Neurosurgeon – How to become a Neurosurgeon? – Eligibility, Institutes, Career Prospects and Salary

Hello friends, I am Tahir Hassan and you are welcome back to the Apply Exam Website. Keeping our promise in mind today also I am here with an article about one such medical professional which is very high in demand in present times. You must have seen our article on Neurologists. Some of you asked about the details of a related professional known as a Neurosurgeon, even there were some doubts about the two professionals. We will definitely post an article to clear your doubts about the difference between the two. 

In this article, I am going to tell you everything about neurosurgeons Like 

• Who a neurosurgeon is? 
• What are the eligibility conditions to become a Neurosurgeon? 
• How to Become a Neurosurgeon? 
• Job Description, responsibilities, and career prospects of a Neurosurgeon along with his/her average salary and much more. 

Now let us start with very basic questions that Who a Neurosurgeon is?

Neurology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system and a Physician who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Keep this word in Mind – Surgical Treatment – of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system including congenital anomalies, trauma, tumors, vascular disorders, infections of the brain or spine, stroke, or degenerative diseases of the spine is called a Neurosurgeon. 

The world Surgical Treatment that I told you to keep in mind creates the difference between a Neurologist and a Neurosurgeon

The two professionals of the same Specialties treating the problems with different methods. We will definitely post a full-fledged Article comparing the two. By now we will concentrate only on Neurosurgeon. 

Now let me tell you about the required eligibility conditions to become a Neurosurgeon?

Also Read: BA English Honours – Eligibility, Syllabus, Admission, Career, Fee, and Top Institutes

If You want to become a Neurosurgeon you have to choose your career path well after your 10th class. The very first qualification that you need to acquire towards your goal is a 12th class pass in Medical Stream followed by a 5½ year MBBS degree. So MBBS degree is the basic eligibility condition to get admission in the specialized medical branch. 

Besides the basic eligibility conditions, do you need to possess a certain set of skills to become a successful Neurosurgeon? To handle patents with Neurological disorder is really a huge task and to accomplish it one requires a different set of skills. 

If you are looking to adopt this profession then you must possess

• An excellent ability to judge human behavior.
• Have a passion to work in trying conditions.
• Have genuine care and concern for their patients. 
• Must have intellectual ability to apply the concepts of neurological surgeries.
• Should be able to find solutions to problems and deal with people from all walks of life. 

Besides these mandatory skills the prospective Neurosurgeon must have knowledge of the latest medical developments in the field of Neurology and be confident, a strong decision-maker, excellent communicator, and emotionally strong and mature enough to be able to work under pressure and have the stamina to work long hours with strong ethics. 

Now come to the core question i.e How can you become a Neurosurgeon? 

To become a Neurosurgeon, you need to follow few steps and the very first step is to clear the +2 class with physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the main subjects. After clearing your 12th or while you are appearing in the 12th class exam you need to clear any of the Medical Entrance Exams so that you could get admission in MBBS course of reputed Medical Colleges in India. 

NEET UG which is conducted by National Testing Agencyis one such Medical Entrance Exam that enables you to get admission in the MBBS course of most of the medical colleges across India. 

This exam is generally held in the month of May-June every year and is taken by almost all the medical students. After completion of this four and half year of MBBS degree course and one year and six months, long compulsory training one has to go Specialization. 

Here you get few options to choose from and the first option is to appear in the entrance exam for a direct six-year course in neurosurgery leading to the MCh degree) offered by autonomous institutes such as AIIMS, NIMHANS i.e National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, and SCTIMST i.e Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. 

Each of these institutes conducts its own entrance exams. And the second option is to appear for the NEET-PG entrance exam and secure a position in a three-year general surgery training program leading to an MS degree. 

Then, one has to appear in the NEET – SS (Super-specialty) entrance exam to secure a training position in the three-year neurosurgery course leading to an MSc degree. In case you are not able to secure a good rank in the NEET – SS exam, you can also undergo neurosurgery training from private hospitals with DNB (Diplomate of National Board) accreditation. 

One has to qualify for the DNB CET (Centralized Entrance Test) – SS exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and thereafter get enrolled with an accredited private teaching institute and hospital for training. 

On completion of the three-year training program, one will be awarded the DNB degree in neurosurgery. The government has announced that MCh and DNB degrees will be treated at par while applying for jobs. So guys you can adopt any of the three ways to reach your goal as per your liking and abilities. 

Now let me tell you about the job profile or you can say the responsibilities of a Neurosurgeon? 

The basic responsibility of a neurosurgeon is to examine and diagnoses disorders or injuries to the nervous system and performs surgeries on the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves to treat these conditions. 

He/She is the one who oversees and coordinates a team of surgeons and nurses to perform these surgeries to remove tumors, relieve chronic pain, and treat wounds, vascular disorders, and diseases. 

His/Her job profile includes Ordering, performing, and interpreting results of diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, PET scans, and CT scans. 

• Assessing and diagnosing patients, prescribing treatments, and monitoring the patients’ progress. 
• Meeting with families of patients in surgery and keeping them updated. 
•  Handling unscheduled emergency surgeries. 
• Working with psychiatrists, therapists, and neurologists, and consulting with other departments. 
• Performing basic administrative and business tasks, such as keeping records, writing prescriptions, and filling out paperwork. 

There are numerous Government and Private PG Medical colleges that are providing specialization in Neurology. However, some of the best medical colleges that you can think of getting admission are: • 

• All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.
• Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology
• Christian Medical College, Vellore.
• Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.
• JIPMER College, Puducherry and
• Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi. 

Now you would like to know about the career prospects and job opportunities for Neurosurgeons? 

Unfortunately but a reality that the Career Prospect for Neurosurgeon appears bright due to the rapid increase in patients inflicted with disorders and injuries related to the nervous system. A qualified neurosurgeon can get placed in the Neurosurgery department of reputed Hospitals like AIIMS, PGI, and MAX, etc. 

They can also find employment with Medical organizations associated with Police, Para Military and Defense forces, and other government organization where there is a need for such professionals.  

Neurosurgeon having more enterprising skills can also open their own Clinic and make fortune for themselves. Those who are interested in academics can also opt for teaching jobs in different medical schools and colleges and teach their students basic techniques and treatments related to neurological disorders. 

Research is another option for the genius in the field. Now you would like to know about the Salaries and Pay Packages of a Neurosurgeon? 

Neurosurgeons are some of those medical specialists that are highly regarded and monetarily compensated according to the hard specialty they have chosen. Their salaries largely depend upon the experience and the expertise they have attained. 

However, the average salary that a fresh Neurosurgeon can expect to get can be anything between Rs.75,000 to Rs, 1,00,000 per month depending upon the Health care center one has joined. 

However, experienced Neurologists engaged in the corporate sector can expect anything between Rs.1,50,000 to Rs.2,00,000 per month. Whereas in the government sector the Salaries are paid according to the PayScale prevalent in a particular state or Hospital. 

Although the in-hand salary in the government sector is maybe a little less than the private sector. Government neurosurgeons are also entitled to government accommodation and other perks as admissible. Neurosurgeons with an excellent track record running their own clinic can earn much more.