's universities and medical schools.
The HPAT tests logical reasoning, problem-solving, interpersonal understanding, and non-verbal reasoning.
The HPAT is also converted into CAO points for admission to Ireland's universities and medical schools.
Typically, medical schools in Ireland require applicants to achieve an overall score for their CAO points, but they'll also have minimum score requirements for both Leaving Cert and HPAT-Ireland.
Medical School
Like every other aspiring doctor, those who dream of becoming surgeons need to attend medical school. However, it's important to note that only the best will be accepted, with Ireland's six medical schools being highly competitive and exclusive.
The six medical schools in Ireland are:
- University College Dublin (UCD) - School of Medicine
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD) - School of Medicine
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
- University College Cork (UCC) - School of Medicine
- University of Galway (NUIG) - School of Medicine
- University of Limerick (UL) - Graduate Entry Medical School
For undergraduate entry, i.e. those who complete secondary school and go straight to medical school using their Leaving Cert and HPAT results, a medicine programme will last five or six years.
Typically, the programme will include pre-clinical years of study and clinical study with placements.
Pre-Clinical Years
It's common for students to engage in predominantly classroom-based learning in the first two or three years of medical school, studying subjects like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.
At this stage, the programmes mainly teach students the underlying science that modern medicine builds upon.
Clinical Years
In the later years of medical school, students usually have more opportunities to gain hands-on practical experience in hospitals and other clinical settings.
This is usually the earliest chance aspiring doctors will have to show an interest in a future specialisation such as surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, etc.
Internship
In Ireland, medical school graduates are required to complete internship training in an accredited hospital at the end of their studies.
This year-long internship generally involves graduates rotating through various medical and surgical specialisations.
Once the internship is completed, the intern gains full registration with the Medical Council of Ireland. This registration is the earliest stage you can practice medicine. It involves a thorough review of your training and performance during the internship, and successful registration is a significant milestone in your journey to becoming a surgeon.
However, the journey to becoming a surgeon is just beginning, as there's much more to learn about surgery. This is the stage where doctors can really start specialising.
Basic Surgical Training (BST)
Every aspiring surgeon must apply to Basic Surgical Training (BST), a two-year programme offered through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). For those thinking about becoming a GP, they'll need to complete a different specialised training.
During the BST, aspiring surgeons will study and gain experience in general surgery, trauma, orthopaedics, and urology.
Like any other course, Basic Surgical Training regularly involves evaluations, exams, and feedback from qualified surgeons.
Though a surgeon is a specialised doctor, there are also specialised surgeons and basic surgical training is just the first step.
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS)
Any surgeon looking to specialise further and undergo higher surgical training has to pass the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination.
This exam will test all your surgical knowledge and skills.
Higher Surgical Training (HST)
After completing Basic Surgical Training and the MRCS Exam, surgeons can apply for Higher Surgical Training (HST) in a surgical speciality.
Common specialities include general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, etc.
This usually lasts around six years. It involves specialised training in the chosen field, with trainees working in hospitals under the supervision of experienced surgical consultants.
Upon completion of HST, surgeons are awarded a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST), qualifying them as consultant surgeons.
Optional Fellowships for Surgeons in Ireland
While not obligatory, surgeons in Ireland can choose to complete a surgical fellowship. These fellowships, usually lasting a year or two, allow surgeons to undergo further training and specialise in cardiac or paediatric surgery.
Surgeons can do fellowships in Ireland or around the world.
Becoming a Consultant Surgeon in Ireland
After HST, a surgeon can become a consulting surgeon. A consultant leads surgical teams and performs the most complex of surgeries.
Consulting surgeons also take on teaching and mentoring roles in Irish hospitals. While it may seem quite early for such roles, remember that by this stage, you'll have completed nearly a decade of surgical training on top of medical school and your internship.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Surgeon in Ireland?
So, as you can see, there are a lot of steps to becoming a surgeon in Ireland, just like everywhere else in the world.
To better understand how long everything will take, here's the typical timeline and each step involved in becoming a consultant surgeon.
- Leaving Certificate + HPAT (2 years)
- Medical School (5-6 years)
- Internship (1 year)
- Basic Surgical Training (BST) - 2 years
- MRCS Examination
- Higher Surgical Training (HST) - 6 years
- Optional Fellowship (1-2 years)
Consultant Surgeon
Of course, this is just a guideline. These are the steps you must take if you're considering undergraduate entry to medical school and immediately moving into a surgical specialisation.
There are also other ways to get into medical school and start your journey towards becoming a surgeon.
Other Ways to Study at Medical School
So far, we've seen how an Irish secondary school student would apply for and study at an Irish medical school.
However, there are two other ways to study at medical school: As an international applicant or a graduate.
International Students
International students will have to apply differently to Irish school students. After all, they won't have the Leaving Cert. However, most universities can equate international qualifications.
Irish medical schools may require an English language test like IELTS or similar for students from countries where English isn't their main language.
Graduate Entry
In Ireland, students with another undergraduate degree can gain entry to medical school. Typically, related degrees are preferred, but there are options for students with any Bachelor's degree to study medicine.
Typically, students with no background in medicine or a related subject will have a foundation year or programme of study to ensure their studies align better with those of the other students, particularly those studying medicine immediately after school.
Get Help with Medicine from a Private Tutor
Becoming a surgeon in Ireland is challenging, so why not give yourself the best chance of success by working with a dedicated private tutor?
Whether you need help with medicine or general study skills, the Superprof website has plenty of experienced and qualified tutors.
You can find tutors in Ireland and worldwide who can teach you online. Typically, online tutors are cheaper, but face-to-face tutors are better for hands-on subjects. We'd recommend local tutors for exams and qualifications specific to Ireland, like the Leaving Cert. That said, you can still get online tutors from around Ireland.
Many of the tutors on the Superprof website offer the first session for free, so you can try a few before choosing the one that's right for you.
Just search for “medicine” on the Superprof site today!
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