How to Train to Become a Cardiologist
Cardiologists specialize in the human heart. To become a cardiologist, you must commit to years of expensive schooling, arduous internships and delicate, difficult work. Once you've completed your training, you'll be able to diagnose and repair the heart. You can focus your course of study to work on one kind of heart problem, or you can be a broad-spectrum cardiologist who repairs most usual heart malfunctions. Cardiologists usually work in hospitals and often consult from their own clinics.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Attend college. Obtain an undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry, physics or anatomy. These specialties can help you get a coveted medical school acceptance letter. While you're in college, volunteer at a free clinic or work at a doctor's office. Find ways to work in the medical field so that you can show experience with patients before even applying for medical school.
Take the Medical College Admission Test the year before you apply to medical schools. This judges your abilities on the same scale as other applicants. Take it early so you can retake it if you don't get a good score.
-
2
Apply to medical school. For the first two years, you'll take classes on a campus. You should continue volunteering while taking classes. You'll study anatomy, diseases and treatment methods.
-
-
3
Complete your rotations. Rotations are learning experiences you get in a hospital under supervision. All medical students are required to complete certain rotations, including internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, gynecology, pediatrics and ambulatory medicine. After you've completed the required rotations, you can choose electives. Select electives that will enhance your knowledge as a cardiologist, including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine and family medicine.
-
4
Take the United States Medical Licensure Exam. This helps judge your readiness to begin your internship program. Apply to general surgery residencies. You will have to complete between four and seven years in this residency before getting a cardiologist fellowship.
-
5
Apply for a cardiologist fellowship. Complete two years in the fellowship. Determine whether you want to sub-specialize in pediatrics or another area of cardiology. If you do, apply for a fellowship in your sub-specialty. It will last two or three years.
-
6
Continue taking classes and seminars to keep your license current. Once you've completed all your training, you can continue working for a partnership or hospital. You can also open your own practice.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit heart ecg image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
