Other Is it possible for doctors to switch specialities?

[cryhavoc]

Say a doctor gets a certain residency, becomes a specialist. After working 5 years or so as this type of doctor, he/she decides he/she wanted to be a different type of doctor.

Is it impossible to switch? If he can switch, is it based on his old test scores which residency he can get into or do they take into account experience? Is there a priority on graduating medical student over trained doctors?

How does this work?

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[Mad Jack]

You have to do an entirely new residency or fellowship, which takes years and only pays you roughly 60-70k, depending on what PGY it is.

 

[cryhavoc]

Is it harder, the same difficulty, etc. to get into the residency as an older doctor? For example, say the new residency is more competitive than your old one? Do you have to retake exams or are your old ones still used?