How does residency work?

You were watching a TV show, so it may not be completely accurate as to how things work.

During the last year of Medical School, students apply for residency at various places around the US for post graduate training. Residents are Doctors, but are still working under supervision at a teaching hospital.

One usually has a year of general residency before selecting a specialty and undergoing a specialty residency.

@zenvelo Has it correct enough.

Medical school, then internship, then residency, then fellowships/specialties

Just as a point of clarification, many residencies now loop the internship into the residency, so it’s just a first year resident. Occasionally people will do intern transitional years and then do something else.

@Caravanfan Can you even land a one-year internship any more?

@crazyguy Yes. But people do a residency after.

Thank you. That is good to know.