What is the hardest doctor to become?

Asked by: Prof. Genevieve Hettinger  |  Last update: August 12, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (21 votes)

What is the most difficult type of doctor specialty? Neurosurgery is known to be particularly challenging because of the intricate nature of the nervous system and the significant risks involved in surgical procedures.

What is the toughest doctor to become?

Top 10 Toughest Courses in the Medical Field
  • Anesthesiology. ...
  • Plastic Surgery. ...
  • Oncology. ...
  • Orthopedic Surgery. ...
  • Pediatric Surgery. ...
  • Nephrology. ...
  • Forensic Pathology. ...
  • Infectious Disease. In the fight against ever-evolving pathogens, infectious disease specialists are on the front lines.

Which doctor is the most difficult?

Among the most demanding medical specialties, neurosurgery requires expertise in the intricate realms of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nervous system. Neurosurgeons specialize in treating patients with various brain-related illnesses or injuries, catering to individuals across age groups, from infants to adults.

What is the easiest Dr to become?

Among primary care options, Family Medicine and Internal Medicine are generally considered easiest medical specialties to study, with relatively shorter residencies compared to some other specialities. Moreover, Emergency Medicine is the medical speciality that takes the least amount of time.

What type of doctor takes the longest to become?

Neurosurgery takes the longest, while specialties like pediatrics and internal medicine take the shortest.

Hardest Parts of Becoming a Doctor

37 related questions found

What doctors have the least schooling?

Family Medicine is the medical specialty with the shortest training time, typically requiring a three-year residency after medical school.

Which doctor earns the most?

The highest paid doctor is typically a specialist with advanced training and expertise in the medical field. Specialists such as cardiologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists, and pulmonologists are the highest paid doctors in India.

What is the richest type of doctor?

A neurosurgeon is the highest-paid doctor on our list. Neurosurgery encompasses surgery of the brain, spinal cord/column, and peripheral nerves. Aspiring neurosurgeons must complete at least a seven-year residency. The average annual compensation for neurosurgeons is $763,908, putting them at the top of our list.

What is the shortest doctor degree?

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degrees can be completed in two to three years. They are two of the shortest doctoral degrees available because they focus on practical application and don't require the large amount of research and dissertations that longer programs include.

What is the rarest doctor specialty?

However, medical geneticists, also known as clinical geneticists, are believed to be among the rarest types of doctors. They specialize in diagnosing and treating genetic disorders that affect a relatively small percentage of the population. In the United States, there are only about 1,200 medical geneticists.

What is the most overworked doctor?

Top 10 highest Burnout Medical Specialties
  • Emergency Medicine‍ Emergency medicine is the primary physician specialty with highest burnout. ...
  • Internal Medicine‍ ...
  • Family Medicine‍ ...
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology‍ ...
  • Pediatrics‍ ...
  • Hospital Medicine‍ ...
  • Neurology‍ ...
  • Critical Care‍

What's the hardest form of surgery?

These six procedures are some of the most complicated medical surgeries in the world.
  1. Thoracic Aortic Dissection Repair. ...
  2. Craniectomy. ...
  3. Coronary Revascularization. ...
  4. Surgical Ventricular Restoration. ...
  5. Septal Myectomy. ...
  6. Spinal Osteomyelitis Surgery.

What is the lowest rated doctor Who?

Top 15 worst rated episodes of Doctor Who
  • “In the Forest of the Night” (2014) 6.0/10. ...
  • “Resolution” (2019) 6.0/10. ...
  • “The Ghost Monument” (2018) 6.1/10. ...
  • “The Devil's Chord” (2024) 6.2/10. ...
  • “Love & Monsters” (2006) 6.2/10. ...
  • “Kerblam!” ( ...
  • “It Takes You Away” (2018) 6.3/10. ...
  • “The Lazarus Experiment” (2007) 6.5/10. I don't know man.

What is the most stressful type of doctor?

The impact of burnout varies across the medical field, with some specialties facing more severe challenges than others. Emergency medicine physicians reported the highest burnout rate at 63% in the 2024 report. Obstetrician gynecology (OB/GYNs) and oncology reported the next-highest rates at 53% each.

Which surgery has the lowest success rate?

Surgeries that have high failure rates:
  • Hiatal hernia which is intended to fix the problem of the stomach protruding out of the diaphragm space into the esophageal area.
  • Hip resurfacing utilizes a metal cup that fits over the ball of the femur. ...
  • Grafts involve replacing patches of skin with treated cadaver tissues.

What is the least competitive doctor to become?

2. What Is The Least Competitive Medical Field? Psychiatry, internal medicine, and emergency medicine have the lowest competition. However, when it comes to which medical field is the least competitive, the answer is challenging to find.

What is the shortest doctor to become?

Easiest Doctor to Become: Family Doctor

The simple answer is that it takes the least amount of time. After your four years at medical school, (or a 3-year medical school) you can do a three-year family medicine residency, pass your board exams, and that's it, you're a doctor!

What's the easiest doctorate to get?

Easiest PhD Programs
  1. PhD in Education. A PhD in education prepares scholars for advanced roles in academia, research, and policy-making. ...
  2. PhD in Business Administration. ...
  3. Doctor of Nursing Practice. ...
  4. PhD in Psychology. ...
  5. PhD in Public Health. ...
  6. PhD in Social Work. ...
  7. PhD in Information Technology. ...
  8. PhD in Criminal Justice.

What is the lowest paid doctor?

1. Medical Genetics and Genomics. In the number 1 spot for lowest paid medical specialty is medical genetics and genomics at $244,517. Medical geneticists focus on the relationship between genes and health.

Which doctor has highest salary?

Surgeons

Surgeons are at the top of the list regarding India's highest-paid medical jobs. They are responsible for performing various procedures, from simple operations to complex procedures like heart transplants. They can earn an average salary of Rs. 20-30 lakhs per annum.

Are most doctors millionaire?

About 51% of doctors reach a net worth of $1 million or more, but this changes a lot based on their age and area of work. Younger doctors, especially those just starting out, usually have lower net worths. This is because they often have student loans and haven't had enough time to grow their savings.

What is the easiest doctor to become with a high salary?

Least Competitive Medical Specialties
  1. Family Medicine. Average Step 1 Score: 216.1. ...
  2. Psychiatry. Average Step 1 Score: 223.1. ...
  3. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Average Step 1 Score: 224.2. ...
  4. Pediatrics. Average Step 1 Score: 226.4. ...
  5. Emergency Medicine. Average Step 1 Score: 231.1. ...
  6. Internal Medicine (Categorical) ...
  7. Anesthesiology.

What are the highest paid doctor categories?

List of Highest Paying Jobs in India
  • Project Manager.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer.
  • Data Scientist.
  • Machine Learning Engineer.
  • Blockchain Developer.
  • Full Stack Software Developer.
  • Product Manager.
  • Management Consultant.

Which medical field is most in demand?

Fields like cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, and gastroenterology offer significant career opportunities in India. With rising healthcare demands, especially in urban areas, specialists in these domains are highly sought after, providing substantial growth potential.