An Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist is a prestigious job in the medical field. These dedicated professionals are hardworking individuals who have gone through many years of school and specialized training in order to become the high paid , highly skilled individuals they are today. Ear, nose , and throat specialists are highly respected professionals who work to help people with a wide variety of illnesses, many of which can be life threatening. They must undergo years of training before competing to be chosen for a residency and internship. The field is highly competitive and the training is intense and expensive, but the rewards are great. The profession describes a wide range of sub-specialties of physicians and surgeons, who are collectively known as otolaryngologists.
Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist Job Responsibilities
Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist, are physicians and surgeons who have undergone specialized training in their fields. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating a number of conditions that originate in the head and neck including upper respiratory infections, balance and hearing problems, and thyroid problems. Like other physicians and surgeons, ear, nose, and throat specialists work long hours, with 43% reporting as having worked 50 or more hours per week. Ear, nose and throat specialist are often faced with a wide variety of patients who have numerous symptoms. Most of their patients will have been refereed to them by a general practitioner or if they work in a hospital by the E.R or admitting doctor. They will spend the majority of their time diagnosing and investigating a patients illness. Depend on the cause of the problem, they may prescribe drugs or even perform surgery. While not all ear, nose, and throat doctors are surgeons, many are due to the large number of patients who require surgical treatments. Otolaryngologist may focus on a particular area of the field or may diagnose general ear, nose , and throat problems. Allergists and doctors who perform facial reconstructive surgeries are two of the the sub-specialties of this field.
Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist Training and Education Requirements
As a specialized MD, ear, nose, and throat specialists must first complete a bachelor’s degree, which generally takes 4 years, before enrolling in four years of medical school. Once these programs are finished candidates who wish to specialize in this area of medicine must then enroll in residency program and specialized training that focus on the sub-field of otolaryngolgy they wish to specialize in. This generally lasts about 2-4 years, and is followed by an internship.
Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist Salary and Wages
Physicians are one of the highest paid occupations, in part due to the long number of years of training they undergo and this is no exception for ear, throat, and nose specialist. Estimated figures for yearly salaries of specialists in the physician and surgeon fields are in the 300,000 range. Employment figures are expected to climb as demand for this profession increases, particularly in rural and undeveloped areas. The field is in high demand and increases in technology and the general rise in the elderly population help to increase the demand for this highly demanding, but highly paid field.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist Certifications
In addition to the many years of schooling and training they must undergo, Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists, like all physicians and surgeons must remain licensed throughout their practice. For physicians and surgeons the they must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Physicians and surgeons are eligible to take the test once they have completed residency and internship requirements. In addition to this test Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist must obtain further license from either American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). An ear nose and throat specialist will also have been granted a license from the American Board of Otolaryngology. Practitioners who wish to further specialize in a sub-specialty in the field of Otolaryngolgy such as Rhinology and laryngology. Once completing a sub-specialty a further license is required.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist Professional Associations
Professional organizations included the licensing boards including the American Board of Medical Specialists and the American Osteopathic Association. The American Board of Otolaryngology is the specialty specific board governing the field. Other professional associations include ENT Surgical Care, Professional Association and Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children. All of these organizations are able to provide information on and support for ear, nose, and throat specialists.
