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Studies & Degrees in Cardiology

Cardiology is the branch of medicine that deals with the heart and the blood vessels. The American College of Physicians (ACP) describes it as the prevention, diagnosis and management of disorders of the cardiovascular system. Cardiologists treat conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm disorders, valve disease, heart failure and congenital heart disease in adults. They diagnose and treat with tests, medicines and catheter-based procedures; operations on the heart are the work of cardiac surgeons, a separate specialty.

The field matters for public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally: an estimated 19.8 million people died from them in 2022, about 32% of all deaths worldwide. The WHO also states that most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol, so prevention is part of what students learn.

Qualifications and levels

There is no first degree in cardiology for doctors. Cardiology is a medical specialty, studied after a medical degree, and each country sets its own route.

  • United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that physicians typically need a bachelor's degree and a medical degree, which takes an additional four years. According to the ACP, cardiovascular fellowship training then requires three years of accredited training beyond the three-year internal medicine residency. Further training leads to sub-specialties such as interventional cardiology or cardiac electrophysiology.
  • United Kingdom. Doctors enter cardiology training after a Foundation Programme and a core training programme. Since August 2022 cardiology is trained together with general internal medicine over an indicative five years, according to the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK.
  • Spain. The official training programme for the specialty of Cardiología sets a training period of five years and requires a prior degree in Medicine.
  • Technical and allied health programmes. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians carry out tests and assist in procedures involving the heart or lungs, and cardiac sonographers (echocardiographers) image the heart with ultrasound. In the United States these jobs typically require an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate, according to the BLS.
  • Courses and research degrees. Medical schools teach cardiology as part of the medical curriculum, and some universities offer master's or doctoral research in cardiovascular science for graduates in medicine or the life sciences.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists nine active schools for cardiology: four in the United States and one each in Denmark, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Russia. The level differs a great deal from one school to another, so check what each one actually teaches.

Some are medical schools or universities with a faculty of medicine, where cardiology is taught within the medical degree or as postgraduate training: Saint Louis University in the United States, the University of Copenhagen, Addis Ababa University, Bukovinian State Medical University in Ukraine, Rostov State Medical University in Russia and the University of London. Saint Louis University School of Medicine, for example, states that its Division of Cardiology has two training programmes, a three-year cardiovascular fellowship and a one-year interventional cardiology fellowship. Both are for qualified doctors.

Others are community colleges that train technical staff. Broward College in Fort Lauderdale lists an Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography among its health science programmes, and Carroll Community College in Westminster is also on the list.

International students should note that a medical degree and a specialist title are recognised country by country. Before enrolling, ask the school and the medical regulator of the country where you want to work whether the qualification gives access to practice there.

Careers

Cardiologists work in hospitals, in group or individual practice and in research. The ACP notes that they practise in a wide range of settings, either as full-time hospital staff or as consultants. The BLS projects overall employment of physicians and surgeons in the United States to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. For technical roles it projects growth of 4 percent for cardiovascular technologists and technicians and 14 percent for diagnostic medical sonographers over the same period. Graduates of research programmes work in universities, hospitals and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a cardiologist?

It depends on the country. In the United States the ACP states that the cardiovascular fellowship takes three years after a three-year internal medicine residency, which follows medical school. In Spain the specialty training lasts five years after the degree in Medicine, and in the United Kingdom cardiology is trained with general internal medicine over an indicative five years after foundation and core training.

Can I work in cardiology without being a doctor?

Yes. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and cardiac sonographers carry out heart tests and assist in procedures. In the United States they typically need an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate, according to the BLS.

What is the difference between a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon?

A cardiologist diagnoses and treats heart and blood vessel conditions with tests, medicines and catheter-based procedures. A cardiac surgeon operates on the heart and trains in surgery, which is a different specialty.

Will my cardiology training be valid in another country?

Not automatically. Medical degrees and specialist titles are recognised by each country's authorities, so ask the regulator of the country where you plan to work before you enrol.