Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
This question is about what a fellow does.
Fellow vs. Resident
A fellow is a fully credentialed physician who is able to practice medicine independently, while a resident is a professional that has earned their medical degree, but is not able to practice medicine independently.
A fellow is a board-certified doctor that has finished their residency training and is seeking more specialized training in a specific field of medicine. Fellowships are voluntary for physicians wanting more training in their field. However, the medical community considers fellows independent practitioners.
A resident is a professional that has graduated from medical school and is pursuing training in a specific field of interest. Almost all doctors complete a residency program, as a doctor-in-training, post medical school. Many residents work in hospitals to complete their residency. They perform medical exams and procedures under the guidance of an attending physician.
Here are the key differences between a fellow and a resident:
| A fellow is a board-certified doctor that has finished their residency program. | A resident is a doctor that has finished medical school and is pursuing medical training. |
| A fellow can practice medicine independently. | A resident cannot practice medicine independently. |
| Fellows may work in hospitals, but can also have a private practice. | Many residents work in hospitals to complete their residency. |
| A fellow has a higher average salary than a resident. | A resident makes an average salary of $60,000 per year. |
Choose from 10+ customizable resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
