Introduction to ENT Courses
ENT (an abbreviation for Ear, Nose & Throat) specialists diagnose and treat disorders of the neck and head. ENT is also known as Otalaryngology (‘Ota’ meaning Head, ‘Laryng’ meaning neck and ‘logy’ meaning study of). On completion of ENT Courses, students are trained to treat infections, disorders (hereditary & acquired) and allergies relating to the Ear, Nose and Throat. These specialists are also trained to perform surgeries on the face and the larynx (voice box) to help clear hearing problems, as well as cosmetic surgeries like chin augmentation and hair transplantation. Otalaryngologists treat cases of laryngomalacia, throat and thyroid cancer after completing their ENT Courses. Treatment of hereditary disorders, sinuses infections and swallowing disorders are also usually referred to ENT specialists. Counseling patients undergoing treatment, long and complex surgeries and consultations with patients are all part of a regular day for an ENT specialist. ENT problems are more frequent in children and infants and therefore a super specialization in pediatric ENT is much sought after.
Different Types of ENT Courses
An array of courses are conducted at the Medical Schools, by universities and colleges. Some of the popular ENT Courses include Diploma in ENT, Master of Surgery in ENT and Doctor of Medicine in ENT. Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Otohinolaryngology are also extremely popular among students looking at a career in ENT. Specializations in ENT include Otology, Head Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, Neurotology or Surgery of the skull base, Surgery of the Thyroid, surgical removal of Tonsils/ Adenoid and Pediatric ENT. Mastoidectomy and Stapedectomy are also part of an ENT specialist training. DNB and MCH (Oncology) programs are super specializations ENT Courses for specialists.
Eligibility for ENT Courses
To be eligible to join in a diploma or masters level course in ENT, the prospective student needs to have successfully passed his medical (MBBS) degree at the bachelor level. The student then needs to successfully clear his entrance examinations to be completely eligible for admission to the ENT Courses.
How to apply for ENT Courses
For admission to master’s degree of the ENT Courses, the institutes conduct an entrance examination. Successfully clearing the examination makes the student eligible for a master’s level specialization in ear Nose and Throat. In case of diplomas like MCH (Oncology) and DNB the student needs to check availability of seats with the ENT department of the institution being considered.
Scope/pay scale for ENT Courses
Huge opportunities await students who have successfully completed their respective ENT Courses. Graduates can start their practice in either private or government hospitals. They can think of setting up a highly successful private practice after gaining experience. In fact, ENT is perhaps one of the easiest fields to set up a private clinic. Researchers and academics also offer excellent prospects for those who wish to move along those career paths. ENT specialists also frequently work as consultants and surgeons. Interestingly, ENT is a branch of medicine wherein a specialist, on completion of his course can ignore surgery completely and opt to work only as a medical doctor. This is particularly advantageous for those medical practitioners who wish to avoid complex surgeries.