Additional information

body or mind	Body
Field	Medical Field
Boss or Team	Own Boss & Team
Communication	Good Communicator
Work With	People
Math & Science	Maths & Science
Study Length	Prepared to Study for Years
Environment	Busy Environment

Specialist Surgeon

Surgeons are specialists in performing surgical operations. Besides General Surgery, there are many, many other specialisations you can pursue including:

Paediatric Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Neurosurgery

How to be a Specialist Surgeon in South Africa

Get the Required Qualifications

To become a specialist surgeon in South Africa, you will need the following qualifications:

Certificate (NSC or NC(v) with Bachelor’s Degree Pass)
Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor of Medicine)
Post-graduate Degree (Master of Medicine: Surgery)*

Demonstrate Competence in the Required Subjects

Entry requirements may differ per institution, but you will generally be expected to show competency in the following subjects:

Accumulate Years of Relevant Study and Experience

Specialist surgeons in South Africa typically study for about 10 years. The first 6 years are spent in theoretical training to obtain a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and four years are spent in post-graduate studies to obtain a Master of Medicine (Surgery) degree.

In addition to the theoretical training and post-graduate studies, specialist surgeons also typically spend 1 year in student internship and 1 year in community service.

Find Relevant Employment Opportunities

Specialist surgeons have many employment opportunities. Specialist surgeons in South Africa usually work in large hospitals or clinics and they can also go into private practice.

Find More Information from Relevant Regulatory Bodies

To find more information about specialist surgeons, contact the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA).