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Urologist

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Adrienne J K Carmack MD

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A urologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary organs in females and the urinary and sex organs in males.

1 Training
2 Certification
- 2.1 United States
3 Subspecialization
4 External Links

Training

To become a urologist in the United States, one must have an MD or DO degree. Following medical school, a year-long internship in general surgery is performed. Some training programs require an additional year of general surgery training. A three- or four-year urology residency is then performed.

Certification

United States

The American Board of Urology provides board certification in urology. To be board eligible, a urologist must be a graduate of a medical school approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or a school of osteopathy approved by the Bureau of Professional Education of the American Osteopathic Association and must have completed a urology residency accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada [RCPS(C)].

To become board-certified, a urologist must sit for two exams. The qualifying examination is a written exam and can only be taken by those who have completed the above requirements and at least six months as a chief resident in urology. The certifying examination is an oral exam. It can only be taken by those who have passed the qualifying exam, have been in practice a sufficient period of time, have adequate practice logs, and acceptable peer review, along with other criteria set by the Board.

Recertification is required for all urologists certified after 1985. Urologists must submit a practice log and other application materials before being approved to take the written exam. This process is required every 10 years.

Subspecialty certification is available in the field of pediatric urology. These urologists must practice a minimum of 75% of their practice in pediatric urology.

Subspecialization

Urologists may subspecialize by completing fellowship training programs, which is generally performed after completion of residency. Subspecialization is available in the following areas: