Too old to train to be Doctor?

[Doobydoo]

Just wondered what thoughts people may have.
DP is 47 he has an MSC in medical Physics and Maths[think that's right!].
Is 47 too old to retrain to be a doctor?
Thank you in advance

I would expect so - takes 5 years for a degree then 2 years clinical I think - so starting NOW would mean he is able to start his career at 54 - barely 10 years from retirement.

I think it is a question of funding - it used to be the case before tuition fees that training a doctor cost £100k, so it wouldn't be worth it for the length of career that the NHS would get out of him. Not sure about now with tuition fees.

they can work on from retirement though.

i dont think it is ever too old

he wouldn't really be able to become a consultant or a GP. but if he feels up to the shifts and is happy bobbing along as a staff grade in an unpopular speciality then he might be able to convince a medical school to take him on. is there a particular reason he hasn't looked to train earlier?

Thanks ladies.Looked at Cambridge website.They do a 4 year one.Thought that as we shall be working into 70s[most likely]that he would have a good few years in him!
Funding would be an issue though

Theres someone that old on my sister's course at peninsula in Exeter-and they seem to have form form taking on older candidates.

Well he got his Masters in his mid 30's and worked on life support for NHS and in Private sector and then we had children and have moved lots.Now we are settled and just thinking of options really.

yy susan

but I don't think it's possible to be a dr in the UK by taking a degree and paying privately, funded/subsidised by the NHS or the forces is the only way I know of to do it (is that right?)

So presuming you are in the UK, Dooby, I think breatheslowly has said what I failed to - realisitically, the NHS could only bank on 10 years work as a return on their investment, so I think the funding would be the crucial issue

Nothing to stop him doing a degree in another subject, or retraining to another healthcare profession though.

It is pretty much as we thought.Still worth asking for opinions.THANK YOU.He was also thinking about Theology...would do that part time if possible.We are trying to think positively as work situation dire[as it is for many].

I think it's worth asking universities if they accept candidates of his age though.

I wouldn't be too hopeful - but can't hurt to ask?

Agree.Will have a think.

I went to a graduate entry medicine open day hosted by a number of medical schools and the overwhelming opinion is they would rather take on an elder student with 5-10 years great service in them than students straight from school with great A levels and no experience. There is a massive drop out rate for younger students which is virtually non existant for mature students. The oldest person to be accepted onto GEM from that weekend was 52 (Nottingham GEM), and she wasn't the oldest person in her cohort.

Oooo that is very interesting.Thank you for that.
I think the stumbling block could be finance and I think dp would want to be a GP so may have left it too late but will investigate.Doctor or Vicar!...Definitely time for a radical change!

I would say it's very very unlikely in this country but European medical degree's are taught in English.
I know of people that have applied for Dentistry and Medicine in the past 3 years, both of which would make excellent medics and have the academic requirements, didn't even get an interview.

The first step is to take the GAMSAT tests, that'll open his eyes to the work load too as the exam is v v difficult apparently.

Fortunately dp has a fab brainand is practical too.I think the main issues would be[apart from age]...money and juggling children etc.Have just looked at the Nottingham website[we are in Lincolnshire]so that would prob be the nearest to us.Lots of info on there.

The competition to get onto a medical degree course is fierce. My cousin applied after a primary degree last year and failed to get a place. She reapplied this year and has an offer for a 5yr course. It would take up to 10yrs to qualify as a GP. 4-5yrs at medical school, 2yrs as a foundation doctor and then 3yrs as a speciality trainee in general practice.

I wonder if they will ever introduce fast track qualification for those that would like to be a GP.

There are various web forums used by people trying to get into medical school, for example www.thestudentroom.co.uk

Your DH might be able to find specific information there of the age restrictions on entry to medical school, and the level of academic achievement and work-related experience needed secure a place - there is a high level of competition for places at the moment.

I've met a med student who was 45. Think he was in his 4th year of med school though.

I can't speak for Drs (shouldn't really be posting then!) but I work in the law and I see a lot of folk in their 40s and even 50s becoming barristers, and going on to have successful careers. Never too late, IMHO: good luck to him!

I trained on the graduate entry course and there were people of a similar age. I also knew of a professor who paid privately to train. All foreign students effectively pay privately to train.
The climate is changing in medical education and the experience graduates are bringing to medicine is now recognised.
So many people in medicine comment on the excellence of the mature graduate doctors.
Go for it! Feel free to pm me if you have any questions ( I was recently on the interview panel for med student applications)

competitive to get onto. I think it is not very likely he would get a place but no harm in asking.

I disagree and think he has a very good chance of getting a place. Sounds like he has excellent relevant experience and good qualifications and a proven
Ability to study.
On the information we have so far, I would give him a place.

Go for it! At least make enquiries of those universities which he would consider training at. If he tries and fails to get a place he will know it wasn't meant to be, but otherwise he will always be thinking 'what if'.

I did hear of a woman who qualified as a GP at the age of about 55 some years back. She had always wanted to be a doctor but had been pushed into nursing, as girls were back then. After working as a nurse and bringing up a family she realised that she still wanted to be a doctor. During her qualification period she was having to do something like a 90 mile round trip for at least one of her placements - but it was so much what she wanted to do that it was all worthwhile.

Which university are you on the panal for knickers ? My friend is 32, A* A levels in Chemistry and 3 other subjects, started training as a nurse and left 2 years into the course as they said she would make a good Dr, has been rejected from Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham without interview :(