18 Shortest Medical Residency Programs in the World

This page is targeted to medical professionals. There are many different medical specialties. Selecting a specialty necessitates both a passion for that area of medicine and the drive to go through the training. Are you looking for a course that takes less time to complete?

This is it! The shortest medical residency programs are listed in this article, so you can apply now and complete them quickly.

The intensive training required during residency makes the majority of medical students dislike the time period. Spending additional years in training right when you start to feel like it is finished is no joke, I can assure you of that. After medical school, you can pursue residencies or internships in medicine. That is to say, you must complete medical school before you are eligible to enroll in a medical residency.

We’ve already given you a brief overview of a residency requirement, so let’s get right to the point.

What is a Medical Residency?

Following graduation from medical school, you undergo a term of training during which you intern in a hospital to get real-world experience. Different specializations necessitate various study lengths. Some things need a lot of time, while others only need a little. For students who are interested in certain fields of study, this article focuses on the shortest medical residency programs.

Using more technical language, medical residency, sometimes known as postgraduate training, is a stage of medical education that trained doctors, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals complete. This stage is often completed in a hospital or clinic under the guidance of a senior registered physician or consultant. To be eligible for a license to practice medicine, students must complete this training. Depending on where they are, students are referred to as residents, house officers, trainees, or interns.

Following your residency, you may still go on to enroll in a fellowship or sub-specialty training if you choose to further your specialization.

What is the Length of a Residency Program?

Actually, your specialization is what determines how long your medical residency will be. Some specializations take more training than others, as we’ve already established. For instance, surgeons need more training than a general practitioner who only makes diagnoses and sends you to a specialist for additional testing and likely therapies.

Additionally, extra fellowship training will be required for highly specialized medical fields including pediatric radiography, female pelvic medicine, or reconstructive surgery.

Residency typically lasts between three and seven years.

How Long is a Residency in Internal Medicine?

Internal medicine has so many options for practice specialization that understanding the fundamentals of the field may be difficult. Conversely, all internists share a foundational level of training that forms the basis for whichever area of internal medicine they choose to specialize in.

Basically, three years of residency (sometimes referred to as “categorical” training) are needed to enter an internal medicine program after medical school. After three years of training, residents are qualified for internal medicine board certification.

In the United States, general internal medicine is practiced by around half of internal medicine residents.

How Long Is a Doctor’s Residency?

You’ve surely already been thinking how long it takes to become a doctor when you’re considering how to get into the best medical school and evaluating your requirements for medical school.

The timetable can quickly overwhelm you. It takes four years to complete medical school, three years to complete a residency, and two more years to do a fellowship if you wish to specialize. However, the specialization you select will affect how long your residency will be. Most residencies are three to seven years long.

For instance, a three-year residency is required for doctors in pediatrics, internal medicine, and family practice.

Some fields, including urology and surgery, require lengthier residencies. Remember that after finishing your residency, you might need to pursue more training in the form of a fellowship depending on your aspirations.

The length of your fellowship program could range from one to three years, depending on your area of expertise.

Which Residency Lasts the Shortest?

The practice of family medicine has the shortest residency program out of the ones listed here. The average length of a family medicine residency program is two to three years.

The Shortest Medical Residency

The duration of these programs is the primary rating element. The amount of study time required to finish the program is what we mean by this.

Here are the top 18 shortest medical programs in the world, without further ado.

1. Family Practice: 3 years
2. Internal Medicine: 3 years
3. Pediatrics: 3 years
4. Emergency Medicine: 3 – 4 years
5. Physical Medicine: 3-4 years
6. Obstetrics and Gynecology: 4 years
7. Anesthesiology: 3 years plus PGY – 1 Transitional / Preliminary
8. Dermatology: 3 years plus PGY -1 Transitional / Preliminary
9. Neurology: 3 years plus PGY -1 Transitional / Preliminary
10. Ophthalmology: 3 years plus PGY -1 Transitional / Preliminary
11. Pathology: 4 years
12. Psychiatry: 4 years
13. General Surgery: 5 years
14. Orthopedic Surgery: 5 years (includes 1 year of general surgery)
15. Otolaryngology (ENT): 5 years
16. Urology: 5 years (includes 1 year of general surgery)
17. Plastic Surgery: 6 years
18. Neurosurgery: 7 years

You’ll see that we omitted the one-year preliminary medical internship and the one-year residency. You will obtain your doctoral license in this way, but unless you have prior medical experience, it will be challenging for you to find employment in any hospital or clinic.

Additionally, we included more than 18 medical residency programs worldwide, but we will only cover 18. Follow along as we talk about the medical specializations with the quickest residency periods!

1. Family Medicine:

Family practice (FP), formerly known as family medicine (FM), is a branch of medicine that offers comprehensive care to patients of all ages. They are referred to as general practitioners by some.

These medical professionals have the training necessary to prevent, identify, and treat a wide range of illnesses in patients of all ages.

Family-centered treatment is the main focus of family medicine. Surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and geriatrics are among the specialties that the students are trained in.

Additionally, they collaborate with other doctors as needed.

About 3 years are needed to finish it. While their median academic salary is $192,000, their median clinical salary is $211,000 instead.

2. Internal Medicine:

Internal medicine residency programs, which last roughly 3 years, are among the shortest. The primary organ systems of the body are covered by the large field of internal medicine.

The general internist is a doctor who treats patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings, addressing both common and difficult issues in children, adults, and seniors. They are specialists who can treat both acute and complex disorders, diagnose them, and promote overall wellness.

Additionally, they receive training in the fundamentals of basic care, which includes knowledge of illness prevention, wellness, substance misuse, mental health, and the efficient treatment of common issues with the nervous system, reproductive organs, eyes, ears, skin, and skin.

• $211,000 is the median academic salary.
• Clinical Salary Median: $229,000

3. Pediatrics:

From infancy until early adulthood, children’s physical, emotional, and social health is the primary focus of the specialty of pediatrics. They must diagnose and treat both acute and chronic ailments, as well as promote preventative health.

The shortest medical residency program lasts for three years. Academic salaries are $182,000, while clinical salaries are $220,000.

4. Allergy and Immunology:

This is an internal medicine subspecialty. But you can also go through training if you have a pediatrics degree. On the other hand, this residency program teaches doctors to provide medical care to patients with allergy, asthmatic, and immunologic illnesses.

5. Emergency Medicine:

This 3- to 4-year medical residency is a popular specialization among students.

Here is a summary;

The primary goals of emergency medicine are the identification, assessment, and treatment of patients who are very ill or injured. It is a demanding, dynamic, and varied specialty that calls for a solid foundation in medical knowledge as well as a wide range of clinical and technical abilities.

All age groups and conditions of varied degrees of severity are treated by emergency physicians. As a result, they have received training in areas like mass gatherings and disaster medicine.

Regarding the pay,

• Academic Salary Median: $272,000
• Clinical Salary Median: $320,000

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6. Physical Medicine:

Physiatry is another name for physical medicine and rehabilitation.

It involves identifying, assessing, and treating patients whose illnesses, injuries, impairments, and/or disabilities prevent them from functioning as they should. Well, in addition to reducing pain, they also help to rejuvenate the body and mind. Prosthetics, orthotics, therapeutic exercise, and the use of other durable medical devices are all specialties of physical therapists.

The shortest period for a medical residency is 3–4 years.

7. Obstetrics and Gynecology:

Concerned here are women’s surgical and medical treatment.

It combines two specialties: gynecology, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of problems with the female reproductive system, and obstetrics, which provides care for women before, during, and after childbirth.

These experts frequently work as consultants for other medical professionals, but they also frequently act as patients’ first point of contact and primary caregivers.

Frequently, the bond is kept going beyond menopause.

8. Anesthesiology:

It is a specialty that deals with the care of patients undergoing surgical, obstetrical, and specific other medical treatments who are no longer in pain and under stress.

They truly take care of patients by doing the following: managing pain, performing CPR, addressing breathing issues, and managing seriously ill and/or injured patients in specialized care units.

This residency’s shortest duration is 4 years.

9. Dermatology:

This brief medical residency addresses a variety of sexually transmitted illnesses as well as conditions of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and nails.

Dermatologists treat a wide range of conditions, such as contact dermatitis, various inflammatory dermatoses, skin cancer, autoimmune illnesses, warts, and acne.

Excisions, sclerotherapy, laser surgery, liposuction, hair transplants, and tissue augmentation therapies are just a few of the surgical techniques they use to treat patients. They also cure photoaging skin and prevent skin disorders and cancers.

Academic salaries start at $315,000, while clinical salaries average $450,000.

10. Neurology:

Many individuals believe that this field of medicine solely handles brain disorders. That’s not really accurate.

It really treats problems of the neurological system, which includes those that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels.

They frequently encounter migraines, strokes, and seizures as medical issues. Their majority work as consultants.

Four years is the shortest residency period. While the median clinical salary is $268,000 and the academic salary is $223,000.

11. Ophthalmology:

The structure, operation, diagnosis, and care of the eye and the visual system are the focus of this area of medicine. It offers complete eye treatment to patients using medical, surgical, and rehabilitation therapies.

Four years is the shortest residency period.

12. Pathology:

This covers the nature and causes of diseases. It shares the same diagnostic intent as radiology. It blends laboratory know-how with clinical training. Previously thought to be a research-focused field, pathology is now both wholly clinical and investigative.

Residency is 4 years long.

13. Psychiatry:

The practice of psychiatry is related to common medical and neurological problems, as well as mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, which are prevented, treated, and diagnosed as a result.

The residency lasts for four years.

14. General Surgery:

General surgeons are qualified to perform surgery on nearly any part of the body to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries.

These doctors assist with the pre- and post-operative treatment and diagnostics. The full management of trauma and critical care patients is typically their responsibility as well.

Although general surgery has a wide range of applications, the belly, breasts, peripheral vascular, skin, and neck are frequently involved.

It takes roughly 4-5 years to finish, with the median academic salary being $358,000 and the median clinical salary being $383,000.

15. Orthopedic Surgery:

The study and prevention of musculoskeletal illnesses, disorders, and injuries as well as their treatment through medical, surgical, and physical means are all included in the medical and surgical speciality known as orthopedic surgery.

Five years are spent in residency.

16. Otolaryngology:

Otolaryngologists treat diseases and lesions above the shoulders in patients of all ages, including the ears, respiratory, and upper alimentary systems in the head and neck generally. Ophthalmologists treat visual and eye-related disorders, and neurologists and neurological surgeons treat lesions of the brain.

They have knowledge in communication sciences, endocrinology, and neurology in addition to allergies and facial plastic surgery.

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How to Enroll in a Residency Program.

Medical residency applications can be quite time-consuming to complete. As an IMG, you must complete the following procedures in order to be accepted into a medical residency in the US.

IMGs are those who graduated from medical schools outside of the United States. and medical colleges outside of Canada. Everyone who attended these schools, including citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada, is regarded as an IMG.

The procedure entails;

1) Sign up for the USMLE

This is the first stage of the residence application process. Before an IMG doctor can start their U.S. career, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates® (ECFMG) must validate their credentials. Residency. You must first register with the ECFMG, though. The application procedure is now underway.

2) Complete the USMLE® Tests

For a medical license in the United States, candidates must pass the three-part United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

The USMLE Step 1 exam assesses your knowledge of and application of fundamental sciences to the practice of medicine.

You will be examined for the USMLE Step 2 CK on how well you can apply medical principles and comprehend clinical science to the delivery of patient care.

Your capacity to apply medical knowledge and skills in a realistic, patient-centered context is evaluated by the USMLE Step 2 CS.

The last test is the USMLE Step 3. It focuses on offering medical care to patients in an outpatient setting. However, you can choose to take this exam either before submitting an IMG residency application or at the conclusion of your residency year.

3) Gain Useful Clinical Experience

Start seeking for clinical rotation possibilities as an undergraduate who has not yet begun the USLME; it will help you in your residency application. It’s a must for the applicant to have some prior clinical work. Look for chances for practical externships and clinical rotations in the US.

4) Become a Member of the AAMC

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is managed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). You will use the MyERAS Portal to submit your residency applications using the unified ERAS system.

5) Choose your residency programs.

Since you’ve already taken a few USMLE Exams, you know better how competitive you are as an IMG for the medical residency match. This aids in sorting among the many US residency programs available in particular disciplines (such as internal medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, etc.) to identify ones where you stand a chance of succeeding.

6) Register with ERAS and Obtain your ECFMG Token.

Take advantage of the OASIS or the MyECFMG mobile app to get your ECFMG Token. Your personal 14-digit alphanumeric ECFMG Token is specific to you. Register with ERAS once you’ve received your token.

7) Complete the paperwork and submit the ERAS application.

Apply to the residency programs you have previously determined you are eligible for using ERAS. You must also submit all supporting documentation.

These records consist of;

• Statement of purpose for residents
• ERAS Common Application Form
• A curriculum vitae
• Referral letters.

8) Interview for Medical Residency

One of the most crucial steps in the procedure is this. One or more residency programs may contact you for an interview after you submit your ERAS application.

9) Become a member of the NRMP

It comes after your interview.

The yearly Residency Match, which matches IMG residency applicants with residency and fellowship programs, is organized by the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). To decide how candidates and programs should be matched, this Residency Match uses rank order lists that were submitted by both applicants and residency program directors.

You will order residency programs according to preference after your interviews. You are now prepared for the ERAS Residency Match after logging onto ERAS and updating your profile with your NRMP ID.

10) Resident After Match

If you have an IMG Match, kudos to you!

If you were not matched, you still have a chance to compete for the remaining open positions in the Residency Match through the post-residency Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, or SOAP.

This procedure has been made easier so that overseas students will be successful in applying for IMG residency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Make up your mind to spend at least 3 years for the shortest medical residency programs if you plan to attend resident training.

Did you see those excellent medical specialties you may pursue? I promise they are worth the time and work you’ll invest in the research. You’ll also concur that the pay is reasonable given the work put in.

These are the shortest medical residencies you can receive as a medical student. Want to cut back on your training time? Your finest option is right here.

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