How To Become a Cardiologist: Your Guide To A Great Career
I went to the doctor the other day for my heart and I became really interested in how to become a cardiologist. I talked with my doctor at great length as he explained the long and exhausting road it took to get to where he is. Still interested I decided to do some investigation on my own about this.
How To Become a Cardiologist: Education Requirements
Here is what I found out on how you become a cardiologist. First you must have a 4 year undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. The actual area of degree is not really all that important, but most get it in some area of science, like biology or chemistry. Yet one can also have a non science degree but they must pay particular attention to the course work you choose so that it fulfills the prerequisites that are needed to get into a medical school.
Once the above has been fulfilled we continue on our path of how to become a cardiologist by taking the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) exam, which is required to get into medical school. It is a long and tedious test that really tests your commitment on how to become a cardiologist. He told me it was a standardized test composed mostly of multiple-choice questions. He told me that pretty much focuses on the area of science (biology chemistry, areas like that.) Turns out this test is used to determine how well you may do in medical school
Then the next step on our journey is to receive training in a medical school. This is where you get all the training on the basic medical procedures and health care measures you will need in your work. You will find that in the first two years there are tons of foundational sciences (i.e. anatomy, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology.) At the end of two years you have another big test called the USMLE, or the US Medical Licensure Examination. Once this is completed successfully you can go on for the next two years of medical school.
Then one must do a 3 year residency in internal medicine. This is the time for practical application of your skills under supervision of a licensed professional. You get to do “hands on work” as well as case studies as you learn and hone your medical skills.
After residency you will need to take a state exam which is given by the American Board of Internal Medicine, which will then license you to practice in that state.
The last step on your journey of how to become a cardiologist is to become a fellow in cardiology which is another 2-3 years. Once this is done you have achieved your specialization in cardiology at last!
So there it is, a long exhausting journey, but well worth it in the end. You have achieved the joy of saving another’s life, every day. The compassion shared with others is priceless. Yet the pay is not too bad, in 2009 it was between $215,657 and $370,889 and it’s pretty much an “always need job” so layoffs are not something to really worry about. It is not a bad deal really.
