It generally takes up to at least 12 years to become a thoracic surgeon, and your first concern should be with the educational route that will best prepare you for medical school admittance. Most areas require that you pass a medical school admissions exam, and to prepare for the exam, you should consider working on a bachelor's degree in biology or another science based program. Undergraduate grades will be extremely important for acceptance into medical school, and you will need to especially excel in science and mathematics.
Some undergraduate programs offer pre-medical studies including anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and organic chemistry, which may also prepare you to become a thoracic surgeon. In addition to this coursework, you may want to consider enrolling in a medical admissions exam preparatory course. Your professors may be able to assist you with a course or program that is specifically designed to prepare you for this type of examination. Often a college adviser can help make sure you are on the right educational path.
During your four-year undergraduate program, it can be helpful to work in an internship or as a volunteer in a medical setting to familiarize yourself with the industry. Medical school acceptance is highly competitive, and you will typically need to have an impeccable academic history, high scores on the admissions exams, and professional recommendations to boost your chances for acceptance. The first few years of medical school will be heavily focused on general coursework including pathology, human anatomy, pharmacology, and human development.
Typically, the second half of medical school begins to focus on your area of expertise and this will better prepare you to become a thoracic surgeon. Your advanced coursework may include history of thoracic surgery, evolutionary solution to thoracic problems, and genomics in the operating room. After you have successfully completed medical school, you may be required to complete a general surgery residency program in order to become a thoracic surgeon.
A general residency program may take several years, and you will need to enroll in a thoracic surgery residency program afterward to learn specific techniques in your intended field. One of the last steps you will need to take to become a thoracic surgeon is to take a certification exam. Passing the exam is required for you to become a licensed medical doctor in your jurisdiction.