Steps to Become a Cardiologist
- A physician's education begins with an undergraduate education or pre-medical school education. Medical schools require a minimum of three years for entry, but most applicants complete a four-year undergraduate degree program, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Students planning to attend medical school complete coursework in biology, physics, chemistry and math.
- Medical school students spend the first two years of training in classrooms and the laboratory. The aspiring cardiologist studies anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, psychology, ethics and laws governing medicine. The last two years of medical school provide the student with hands-on training working with patients. Students work under the supervision of a physician diagnosing conditions, conducting medical examinations and taking patient histories. A training cardiologist must complete training rotations in various areas of medicine such as internal medicine, obstetrics, family practice, psychiatry, pediatrics and surgery.
- Residency is an on-the-job training for physicians, which also allows the doctor to specialize in an area of medicine. Cardiologists complete a three-year residency in internal medicine before entering a cardiology fellowship program, according to Degree Finders. The fellowship program gives the physician an opportunity to specialize in a particular area of cardiology. Cardiologists may work as a non-invasive cardiologist treating patients with heart conditions in the office or as a cardiology surgeon performing surgical procedures on heart patients. The cardiologist may also enter a fellowship program to become an invasive cardiologist who performs cardiac catheterization procedures. Cardiologists must pass a certification examination to be board certified physicians through the American Board of Medical Specialists.
- Cardiologists must obtain licensure to practice in every state in the country. States require physicians to qualify for a national examination. Physicians must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination to qualify for licensure, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each state board of medicine has different requirements for continuing education and license renewal for physicians. For example, physicians in Florida must complete 38 hours of continuing medical education along with a two-hour course in the prevention of medical errors.