The timeline is as follows:
* 4 years: Undergraduate education (Bachelor's degree - although you don't need a specific major, pre-med coursework is highly recommended).
* 4 years: Medical school (MD or DO).
* 7 years: Neurosurgical residency.
Therefore, it typically takes a minimum of 15 years of education and training to become a neurosurgeon after graduating from high school. This doesn't include any potential postdoctoral fellowships, which some neurosurgeons pursue to further specialize in a subfield.