how to become a cardiologist

Wow! That is a wonderful choice. I think you will find your like of studying and going to school very useful. Here are the basic steps to achieve your goal

Cardiologists (heart doctors) are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the heart. In total, following high school, it can take 13-14 years or more to become a cardiologist. State license is required, and board certification is desired by nearly all employers.

Medical school (4 years),
Internal medicine residency (3 years),
Cardiology fellowship (2-3 years)

Prospective cardiologists begin their education path by completing prerequisite premedical undergraduate courses. After the first 4 year college, medical school must be completed to earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree. During medical school, students typically spend the first two years taking more courses in biology, anatomy, basic medicine, physiology. In the last two years of schooling, students complete supervised internships, diagnosing illnesses and treating patients in clinics.

A cardiologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing, treating and preventing medical conditions of the heart and blood vessels. Following graduation from medical school, your training will consist of residency training in internal medicine, followed by fellowship training in cardiology

Someone desiring to become a cardiologist should anticipate spending approximately eight years obtaining education at the college level. They should also anticipate spending three to eight years of interning in their specialty (medical residency). The decision to become a cardiologist must be made with the realization that the educational and residency requirements are extensive.

Education Requirements

The educational requirements to become a cardiologist are extensive. A cardiologist must have a medical doctorate degree. To achieve this, a candidate must attend four years of undergraduate school in order to earn a bachelor’s degree, often focusing on courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. The graduate must then get into medical school. Acceptance at a medical school includes meeting admission requirements such as a high grade point average and excellent scores on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

Typical medical schools require students to complete two years of coursework in subjects such as pharmacology, anatomy and even psychology. At this level they are trained in skills such as interviewing patients to obtain a medical history, examining patients and how to diagnose illnesses. For the next two years, students are involved in clinical rotations through various departments and specialties, where they work under the supervision of physicians. It is here that they obtain valuable experience in skills such making diagnoses and learning how to treat illnesses and chronic medical conditions.

What Is a Cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing, treating and preventing medical conditions of the heart and blood vessels. As a cardiologist, you will examine patients and order diagnostic tests, such as electrocardiographs (EKGs), echocardiograms, exercise tests or cardiac catheterizations. You may also counsel patients regarding cholesterol management and cardiac fitness. Following graduation from medical school, your training will consist of residency training in internal medicine, followed by fellowship training in cardiology.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Prior to entering medical school, you need to have completed premedical courses as an undergraduate. These courses include inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biology. You will also need to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and form good relationships with your mentors so you can obtain strong letters of recommendation. To become a competitive medical school candidate, most medical schools recommend that you earn a bachelor's degree, gain volunteer or paid clinical experience and participate in extracurricular activities, where you may take on leadership roles.
Step 2: Graduate from Medical School

You need to complete four years of medical school to earn your Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Either designation can qualify you to practice cardiology. The main difference is that osteopathic medicine programs focus more on the musculoskeletal system and preventative medicine than do allopathic medicine programs. In either type of program, you spend your first two years taking lecture and laboratory courses in the sciences, such as biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology. Your last two years are spent completing clinical rotations in a variety of medical specialties, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, family practice and surgery.
Step 3: Earn a Medical License

All physicians must earn a license to practice medicine in the United States or one of its territories. The United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) is required for allopathic physicians, while the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX) is required for osteopathic physicians. Each 3-part exam tests how well you apply your knowledge of science to the practice of medicine.
Step 4: Complete a Residency in Internal Medicine

You'll begin your postgraduate training with a 3-year residency in internal medicine. During your residency, you'll complete a series of clinical rotations in different internal medicine specialties, such as respiratory medicine, cardiology, oncology, endocrinology and gastroenterology. Participating in research during your residency may make you more competitive when applying for fellowships. If you plan to earn subspecialty certification in cardiology, you must first earn board certification in internal medicine after completing your residency. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) regulates board certification for allopathic physicians, while the American Osteopathic Association is the osteopathic counterpart.
Step 5: Complete a Fellowship in Cardiology

Cardiology fellowships generally take 3-4 years to complete. You'll spend part of your time gaining clinical skills by completing cardiology rotations and part of your time conducting basic or clinical research. Once you have completed your fellowship, you may earn subspecialty certification from an ABMS or AOA approved specialty-certifying board.