Do the inner workings of the human mind fascinate you? Have you ever wondered how the brain works and controls all of our everyday functions? Do you want to work in the medical field? Then becoming a neurologist may be the career for you. Neurologists are doctors who specialize in treatment of the nervous system, mainly the brain and spinal cord.
A mind for education
Like most jobs in the medical field, if you want to become a neurologist, the education will take several years to complete. It requires a four year pre-medical degree, a four year medical school degree resulting in a MD or DO. Then you follow that with a one-year internship in internal medicine or surgery, and finish off with a minimum of a three year neurology residency program (the length may vary by state). This educational training, certification and licensure are the main requirements for the job.
Perks to blow your mind
In addition to the perk of helping people, salary and benefits can be a great perk for a neurologist. You could make a very lucrative salary in a field that is growing faster than the average job in the market. If you run your own practice, you also have the ability to set your own hours. Or if you work for a hospital or another group, you can have the added perks of bonuses based on performance. You could also work in the education industry for medical universities. Working for another organization gives you back-up in your field and allows for you to take more time off, if wanted.
Advancing in the field
As a neurologist, there is still room to advance in the field. If you work with a group, you can move to a head or managerial role in your office. You can also move to a chair or upper administrative position at the hospital or university that you work for. You can teach residents and other physicians and work your way up with experience and additional training, always staying up to date on new policies and procedures.
A great work environment is a no-brainer
The environment you get to work in greatly depends on what company you work for or whether you go into business for yourself. You can work in your office with a small staff, or a larger office with a large staff. You can work in the education environment where your time is split between educating students and residents and seeing patients. You can work in well lit, sterile environments, and with equipment to perform tests such as a CAT scan, an MRI, an EEG, and an EMG/NCV, for your patients. This will give you access to tools that other physicians often do not, because they are set aside for your specialty.
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