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BACHELOR'S DEGREE-Usually Pre-Med or Biology, but not required to be.

MCAT-A 6 hour exam to get into Medical School.

MEDICAL DEGREE-"MD"-4 years of med-school and passing the Boards (a 2 day/12 hour exam) Part I and Part II (another 2 day/12 hour exam). Upon graduating medical school, one is considered an "MD," but can only practice in a residency program until they become a licensed physician.

RESIDENCY-"On the job training" of at least three years. Five to seven years are required for American Board of Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeons.

LICENSED PHYSICIAN-After completing 1 year of residency and passing Boards Part III, then they are considered a General Practitioner or "GP". A GP has not had any training in surgery, no less plastic surgery.

CANDIDATE MEMBER (a.k.a. BOARD ELIGIBLE)-One has completed the required training in plastic surgery residency and has been in [private] practice for at least two years.*

BOARD CERTIFIED-Passing certification is not required for any doctor to practice medicine, but is important when finding a good physician and determining if one is trained to be a specialist, such as a plastic surgeon.

*NOTE: The term Board Eligible is commonly used among medical professionals and is meant to be defined as one who is eligible to take the board exam to become board certified in their specialty because they have completed the required training in an accredited residency program. However, the ABMS states the term "board eligible" has been given such diverse meanings by different agencies, they recommend the term be disavowed and the ABPS does not allow doctors to advertise the terminology, because it does not define what point in the certification process the doctor is in. It is only defined here should you come across the term in your research.