Neurologist doctor's career journey

 Neurologist doctor's career journey 

First of all after 10th, take Physics, Chemistry and Biology for 11th and 12th. Prepare well for NEET (preferably by joining a coaching centre) and clear it. Join for an MBBS. The MBBS course is of 5.5 years. After the MBBS course there will be around 3–8 months (depending on your university) before you give your first NEET PG, DNB CET, AIIMS, PGI, NIMHANS entrances.

One needs to do clear these entrances with a very high rank and get admission into either an MD General Medicine/Paediatrics or a DNB General Medicine/Paediatrics in either a private or government medical college, or a private hospital in case of DNB). Or else if you're ultra brilliant, NIMHANS offers a direct 6 year DM integrated course in Neurology. Seats offered are extremely limited. Assuming you did your MD/DNB in General Medicine/Paediatrics (only these 2 specialities allow you to super specialize into DM Neurology) you have to now write the NEET SS (super speciality) and DNB SS along with entrances of premier instis like AIIMS, JIPMER, NIMHANS, SCT, PGI, etc and crack it. Neurology is reasonably mid level demand (below Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Oncology) due to its lack of procedures. Take admission for DM/DNB Neurology (or in case you did MD/DNB Paediatrics then DM/DNB Paediatric Neurology) and then after a further 3 years you can become a Neurologist. Total study required = 11.5 years of formal eduation.

An easier alternative would be after MBBS, to give USMLE and go to USA. In USA you can do direct Residency in Neurology after MBBS (unlike in India, Neurology is not a post Residency/Fellowship course). Plus Neurology is only mid level demand in USA. Median score of acceptance is around 220–235. Not too difficult. Any day easier than India. The total duration of residency would be between 3–4 years plus you get a handsome stipend as well to fund your day to day life.

Hope that cleared your doubts!