ENT Specialist or ENT Doctor or Otolaryngologist is a medical professional qualified and trained to diagnose and treat diseases affecting the Ears, Nose and Throat of the patients.
ENT Specialist’s job description includes surgical and medical treatment of the ears, nose, throat and related head and neck areas. They are trained to manage disorders of the upper pharynx and oral cavity, voice box (larynx), ears, nose and nasal passage, and neck. They are responsible for taking care of disorders like nosebleeds, adenoidectomies, infected mastoids, tonsillectomies, and chronic sinusitis etc to name a few of them.
ENT Specialist can also specialize in any one of the three major areas and specifically focus on that area like one specialize in Ear can focus on the ears and treat hearing disorders, infections, balance disorders, nerve pain, ear noise (tinnitus), and cranial nerve disorders. One specializing in the nose can deal with patients suffering from chronic sinusitis. Throat specialists treat diseases of the larynx, oesophagus, and upper aero-digestive tract, including swallowing and voice disorders.
Increased environmental pollution and use of junk food have been largely responsible for the problems related to ENT in the recent past thereby increase the demand for specialist doctors in the field.
Aspiring candidates with required academic qualification, capacity to work for long hours along with genuine desire to treat their patients can become successful ENT Specialist by acquiring required expertise.
ENT Specialist Eligibility
Candidates aspiring to become an ENT Specialist must possess a 5½ years MBBS degree followed by 2- 3 years M.S.(ENT) course.
ENT Specialist Required Skills
- ENT Specialists should have the stamina required to work long hours as this profession looks like this.
- They should be able to get along with people and instil confidence, so excellent communication skills are a must.
- ENT Specialists should also have excellent hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
- They should also have a strong moral philosophy and is able to work well under stressful conditions.
How to become an ENT Specialist?
Aspiring candidates have to follow the below-given steps to become an ENT Specialist.
Step 1
Students who have appeared or are appearing in +2 (with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as main subjects) have to appear in an Medical Entrance Tests conducted by the various State and Independent bodies like PMT, taken by Punjab Government and AIPMT (Pre Medical Test) taken by the CBSE to admit candidates in various medical institutions affiliated with it.
A separate test is conducted by some of the highly rated medical institutions like AIIMS, PGI, GMCH, AFMC Pune etc. These exams are generally held in the month of May-June.
Step 2
After completion of this four and half year of MBBS degree course and one year and six months, compulsory training one has to go for M.S.(ENT).
Aspiring MBBS doctors have to appear in Post Graduate Medical Entrance Tests like-
- All India Post Graduate Medical/Dental Entrance Exam
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research Entrance Exam
However, some institutes also provide admission on the basis of marks obtained in MBBS course and work experience of the aspiring candidates.
Step 3
After completing their requisite specialization courses i.e. M.S.(ENT) and getting the mandatory registration from Medical Council of India the budding ENT Specialist Surgeons can get jobs in reputed Government and Private Hospitals like AIIMS etc. ENT Specialist with good entrepreneurial skill can also open their own Clinic and provide services to the patients.
Those who want to go for further specialization or research work can also opt for M.Ch.(ENT) or/and P.hD. (ENT) courses after completion of 2-3 years of M.S.(ENT) courses.
ENT Specialist Job Description
ENT Specialist deals with the disorders and problems of ear, nose and throat. Their job includes treating ENT problems medically or surgically after diagnosing the extent of problems of ear, nose and throat. They are also responsible for treating various conditions like tumours, birth defects, sinusitis, swallowing disorders and chronic ear infections. They conduct a physical examination of the patient’s ears, nose, throat and head.
ENT Specialist Career Prospects
Increase pollution in the environment and intake of contaminated food items has lead to increased cases of patients suffering from ENT problems. This has increased the demand for expert ENT Specialist than ever before. Thus the prospects for ENT Specialists are quite bright in the present scenario. There is a good scope for ENT Specialist not only in Government Sector but also Private Sector Hospitals and ENT cure Centres too.
ENT Specialist Salary
ENT Specialist working in Government Sector can expect to get nearly Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000, depending upon his experience and expertise. Besides, they are also entitled to various perks and allowances such as free accommodation, medical coverage, paid vacation, sick days, paid holidays and post-retirement pension that all with flexible work schedule. ENT Specialist engaged in Corporate Sector can expect anything between Rs.60,000 to Rs.80,000 per month. However, those engaged in private practice can earn that much amount in one case only.
