Cardiologist

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Education · 1 of 5

The path

Four years of college, four of medical school, then six years of hospital training. No shortcuts.

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    4 years

    Any major, but finish the pre-medicine sciences, keep a very high grade average, and write the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

  2. 2

    Medical school

    4 years

    An MD (doctor of medicine) or DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree, with clinical rotations in the last two years.

  3. 3

    Internal medicine residency

    3 years

    Paid hospital training in general adult medicine. This is the base every cardiologist is built on.

  4. 4

    Cardiovascular disease fellowship

    3 years

    Specialist training in heart disease: clinic, imaging, the catheterization lab and the coronary care unit.

  5. 5

    Board certification and license

    After training

    Certify in internal medicine and then in cardiovascular disease through the American Board of Internal Medicine, and hold a license from your state medical board.