Educational Requirements for a Career in Neurology

Neurology is an area of medicine that deals with conditions of the nervous system. Neurologists are specialists who treat patients with spinal cord, brain and nerve damage. After completing medical school, neurology students spend a great number of years more training in the specialty before working on patients. These educational requirements prepare all grads for careers in hospitals, acute care facilities and private practices.

Medical School

Like all specialty physicians, neurology doctors must attend and complete four years of premed school, four years of medical school and several years of residency. The four years spent in medical school prepares the student to heal, treat and diagnose patients of all types. When they specialize in neurology, they must also learn how to handle brain injuries, spinal cord damage and a host of other neurological conditions.

These students complete medical school with a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree. They move on to one year of training within a hospital setting, followed by three years of residency in neurology.

Residency

Residency consists of three years within a hospital. However, residents can continue their training within a fellowship program if they choose to go further in other specialized neurological careers. The residency includes spending rotations in emergency care, surgery and normal patient care. Residents learn how to diagnose conditions of the brain such as extensive brain damage and paralysis. They also work with patients who have memory loss due to sustained injuries or diseases.

Board Certified

After completing this last section of their training, neurologists seek certification through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). As a member of the esteemed American Board of Medical Specialties, the ABPN oversees the continued training and educational requirements of all neurology specialists.