How long is residency? The short answer is: it depends! Residency lengths and structures vary by specialty and can be intimidating aspects of planning your career following medical school. Whether you’re applying to the most or least competitive residencies this guide will provide you with useful data to give you a better sense of what lies ahead on any of your potential paths forward.
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How Long is Each Residency?
Here’s an overview of residency lengths:
Residency Lengths: Why it Matters
Transitioning to a residency after medical school is a pivotal moment, marking the start of specialized medical training. Residency demands significant time commitments, with trainees often working 60-80 hours weekly.
The first year after graduating from medical school—post-graduate year 1, or PGY1—is almost always dedicated to general clinical acclimation and residency in a broad field like Internal Medicine or General SurgeryGeneral Surgery. Following this, programs begin to diverge and specialize, which can affect the length of training required.
It's essential to choose a program where you can grow professionally without being overwhelmed by the demands. Choosing the right specialty is crucial, as residency swap involve additional residency, possible pay cuts, and relocation.
This is where the length of residency programs comes into play. It’s in your best interest to consider the length of commitment involved in a program in relation to your strengths and limitations. Remember to also consider your personal life and goals when deciding on which residency you want to do. This a professional decision, but ultimately one that will impact nearly every facet of your life.
Of course, residency length is only on determining factor when it comes time to make your decision. One of our consultants shared:
“The learning experience and quality of training was my number one factor when choosing a residency program. The program’s emphasis on resident wellness and call structure. Ability to undertake a variety of electives in senior years as well as preparation/resident support.” Dr. Neel Mistry, MD
How to Choose Your Residency?
Now that you know the general length of each specialty, what other factors should go into the decision on which residency you choose? You will certainly want to choose your residency based on an interest or passion for a certain field, but other factors may come into your decision as well. Below we will outline some of the logistical concerns you may have when choosing which residencies to apply for.
Time Commitment and Additional Training
Some specialties have additional training or internships that make them even longer than the average. Consider how long you are willing to commit to training before you can practice independently. A longer residency can mean more years of relatively lower salary and delayed professional autonomy.
The length of your residency will impact your lifestyle significantly. Longer residencies may require greater personal and family sacrifices. Reflect on your long-term career goals and how the residency duration aligns with your life plans, including factors beyond your career such as a relationships and family planning. It is not impossible to switch specialties later on, so don’t think you are making the wrong choice if you choose a quicker residency program now and decide to specialize later!
Some fields require additional fellowship training beyond residency. For instance, if you choose internal medicine and later decide to specialize in cardiology, you will need additional years of fellowship training. You should plan your career path with these extra years in mind.
Practice with these hardest residency interview questions!
Financial Considerations
Medical school is expensive, so you may be coming out of school with significant debt. While you probably shouldn’t be choosing your specialties based solely on who the highest paid doctors are, financial considerations are an important aspect of your consideration of which specialties to apply to.
Generally, all residents receive a stipend, however the cost of living, relocation, board exams, and additional training materials can add up. Residents are paid salaries that vary depending on the specialty, the location, and the year of training. Some programs offer additional benefits like health insurance, housing stipends, and meal plans. Compare these benefits across programs to understand the financial implications better.
It is also important to investigate if the residency program offers loan repayment assistance. Some institutions provide significant support in paying down medical school debt, which can be a major financial relief. Sometimes less competitive residences, like family medicine, will have higher loan repayment programs as a way of incentivizing residents to join their programs.
Competitiveness of Entry
Some specialties are more competitive than others. For example, dermatology is a notoriously difficult program to match into due to high demand and limited spots. Research match rates and competitiveness of your desired specialty to gauge your chances of acceptance.
Programs vary in terms of prestige and training rigor. A more competitive program might offer better training and networking opportunities but could also come with increased pressure and workload. Assess whether you prefer a high-intensity environment or a more balanced approach to training.
Applying for residency may bring you back to the stress of medical school applications. It is worthwhile to consider how strongly you want to go into a certain program or if you would like to more easily transition to being a practicing physician. Remember, you may be submitting hundred of applications for different programs.
Here’s what one of our experts, Dr. Monica Taneja, has to say about residency program applications:
“It really depends on your specialty and your competitiveness as an applicant. If you are a strong applicant applying to a less competitive specialty you can apply to fewer programs likely 30-40. As your specialty gets more competitive the number of programs you apply to should steadily increase. For hyper-competitive programs such as ophthalmology, I heard of applicants applying to all available programs.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, Harvard South Shore, Psychiatry
Transitional Year Programs
Some residency program lengths are extended by a preliminary or transitional year. A Transitional Year Residency is a one-year program that provides a broad-based clinical experience. It is often pursued by medical graduates who need to complete a preliminary year before entering specialty training programs such as anesthesiology, radiology, or ophthalmology. This is a great option if you are still unsure of which program you want to enter.
Transitional year programs offer rotations in various specialties, providing a well-rounded clinical experience. This year allows undecided graduates time to explore different fields before committing to a specialty. For those entering specialties that require a preliminary year, a transitional year can provide a strong foundation of general medical knowledge and skills.
Conclusion
Choosing a residency program is a multifaceted decision that requires careful consideration of various factors, especially the length of residency. By evaluating the financial costs, understanding the implications of residency duration, and assessing the competitiveness of entry, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your career goals and personal life. Remember, this decision will shape your future in medicine, so take the time to research and reflect on what matters most to you.
A recap of residency lengths:
FAQs
1. What's the shortest residency?
Family Medicine residencies usually run 2-3 years.
2. What's the longest residency?
Nearly all specialized surgical residencies, but both Neurosurgery and Cardiac Surgery top our list at 6-8 years.
3. CAN I CHANGE SPECIALTIES AFTER MY RESIDENCY?
Yes, you can do a residency swap or transfer. Of course, but this may require considerable sacrifices on your part, including relocation and a likely pay cut; to learn more, see the AMA’s article on switching residency programs.
4. Is there a central directory of residency programs in Canada or the US?
In Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons has released a Canadian Medical Residency Guide. In the U.S., the AMA’s FRIEDA database serves a similar function.
5. Why are surgical residencies so long?
Surgical residencies involve core work in medicine and surgery, and also require extensive technical development; surgical rotations are often not as volume-heavy as medical rotations, as a surgical rotation may involve a single surgery.
6. Are residency lengths different for D.O.s, as opposed to M.D.s?
Residency lengths don’t differ but the odds of getting into a residency can differ significantly between DO vs MD students, with MD students having a higher likelihood of matching.
7. Are residents paid?
Yes, the average first year resident makes about $60,000 but according to the AMA this pay varies significantly by institution and training year (not specialty).
8. How many residency programs should I apply to?
It depends on the program! You may need less applications for a less competitive speciality, but could be applying to many more programs if you want a spot in one of the more in-demand specialties.
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1 Comments
JOSEPH SSEBBOWA
I am a Ugandan with MBChB (MBBS) and I would like to do residensy in internal medicine from Canada. Am I eligible ? Where do I start from? How much can the whole registration and relocation process take me? Thank you. Kind regards
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