To become an orthopedistin France , you need to follow a long and demanding medical curriculum. This course trains students to master surgical techniques and acquire the human skills essential to the practice of the profession. This is what we describe in detail in our orthopedist job description. Since it's not always easy to find your way around the various stages of this career path, here's a comprehensive guide to help you better understand the studies you need to follow.
What is an orthopedist?
An orthopedist is a doctor specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and surgery of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments). They work in hospitals, clinics and private practices. They treat a wide range of conditions, from acute trauma (fractures, dislocations) to chronic pathologies (osteoarthritis, scoliosis), with the utmost technical rigor.
How to become an orthopedist
General medical studies
Before entering higher education,aspiring orthopaedic surgeons must obtain a scientific baccalaureate. Once this has been completed, students wishing to pursue health studies can choose between two options:
- The Parcours Accès Santé Spécifique (PASS)
- Introduced in 2020 to replace the former Première Année Commune aux Études de Santé (PACES), the PASS is a year of study combining a health major with a minor from another discipline. This structure makes it possible to diversify skills and offer avenues for reorientation.
- Students are assessed on the basis of continuous assessment and final exams.
- Those who pass can go on to study in the health sector.
- Those who fail can reorient themselves towards their minor before, if they so wish, trying their luck again.
- The PASS approach reduces the pressure of the former PACES exam, while diversifying students' skills.
- The Licence with Health Access (L.AS)
- Introduced in 2020 to diversify the range of training courses available in health studies, the L.AS is a course combining any major (law, humanities, economics, etc.) with a specific health minor (biology, physiology, etc.).
- At the end of the first, second or third year, and if they have passed the minimum requirements, students can apply for health studies. They then sit specific exams. Depending on their performance, they may be rejected or admitted to the second year of medical school.
- The L.AS allows students to follow a diversified pathway, encouraging skills development and reorientation.
After the PASS or the L.AS (see above), general medical studies are divided into two parts:
- The Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Médicales (DFGSM) : a three-year course (the PASS and L.AS count as the first) comprising theoretical courses in medical sciences and clinical placements in hospitals.
- Diplôme de Formation Approfondie en Sciences Médicales (DFASM): a direct continuation of the DFGSM, this is a three-year course of study incorporating specialist courses and advanced internships in various hospital departments.
Externship examinations
During the final year of the second cycle, students must pass a series of exams which, depending on their results and rankings, will enable them to choose their specialty as well as their city. Here's the list:
- Épreuves dématérialisées nationales (EDN): these take place in October and account for 60% of the final grade. To pass, students must obtain a mark of at least 14/20 in the theoretical knowledge required by all doctors, regardless of their specialty.
- Objective and Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE): these are held in May and account for 30% of the final grade. They test students' ability to develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills. The minimum mark is 10/20.
- Academic progress grade: this continuous assessment takes into account the student's commitment, curriculum, mobility and level of English, and accounts for 10% of the final grade.
Specialization in orthopaedics
On completion of general medical studies , students specializing in orthopaedics enter a five-year residency program. This course is divided into theoretical and practical training:
- Training theoretical: interns follow theoretical courses covering the various aspects of orthopaedics. They attend seminars and conferences to keep abreast of the latest advances and research in the field.
- Practicaltraining : orthopedic interns participate in the work of various health services.
In addition, orthopedic interns must write and defend a thesis in order to obtain their doctorate. On completion of this specialization, interns are awarded the Diplôme d'Études Spécialisées en Orthopédie (DES).
Further training
Once the DES has been obtained, thequalified orthopaedic surgeon can pursue further training through university or inter-university diplomas, or international training courses at reference centers. These courses enable them to perfect their skills in highly specialized fields, such as spinal surgery, hand surgery, complex prostheses and sports traumatology (to name but a few). This advanced training opens the way to better job opportunities for orthopaedic surgeons, both medically and financially, and fosters greater professional recognition, particularly in private clinics or specialized referral centers.
Jobs and careers
Career opportunities for orthopaedic surgeons are many and varied. These specialists can work in the public sector, as hospital or university practitioners, or in the private sector in clinics or group practices. Some choose to become department heads, while others are involved in research or medical training, in France or abroad. To find your way around, we advise you to consult an experienced medical recruiter . The profession, which is both technical and human, offers a rich, recognized career that is constantly evolving thanks to technological and scientific advances (see our article on artificial intelligence in healthcare: impacts and prospects). With a well-organized activity, orthopaedic surgeons can also aspire to a satisfying life balance, while continuing to train throughout their career.
To find out more: see our orthopaedic surgeon salary sheet.
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