My girlfriend and sister are both going through surgical training in the US. Here's what I gather:
1. 4 year medical school during which one learns about the panoply of human medicine. You come out of med school with an MD.
2. 4-5+ year general surgery residency (depends on program and optional steps one might take such as research years) during which one learns general surgical procedures through observation, assistance, and practice in the operating room under the supervision of experienced attending surgeons. Generally, residents will rotate through different surgical departments in order to gain broad exposure to the various fields and techniques. Residents take a yearly standardized exam called the ABSITE and are also evaluated by the attending surgeons they have worked with. More senior residents are given more responsibility in patient care and will be given more opportunity to assist and perform in the OR.
3. After residency, one can further specialize by taking on a fellowship (2-3 years, but could be more depending on specialty). During fellowship, one focuses even further on a specific field. Fellowship is an additional layer of practical hands-on training.
4. Practice - after fellowship, one would go on the join a surgical group or create a private practice to perform surgery commercially.
Throughout all of this is a series of examinations that are given which, in total, will allow a surgeon to practice unsupervised on patients.
Edit: to point out where the MD is earned and vague mention of licensure
1. 4 year medical school during which one learns about the panoply of human medicine. You come out of med school with an MD.
2. 4-5+ year general surgery residency (depends on program and optional steps one might take such as research years) during which one learns general surgical procedures through observation, assistance, and practice in the operating room under the supervision of experienced attending surgeons. Generally, residents will rotate through different surgical departments in order to gain broad exposure to the various fields and techniques. Residents take a yearly standardized exam called the ABSITE and are also evaluated by the attending surgeons they have worked with. More senior residents are given more responsibility in patient care and will be given more opportunity to assist and perform in the OR.
3. After residency, one can further specialize by taking on a fellowship (2-3 years, but could be more depending on specialty). During fellowship, one focuses even further on a specific field. Fellowship is an additional layer of practical hands-on training.
4. Practice - after fellowship, one would go on the join a surgical group or create a private practice to perform surgery commercially.
Throughout all of this is a series of examinations that are given which, in total, will allow a surgeon to practice unsupervised on patients.
Edit: to point out where the MD is earned and vague mention of licensure