You will transition straight from medical school to your residency. It can take a year for the residency matching process to complete. Doctors who desire to be an orthopedic surgeon will apply specifically to orthopedic surgery residency. A residency will take around 5 years of training. The length of time typically depends upon your specialization. During this time, you will be supervised and trained by experienced and licensed medical doctors. To officially complete the residency process, all residents must complete the final stage of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. You can also choose to complete a fellowship after your residency or to begin practicing as a medical doctor without supervision once you pass the state licensing process and the board certification exam.