Becoming an oncologist is a long and challenging process, but it can be incredibly rewarding. To become an oncologist, you'll need to complete a bachelor's degree, a medical school degree, and several years of internship and residency programs. The American Medical Association's FREIDA service is an interactive database of more than 9,400 graduate medical education programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Additionally, there are more than 200 blended specialty programs available.
Specialist training in clinical and medical oncology begins after basic medical training (CMT), which includes completion of MRCP (UK). Clinical oncology training is supervised through the Royal College of Radilogists and Medical Oncology through the Royal College of Physicians. All oncology training programs follow a structured curriculum and offer training in the basic sciences of cancer and the management of malignancies. During training, most trainees rotate from the main (base) hospital to other hospitals to gain extensive practice experience.
In Northern Ireland, students work at the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital and attend clinics in each of the four Cancer Units. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care to a person who has been diagnosed with cancer. The oncologist may also be called a cancer specialist. In most medical schools, the first two years are taken with classroom study before students are tasked with doing rotations. In addition to completing the necessary educational requirements, aspiring oncologists must also pass a series of exams to become certified.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-step exam that all physicians must pass in order to practice medicine in the United States. The USMLE Step 1 is taken during medical school, while Steps 2 and 3 are taken after graduation. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) also offers certification in oncology for those who have completed their residency program. To become certified, you must pass both written and oral exams.
Once you have passed these exams, you will be eligible to practice as an oncologist. Becoming an oncologist requires dedication and hard work, but it can be incredibly rewarding. With the right education and training, you can make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
