Cardiology

Cardiology is a branch of internal medicine and specialised study related to heart diseases and blood vessels. A patient with heart ailments and cardiovascular diseases is referred to a cardiologist who is a practising physician in this field. Cardiologists carry out tests and perform procedures such as heart catheterisation, inserting pacemaker, echocardiography or angioplasty. They are different from cardiac surgeons who conduct surgeries for heart disorders.

Various types of cardiology courses are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students can choose to study diploma or certification courses in cardiology. To be eligible for full-time cardiology courses, students need to appear for entrance tests like NEET-UG for undergraduate programmes and AIIMS PG or NEET-PG for MBBS and MD in Cardiology, respectively. Cardiology courses are generally offered in offline mode but there are certain online certification courses available. The top colleges in India for cardiology courses are AIIMS, PGIMER and Christian Medical College. The course fee range is between INR 50,000 to INR 10,00,000 annually. Apart from practising as a cardiologist, there are various other job roles that one can get involved in when individuals complete cardiology courses, such as cardiovascular technologists and technicians.

Check out the highlights of the cardiology course below:

Selecting a specialisation is very crucial as it will decide your career path as a doctor. Check out these reasons why students should choose a cardiology course: 

• If students want a solid grounding in cardiac and vascular biology then they must opt for a cardiology course. They will get to know about cardiovascular science including myocardial biology, integrated physiology and vascular biology.

• Students can be part of a respected profession where they can utilise their specialised training. They will be acknowledged and held in high esteem by patients for helping them with their ailments.

• There is less job stress as surgeries are not involved in most of the degrees related to cardiology. Cardiology only involves evaluating the problem and finding out solutions through tests. However, those who have an MS in Cardiology can perform surgeries and this can be a little stressful.

• Cardiologists can create a serious impact on patients’ lives by helping them lead better lives. Often they have to resort to life-saving techniques in emergency situations such as heart attacks.

• There are good chances of career advancement. Apart from practising in their cardiology specialisation, students can go on to teach in medical colleges or help resident doctors learn how to treat patients with heart and cardiovascular diseases.

The Cardiology certification course can range from four to twelve months. It includes common approaches to cardiological complaints. The course content also contains ECG testing and interpretation, echocardiography, cardiac imaging and invasive cardiology.

The diploma courses are suitable for those who have completed 10+2 with a science background or candidates who are ECG technicians. MBBS doctors can also take up a short certificate program in Cardiology to extend their knowledge.

Diploma and PG Diploma Programmes in Cardiology

The course duration of a diploma and postgraduate diploma in Cardiology range from one to two years. It prepares students to practice in clinical or hospital settings. A variety of diagnostic procedures such as ECG, Stress Tests, and Holter Monitoring are taught under these programmes. Students also learn to monitor patients with heart problems. With a diploma, graduates can assist doctors and surgeons but cannot prescribe medicine.  

Some of the popular diploma programmes are Diploma in Cardiovascular Technology, PG Diploma in Clinical Cardiological Course, PG Diploma in Community Cardiology and PG Diploma in Cardiac Pulmonary Perfusion Technology.

Bachelors in Cardiology Courses

Students who have completed class 12 examination with science as a subject can opt for courses such as BSc. in Cardiac Care Technology, BSc. in Cardiology or MBBS. The BSc. programme is for three years whereas the duration of MBBS is five years. BSc in Cardiology is focused on the extensive study of cardiovascular and thoracic science and the operation of cardiovascular technologies and equipment. On the other hand, with an MBBS degree, students learn how to treat patients suffering from cardiac diseases and perform life-saving surgeries.

Masters in Cardiology Courses

An MSc. in Cardiology or an MD with Cardiology as a specialisation can be done after completing undergraduate studies in a relevant subject. The MSc course is generally for two years, while the MD programme duration is three years. An MSc. degree concentrates on research and helps students to get a specialised understanding of various aspects of the field and tackle circulatory and cardiovascular disorders, narrowing of arteries or complications related to blood vessels and veins. An MD in Cardiology helps in the diagnosis of defects in the heart and its treatments, coronary artery diseases, failure of the heart, valvular heart diseases and narrowing of arteries.

Entrance examinations for cardiology courses differ as per the programme level or course. Some universities have separate medical entrance tests as a part of the admissions process. Some of the common entrance exams students need to take to be eligible for cardiology courses are:

Entrance Exam for MBBS in Cardiology

In order to pursue an MBBS degree in Cardiology course, one has to appear for:

• NEET UG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (undergraduate only)

• JIPMER: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research

• AIIMS: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (undergraduate only)

Entrance Exam for MD in Cardiology

Those aspiring to do a specialisation in Cardiology after MBBS, have to take the following exams:

• NEET-PG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (postgraduate only)

• AIIMS-PG: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (postgraduate only)

• PGIMER: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Cardiology courses can be pursued by students upon completion of high school. It is generally pursued by students who have the interest to build a career in the medical field and technology and healthcare sector. The minimum requirements of the cardiology courses as per programme type are given below:

The admission process for cardiology programmes differs depending on the type of course or study level. Some admission processes are purely merit-based, whereas other courses may require students to appear for an entrance test. Mostly, admission to certificate, diploma, bachelor's and master's courses are based on merit. On the other hand, an entrance test is required for MBBS and MD courses.

Admission to Certificate Courses in Cardiology

Certificate courses in cardiology are built to enhance the potential of students in a short time. Thus, there are no specific scores or entrance exam requirements. Candidates can directly apply for this course by filling out an application form and submitting the necessary documents. After this, the concerned school or college may analyse candidate profiles. Candidates may be contacted for an interview.

Admission to Diploma in Cardiology Course

For a diploma in cardiology, colleges admit students mostly based on merit. Students can be selected based on their marks after the application forms have been filled. For undergraduate diplomas, scores of class 12 will be necessary. In the PG diploma course, you will require scores of both 10+2 and a bachelor’s degree.

Admission to Bachelors in Cardiology Course

The admission to bachelor's in cardiology can be based both on entrance exam as well as merit. Candidates may need to sit for the university entrance exam as a part of the admission process. Apart from this, colleges may conduct an aptitude test or a personal interview to understand the candidate’s profile. Some universities may also post a cut-off score for both merit and entrance-based admissions.

Admission to MBBS in Cardiology Course

The admission process to MBBS includes appearing for an entrance test, i.e., candidates have to qualify for NEET-UG conducted by NTA and attain a good rank. Students also need to be at least 17 years old at the time of admission. Based on NEET-UG scores and ranks, students can get admission to various government and private medical colleges.

Admission to Masters in Cardiology Course

Admission to master's courses also takes place based on merit and entrance test. The entrance exam for master's courses is conducted by respective universities. Certain universities grant admission based on the GPA obtained in a bachelor's course. Interview sessions may be conducted by certain medical institutes as part of the admissions process.

Admission to MD in Cardiology Course

Those aspiring to pursue MD in Cardiology have to qualify for entrance exams to get into the course. It is compulsory to complete a bachelor's in medicine degree and qualify for NEET-PG or AIIMS-PG. Practical experience is also taken into consideration for admission purposes. Universities conduct interviews or counselling sessions before placing candidates in respective colleges.

Every Indian state features medical colleges and universities that offer various cardiology courses at all study levels. According to NIRF Ranking, some of the top colleges in India offering cardiology courses are:

Studying cardiology abroad helps students get top-notch classroom training and hands-on experience that help them stand out from the rest of medical students. Those who wish to study cardiology courses abroad can check out these top medical schools abroad:

The cardiology course fees vary as per the level of study, course type and type of institution. While the cost of education is relatively low in government colleges, on the other hand, private institutions usually charge more tuition fees. The average course fees for cardiology are given below:

Cardiology courses may differ as per the university or institution, but the fundamentals taught remain the same. Some of the common subjects covered in the cardiology syllabus are:

The course curriculum for cardiology is designed in a way that gives maximum knowledge about cardiovascular diseases. The course is divided into semesters and can last from two to ten semesters. Here is a detailed curriculum for the cardiology course based on a few topics of the syllabus:

The cardiology courses are beneficial to students as it opens up numerous job opportunities. Cardiology experts and surgeons are always in demand and there is a lot of scope in this field. Some of the top job profiles for individuals pursuing cardiology courses are:

• Cardiologists: One can practice as a cardiologist in government and private sector hospitals or start their own practice. They are associated with the diagnosis, prevention and care of patients with cardiac disorders.

• Cardiac Surgeons: Cardiac surgeons perform heart-related surgeries and other complex operations on patients. They are the ones who interpret injuries related to the heart and circulatory system.

• Invasive Cardiologists: They are the specialists who use invasive procedures to treat heart procedures.

• Cardiovascular Technologists: They are technicians who use a variety of tools and techniques for the diagnosis and management of heart diseases.

• Scientists: The researchers and scientists perform in-depth research on cardiac health and diseases.

• Echocardiographer: Cardiosonographers or echocardiographers are professionals who use imaging technologies to help physicians diagnose diseases in patients.

Top Recruiters of Cardiology Professionals

Cardiology professionals are always in need due to rising heart-related health concerns. The top recruiters of cardiology professionals in India are:

The salary of cardiology specialists is dependent on the course they have done, experience and skill set. With experience, the salary keeps increasing. Here is a list of salaries of professionals as per degree:

As a cardiology practitioner, individuals are expected to have in-depth knowledge on cardiology as well as must have other soft skills that ensure that patients are provided with best treatment and care. They must be open to all new medical and scientific advancements related to cardiology. The other qualities that they must possess are:

• Detailed knowledge of modern cardiological technologies and equipment.

• Attention to detail to treat patients, strong listening skills and diagnostic abilities.

• Compassion and care.

• Confidence to deal with this complicated stream of medicine.

• Proper time management skills.