What is an urologist?
Role and responsibilities of the urologist
As with most professions in the medical sector, the urologist's responsibilities are multiple, specialized and demanding. Here's an overview:
- Diagnose urological pathologies: examine symptoms, prescribe complementary tests and establish a precise diagnosis.
- Treating urinary and genital disorders: proposing appropriate treatments, whether medicinal, therapeutic or surgical.
- Perform surgery: operate on kidney stones, urological cancers, prostate pathologies and other severe conditions.
- Provide medical follow-up for patients: monitor the progress of diseases and adjust treatments according to results.
- Prevent urological disorders: inform patients, organize screening campaigns and recommend good health practices.
- Integrate technological advances: exploit innovative techniques such as robotic surgery and advanced imaging.
- Collaborate with other specialists: work in concert with oncologists, gynecologists or nephrologists to ensure comprehensive care.
Diseases and disorders treated by this specialty
Urologists treat a wide variety of pathologies, including
- recurrent urinary tract infections,
- urinary incontinence
- kidney stones
- benign prostatic hyperplasia,
- urological cancers (kidney, bladder, prostate, testicles),
- fertility and male sexuality disorders.
General medical studies
After high school
To enter medical school and consider specializing in urology, it is advisable to have a scientific baccalaureate. Once this diploma is in their pocket, future doctors can choose between two routes to medical school:
- 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 in 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, favoring skills and reorientation.
General medical studies
Once admitted to the Faculty of Medicine, studies take place in two successive cycles:
- The Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Médicales (DFGSM): This three-year course (including the first year of PASS or L.AS) includes theoretical instruction in the basic sciences and initial hospital internships.
- Diplôme de Formation Approfondie en Sciences Médicales (DFASM): These three additional years offer more specific training and more hospital internships in various specialties.
The Examen Classant National (ECN)
After six years of study, students sit the National Classifying Examination (ECN). Their ranking determines their eligibility for the specialization of their choice, including urology.
Specialization in urology
Once students have completed their general medical studies and selected a specialty in urology, they embark on a five-year internship that includes :
- Theoretical training covering all aspects of urology, with participation in seminars and scientific conferences.
- Practical training, enabling them to perform surgery and manage a variety of urological pathologies in different hospital departments.
At the end of their training, interns must write and defend a thesis to obtain their Doctorate in Medicine. They then validate their Diplôme d'Études Spécialisées (DES) in urology, enabling them to practice as specialists and apply for urology job vacancies.
Further training
After obtaining their DES and registering with the Ordre des Médecins, urologists can choose to further specialize by taking additional courses such as:
- Pediatric urology,
- Urological oncology,
- Robotic and minimally invasive surgery,
- Andrology and Reproductive Medicine.
These specializations can be validated by University Diplomas (DU) or Inter-University Diplomas (DIU), depending on the skills required.
So, while the path to becoming a urologist is demanding, it offers many rewarding career prospects in a constantly evolving medical field.
Contents of urology studies
Urology studies cover several key areas:
- Anatomy and physiology: in-depth understanding of the urinary and male genital systems, including the kidneys, bladder, prostate, urethra and testes.
- Urological pathologies: learning about common conditions such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction and urological cancers.
- Diagnostic methods: mastery of clinical examinations, medical imaging (ultrasound, MRI, CT), urodynamic tests and biopsies.
- Surgical techniques: training in endoscopic, laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures for the treatment of tumors, urinary obstructions and malformations.
- Management of medical and post-operative treatments: prescription of medication, follow-up of patients after surgery and support for chronic pathologies.
- Prevention and screening: role in raising awareness of urological cancers, functional disorders and infections.
This program enables future urologists to develop solid practical and theoretical skills for effective patient management.
Career prospects after urology studies
Working in a public hospital or private clinic
A urologist can work in a university hospital (CHU), a public hospital or a private clinic. As a hospital practitioner, he or she is responsible for patient care, performs surgical procedures and participates in on-call duty. In the private sector, they benefit from better material conditions and a more flexible working environment, but with a higher profitability requirement.
Hospital practice also enables urologists to work in multidisciplinary teams, facilitating the exchange of expertise with other specialists, notably oncologists, radiologists and anesthetists. Public hospitals also offer the opportunity to participate in clinical research, contributing to the advancement of medical knowledge in urology.
Private practice
Private practice allows urologists to organize their time and patient base according to their own criteria. He or she may work in a solo practice or in a group with other specialists. Although this mode of practice offers greater autonomy, it requires considerable administrative and financial management.
In private practice, the urologist is also responsible for building up patient loyalty and managing medical equipment, which requires a substantial initial investment. However, they enjoy greater flexibility in their therapeutic and organizational choices, which can translate into a better quality of professional and personal life.
To find out more, take a look at our urologist salary sheet.
Progression to positions of responsibility or teaching positions
With experience, a urologist can advance to positions such as hospital department head, clinic director or university professor. These roles require not only clinical expertise, but also management and training skills. As a teacher, he or she will contribute to the transmission of knowledge to future generations of doctors and participate in scientific research in urology.
Urologists in positions of responsibility may also be involved in directing research projects, drawing up medical recommendations and managing hospital teams. In addition, those who choose to join scientific committees or professional associations will be able to influence advances and practices in their field.
To find out more, see our urologist job description.