ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Residency (medicine)

Residency is like going to school after you finish college, but instead of learning about different subjects like math or science, you learn how to become a doctor.

When you finish medical school, you have to do residency to become a practicing doctor. Residency is like training for doctors, where they work in hospitals or clinics under the supervision of experienced doctors.

Residency can last anywhere from 3 to 7 years depending on what specialty you choose to study. For example, if you want to become a family doctor, the residency will last three years, but if you want to become a surgeon, you have to do a residency for at least five years.

During residency, doctors get hands-on experience by working with patients, diagnosing illnesses, and learning how to treat them. They work long hours and have to be on-call, which means they have to be ready to come to the hospital or clinic whenever they are needed.

Residency can be challenging and stressful, but it is an essential part of becoming a doctor. After finishing their residency, doctors can start practicing on their own or continue their training with a fellowship in a specific area of medicine.