Education Requirements for Ophthalmologists

<p>An ophthalmologist is more than just an 'eye doctor'. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of the eyes and vision and is trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the eyes and perform eye surgery. In this article, you will learn about the different education requirements you will need to become an ophthalmologist, the training required and career and salary information. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree required to enter medical school</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Science majors preferred but not required</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Training Required</b></td><td>Internship; residency training; optional fellowship program</td></tr> <tr><td><b>License and/or Certification</b></td><td> Certification preferred but not required; medical license required</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)*</b></td><td>5% (for physicians and surgeons, all other)</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)*</b></td><td> $218,850 (for physicians and surgeons, all other)</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatUndergraduateDegreeShouldIEarn">What Undergraduate Degree Should I Earn?</h3> <p>There is no particular type of degree required to enter medical school, although a science degree would prove more beneficial than a non-science degree in terms of course subjects covered. Non-science degree holders will have to take additional elective science courses in order to complete the necessary prerequisites for medical school. Some schools offer pre-med programs that would provide the coursework and credits needed to enter medical school. After obtaining an undergraduate degree, the student then has to pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) to enter medical school and obtain a four-year medical degree. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatKindOfTrainingShouldIGet">What Kind Of Training Should I Get?</h3> <p>Once a medical degree is obtained, the student must complete a medical, surgical or pediatric internship for one year, then proceed to a three-year residency training program. It is during residency training when students focus on specifically on the eyes, and it includes training in surgical procedures, laboratory time and patient care. Some ophthalmology graduates move on to a one- or two-year fellowship program after residency to pursue more experience and training in a specific subspecialty. </p> <h3 id="section---DoINeedToGetCertified">Do I Need To Get Certified?</h3> <p>Certification is not required for ophthalmologists. However, this certification provided by the American Board of Ophthalmology would assess the ophthalmologist's skills, knowledge and experience in the field. The application and examination process for certification usually takes a year or two and applicants must hold a valid and unrestricted medical license. One must have completed an internship, residency training and a fellowship, if applicable, to apply for certification. </p> <h3 id="section---AreThereOtherRelatedCareers">Are There Other Related Careers?</h3> <p>There are subspecialties in the field of ophthalmology that require intensive training for specific types of eye and vision care. These subspecialties are neurology, oculoplastics, pediatrics, glaucoma, retina and cornea. Another kind of eye doctor is an optometrist, whose primary duties involve providing eye exams and vision tests, prescribing medications for eye diseases and prescribing corrective lenses. Optometrists can not perform certain medical procedures such as eye surgery. </p> <h3 id="section---HowMuchIsTheSalary">How Much Is the Salary?</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physicians and surgeons who were not otherwise categorized earned a median annual salary of $218,850 as of 2020. Many work in hospitals, academia, healthcare organizations or government. Others have their own private practices.</p>