How to become a specialist in surgery
Official title: Specialists in surgery
Also called: Ear specialist, Eye specialist, Nose specialist, Throat specialist, Orthopedics specialist, Plastic surgery specialist, Specialist in plastic surgery, Otorhinolaryngology specialist, Specialist in vascular surgery, Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery specialist, Surgeon, Otologist
Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialists in surgery are included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- General surgeons
- Treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally-invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation
- Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth. Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general medical care to women. May perform both medical and gynecological surgery functions
- Ophthalmologists
- Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries of the eyes and related structures
- Urologists
- Diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands
How to become one
A bachelor's degree or in Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required. Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required. Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required. Five to six years of specialty residency training are required. Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- Licence or registration: Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $419,180 a year
- About 10,500 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 13,100 are projected by 2033. (+24.8%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Veterinarians
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Questions people ask
How do I become a specialist in surgery?
A bachelor's degree or in Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required. Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required. Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required. Five to six years of specialty residency training are required. Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
How much does a specialist in surgery earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $419,180 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)).
Is a specialist in surgery a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 25% by 2033, from about 10,500 to about 13,100 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a specialist in surgery?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03