Medical and Dental
If you are looking for a challenging and dynamic career that will really make a difference in society, then becoming a doctor can be a very fulfilling profession. But it?s a popular career choice and competition for training and jobs can be fierce, so be prepared to put in a lot of hard work and try to gain as much practical experience as possible.
There are many different career paths within medicine, so once you have completed a medical degree there are numerous options open to you. It?s a good idea to consider your specific attributes and interests before you decide which direction to go in. Perhaps you enjoy the research side of medicine more than the idea of looking after patients, for instance, and would be more suited to a career as a medical researcher. On the other hand, if you are a ?people? person who enjoys interacting with patients, then working as a GP could be perfect for you. No matter which direction you decide to take, you will need to pursue further training.
Like doctors, dentists also perform a vital role in society by improving community health. There are around 21,000 dentists currently practising in the UK, but there is a shortage of NHS dentists meaning they are in high demand. The British Dental Association website is a good resource for graduates interested in a career in dentistry.
Depending on their specialism, doctors often work long and irregular hours, including night shifts, weekends and on-call.
It is a very demanding job and will require you to be fit and healthy. Dentists tend to work normal hours Monday to Friday, but may sometimes work in the evenings and on the weekends to suit their patients? needs. There is the possibility of part-time work in the dental profession.
The starting salary for a chiropodist is between £21,200 and £27,500. Senior chiropodists and team managers earn around £40,200, while consultants can earn up to £90,000.
Dentists earn between £60,000 and £120,000 per year, or around £80,000 in the NHS.
A junior doctor?s salary is between £33,300 and £41,300. Doctors in specialist training can earn up to £69,400, while consultants take home up to £180,000 per year.
To become a doctor you will need a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC) followed by further training in your chosen specialism.
If you would like to become a surgeon, you will need a good degree in medicine followed by three further stages of training. After you have finished your degree, you will need to join a two-year foundation programme followed by two years of core training and a year of speciality training. For more information, see the Foundation Programme website. The Royal College of Surgeons website is also useful.
If you have a good degree in a science-based subject then it is possible to join a four-year graduate entry programme to study medicine. Some universities also accept non-science graduates.
To pursue a career in dentistry you should have a degree in dentistry, and you will need to register with the General Dental Council.
Great communication skills, diplomacy and a caring disposition are all useful attributes if you would like to become a doctor or a dentist. It?s important that you are decisive, work well under pressure and can cope with a high level of responsibility.
