Cardiovascular disease can present at any age, with a growing population of young adults with congenital heart disease and rapidly increasing numbers of older patients with degenerative diseases of the heart. Cardiologists will contribute to the management of acute medical and cardiology emergency admissions in the full range of NHS hospitals, whilst also having more advanced capabilities to ensure expert delivery of acute and chronic cardiac care across inpatient, outpatient and community settings. Care of patients with cardiovascular disorders embraces a wide range of clinical activities and cardiologists need a broad view of the cardiovascular needs of individual patients and the communities in which they live including an understanding of any prevailing health inequalities. This requires knowledge of not only the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available, but also an appreciation of the importance of the epidemiology and potential for prevention of cardiovascular disease. The ability to deal with the acutely ill patient with a cardiac emergency, including the delivery of emergency intervention such as percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac pacing or management of acute heart failure will remain a critical service need.
Cardiology training is delivered alongside Internal Medicine stage two training over an indicative five years. Core cardiology capabilities are organised in five themes with a concentration on the competencies required to deliver safe emergency care at the outset of training building up through elective and strategic skills. Trainees will be required to acquire capabilities in one of the five themes to an advanced level. Training in the advanced theme will commence in the third year of training and run alongside continued internal medicine and core cardiology training until completion of training.
There are a wide variety of opportunities for research in Cardiology. The Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) and its academic sub-committee helps to advise trainees wishing to develop their academic potential whilst obtaining a CCT in the specialty.
Entry into Cardiology training is possible following successful completion of both a Foundation Programme and a core training programme. There are two core training programme routes to Cardiology training:
- Internal Medicine Training (IMT)
- Acute Care Common Stem - Internal Medicine (ACCS-IM)
A new curriculum for dual training in Cardiology and Internal Medicine will be implemented in August 2022. Trainees already in training in 2022 will need to transfer to the new curriculum unless in their final year of training.or if they fall into the category described below.
Trainees who started training in that Cardiology alone prior to August 2021 will not be mandated to transfer from single to dual CCT training programmes but should be strongly encouraged to do so. Trainees appointed to dual Cardiology and GIM training in 2020 should not drop GIM; only those in more advanced training may be supported in moving to single accreditation and this must have the approval of the Postgraduate Dean. Please see the joint statement by the JRCPTB and Cardiology SAC.
Trainees who are training in Cardiology only who would not be able to safely transfer to the new curriculum will be able to stay on the previous curriculum. Please see our transition page for further information.
The curriculum for each specialty defines the process of training and the capabilities needed for the award of a certificate of completion of training (CCT). The curriculum includes the assessment system for measuring trainees’ progress comprising workplace based assessment and knowledge based assessment. Please refer to the British Cardiovascular Society website for information on the knowledge based assessment in Cardiology (known as the EECC).
A new curriculum for Cardiology has been approved by the GMC and will be implemented in August 2022.
Cardiology 2022 curriculum FINAL
The 2010 curriculum for Cardiology training appears below. Earlier versions of the curriculum are no longer available online but copies can be requested from curriculum@jrcptb.org.uk.
The ARCP decision aid for each specialty defines the targets that have to be achieved for a satisfactory ARCP outcome at the end of each training year.
Echocardiography Curriculum Delivery Tool
Echo curriculum delivery tool Nov2016.docx
Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Checklist
The following checklist should be used to confirm completion of core training in ACHD. Trainees should upload the signed document to their personal library on the eportfolio.
Cardiology ACHD Checklist.docx
Dual CCT training in Cardiology and General Internal Medicine (GIM)
Guidance on indicative training time for dual training programmes.
Dual CCT in Cardiology and GIM guidance February 2015.pdf