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February 5, 2024
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Embarking on the journey to become a cardiologist is an exciting and intellectually rewarding path. However, navigating the labyrinth of medical education can be daunting. But fear not, this article will serve as your compass, outlining the essential steps to carve your way into the realm of cardiology.
From choosing the right undergraduate major to excelling on the MCAT, navigating through medical school, and ultimately specializing in cardiology, each step is crucial.
In this guide, we’ll address:
Let’s begin.
There’s no two ways about it, cardiology is one of the most demanding specialties of medicine, and that is a good thing. A cardiologist will often find themselves being the difference between life and death, so they should be prepared. Long hours of study and research are imperative, and finding a good balance between life and study can be hard.
But it’s this same gravity that makes cardiology so rewarding—it's exhilarating to see a patient overcome difficult odds and accompany them on their recovery.
Cardiologists are also always in demand, as heart conditions are one of the foremost causes of death in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
So there will be no shortage of job opportunities for you.
In short, if you’re looking for a challenging but rewarding experience, cardiology can be an excellent choice.
Cardiologists specialize in diseases of the heart and blood vessels, the circulatory system. And as the cardiovascular system is so vital, any condition can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment.
A cardiologist will be involved in:
Cardiologists need a variety of skills to excel, and they will vary depending on their subspecialty. Some are shared through every iteration of cardiology, like communication skills, stress management, and decision-making.
But other skills are much more specific, like dexterity for surgeons or the interpersonal skills needed when working with children or the elderly.
All the hard work that goes into cardiology is usually well compensated. Cardiology is among the top ten specialties in annual salary, with a median annual income of $421,330 in the US.
Of course, your salary will depend on the number of hours you put in; don’t expect to be making $500,000 annually while not taking calls during the weekend.
As we’ve talked about, becoming a cardiologist is a lengthy process. On average, after college, you’ll be looking at 14–18 years, depending on your sub-specialization:
We've already discussed what degrees a cardiologist needs, but let's talk about them in more detail. There are four distinct stages in your race to be a cardiologist, each crowned by a specific degree. They are:
In the US, you must have a medical license before you can practice medicine without supervision. Getting your license requires passing:
This USMLE is a three-step test that you’ll probably take during your med-school time:
Remember that, even though it’s recommended that you start your USMLE during your time at medical school, you can take it after you have your degree.
And finally, to be a cardiologist, you’ll have to take the ABIM test. This will be focused solely on cardiology. There are two parts to the test: one consists of multiple-choice questions, and the other requires you to analyze data from different cardiovascular tests, such as ECGs.
Cardiology is a beautiful career, but one that will require the utmost effort and discipline from you. Yet, becoming a cardiologist begins with the challenging step of attending medical school, which is arguably the hardest part. It will take a detailed plan to get yourself on the right track, and we are here to help.
At Premed Catalyst, we specialize in making sure that premed students have access to various options when choosing their medical school. We are with you every step of the way, helping you create a robust case that will make you stand out among the thousands of applicants. Just fill out a quick form and take your first step toward wearing the white coat!