How to become a plastic surgeon
You can get into this job through a university course.
University
To become a plastic or cosmetic surgeon you'll need to complete:
- a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council which takes 5 years
- a foundation programme of general training which takes 2 years
- core surgical training in a hospital which takes 2 years
- specialist training which can take up to 6 years
There's a lot of competition for places on medical degrees. Most universities will expect you to have some paid or voluntary experience in healthcare.
Science degrees
If you already have a first class or 2:1 (upper second class) science degree, you could take the graduate entry route into medicine instead. Some universities will also accept non-science graduates.
Entry tests
When you apply for a course in medicine, you could be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).
They test the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A), including English maths and sciences
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
More Information
More Information
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Further information
You can find out more about how to become a cosmetic or plastic surgeon from the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.