Health Careers In Georgia

Areas of Specialization
Doctors of medicine may obtain a general certificate or a subspecialty certificate from any of the following approved specialty boards:

Allergy and Immunology
Anesthesiology
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Medical Genetics
Neurological Surgery
Nuclear Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Pathology
Pediatrics
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation
Plastic Surgery
Preventive Medicine
Psychiatry and Neurology
Radiology
Surgery
Thoracic Surgery
Urology

Work Environment
Community health centers
Health maintenance
organizations
HIV/AIDS clinics
Hospitals
Indian Health Service
Medical schools
Military
Prisons
Private practices
Public health departments
Research facilities
Substance abuse treatment
centers
Urgent care centers
Veterans' affairs

Academic Requirements
A college preparatory diploma is recommended. A four-year undergraduate degree emphasizing the sciences and liberal arts is required to enter medical school. Some medical schools have early admissions programs, which allow more flexibility in course scheduling during the last two years of college. Medical schools also require applicants to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Four years of medical school is required after receiving a bachelor’s degree. Some schools offer combined bachelor’s and medical degrees; training lasts from six to eight years. Students are accepted into this type of program directly from high school. Physicians undergo graduate medical training after completion of medical school. This is called a residency program and lasts from three to five years.

Licensure, Certification and
Registration
To practice medicine, physicians and resident physicians must have a license through the Georgia State Board of Medical Examiners. During residency training, physicians generally work toward obtaining certification from one of the 24 approved medical specialty boards. This is a voluntary procedure but one that is chosen by most physicians.