How to Become a Cardiologist?

Today, stress and anxiety are the other names for normalcy. The rise in the former factors and lack of a healthy diet make up the major causes of various life-threatening and chronic heart diseases. Within the scope of biology, lies the field of Cardiology which has been a sought-after field for a majority of international students who see tons of career opportunities here. While you draw yourself towards being a Cardiologist owing to the impressive salary package and reputation entailing it, there are other factors as well that should be considered before pursuing it, the educational qualifications. In contrast to how nice the word Cardiologist sounds, the studies for becoming one is equally tough. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to become a Cardiologist – continue reading to find out the secret towards making a career as a heart specialist. 

Who is a Cardiologist?

A Cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating various medical diseases and conditions related to heart and blood vessels, such as vascular diseases, heart attacks, congenital heart defects, heart rhythm disturbance, heart failures, coronary artery disease, etc. They are responsible for counselling and consulting the patients regarding maintaining cardiac fitness and management of cholesterol. 

Types of Cardiologists

• Cardiology Surgeon
• ECG (electrocardiographic) Technologist
• Cardiac Catheterization Technologist
• Interventional Cardiologist
• Nuclear Cardiologist
• Cardiology Director

Responsibilities of a Cardiologist

• Diagnosing patients based on test and lab results
• Creating a customized treatment plan for all patients
• Prescribing medications and therapy as needed to treat conditions
• Providing ongoing care and follow-up with patients on their treatment progress
• Educating patients about the risk of heart disease and prevention techniques
• Analyzing results of diagnostic tests and labs

Skills Required to Become a Cardiologist

• Confidence
• Compassion
• Cognitive abilities
• Technical knowledge
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork
• Physical stamina

How to Become a Cardiologist?

Becoming a Cardiologist is no piece of cake. It takes ample time, dedication and hard work to be able to get worthy enough to become a Cardiologist. Starting from scratch, listed below are 6 simple steps which can help you fulfil your dream. 

Step 1: Start from School-level

In order to become a Cardiologist, you have to start well in advance. You must have passed your 10+2 level of schooling, equivalent to high school with BiPC subjects compulsorily and an exceptional aggregate percentage which will help you get admission into your dream medical college in your chosen study destination. Before you head out to pursue a bachelor’s degree in medicine, you need to take and clear the NEET.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree in health-related courses such as MBBS. The initial years of study would include general topics related to the human body, medicine and surgery. There is no specific major course for Cardiology. This is the most sought-after educational path that a majority of aspiring Cardiologists take up. However, some students may opt for a degree in CVT (Cardio Vascular Technology). 

Step 3: Take the Entrance Exams

After you complete your graduation, there are a number of entrance exams that you definitely should know about when you are going to become a Cardiologist. NEET and MCAT are the most prominent eligibility tests that you have to take and pass for admission to a master’s program in your chosen university abroad. These exams test the critical thinking abilities, knowledge of the subject matter and problem-solving abilities of the candidates.

Also Read: 

• NEET Entrance Exam
• How to Prepare for NEET
• NEET Preparation Tips
• Best Books for NEET

Step 4: Graduate From PG Courses

This is the most important step wherein the making of a cardiologist actually starts. After clearing your entrance exams the next step is to take admission to your chosen course in Cardiology by earning a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree or any such related course. Generally being a 3 to 4 years program, this graduate program spends its first two years teaching the students about concepts in biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, anatomy, microbiology and physiology. Subsequently, the last two years of the course are spent in the rotation of the students between various clinical specialities such as Cardiology, Paediatrics, Medicine, Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Surgery, etc.

Step 5: Get Admission To Residency Programs In Internal Medicine And Cardiology

Cardiology is the specialization, aspiring Cardiologists who hold an MD or DO degree are required to complete their 3 years of residency programs in internal medicine. These courses allow the students to study and gain hands-on experience in their fields under the supervision of a licensed Cardiologist. 

Subsequently, the students can go for a 3-4 years fellowship program in Cardiology which further divides into various sub-specialities like cardiovascular diseases, heart failure and interventional Cardiology. In fellowship programs, the students will be gaining clinical skills and completing rotations in Cardiology, along with conducting clinical research studies. 

Step 6: Get Licensed to Become a Cardiologist

One of the most important steps for becoming a future Cardiologist is to have a license to practice Cardiology. Though the guidelines for licensure vary from state to state, however, candidates who have completed all the required education and completed all the necessary exams can receive a state license that permits them to practice Cardiology for the general public.

Top Cardiology Courses

• MSc (Med) in Cardiovascular and Renal Sciences
• MRes in Cardiovascular Health and Disease
• Cardiovascular Sciences – MSc by Research
• MRes Cancer Technology
• MS in Cancer Research (Collaborative)
• MSc in Cardiology and Stroke
• MSc Cardiorespiratory: Advanced Physiotherapy
• MSc Cardiology
• MSc Cardiovascular Disease
• PgCert Small Animal Cardiology Studies
• PgCert Cardiovascular Science

Top Universities for Cardiology

• Harvard University, USA
• Imperial College London, UK
• Columbia University, USA
• Duke University, USA
• University of Toronto, Canada
• University of Glasgow, UK
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
• University of Oxford, UK
• Free University of Berlin, Germany
• Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany

Average Salary

The average salary of a Cardiologist ranges between- 

Work Experience	Salary
Entry Level	INR 10 Lakh
5 – 10 Years	INR 16 Lakh
10-15 Years	INR 28 Lakh
20+ Years	INR 37 Lakh

Is Cardiology a Good Career Option?

Cardiology is a highly specialised and competitive branch of medical research that demands dedicated, experienced, and enthusiastic professionals to treat cardiac patients. Despite its high demands and challenges, the industry is a pleasant and rewarding career option for qualified applicants. A cardiologist can work independently in a private physician practice, as part of a medical group, or in collaboration with one or more institutions. Cardiologists may spend most of their day on their feet, travelling between a doctor’s office and a hospital work setting.

Related Career Fields

• Cardiology technologist
• Cardiovascular technologist
• Assistant cardiology supervisor
• Cardiac catheterisation technologist
• Cardiology surgeon
• ECG (electro-cardiographic) technologist
• Interventional cardiologist
• Electrocardiography technician
• Nuclear cardiologist

Also Read:

• How to Become a General Surgeon
• How to Become a Skin Doctor
• How to Become an Endodontist
• How to Become a Stem Cell Therapist
• How to Become a Gastroenterologist
• How to Become an Orthopedic Doctor
• How to Become a Veterinary Doctor
• How to Become a Psychiatrist

FAQs

We hope that you have been enlightened enough to know what it takes to be a Cardiologist. If you are looking forward to pursuing this profession and want to study abroad, then reach out to us at Leverage Edu. Through our special AI-based tool, we help you choose the best university for you so that you can fulfil your dreams with ease and give wings to your dreams. Sign up for a 30 minutes free career counselling session with us now and get the answers to all your career-related queries.