Cardiology involves the care of patients with heart disease and covers a wide range of clinical activities. Management can involve interventional treatment and cardiac imaging and draws on a large evidence base of effective preventative and therapeutic options. Cardiologists work in multi-disciplinary teams which include specialist nurses, cardiac physiologists and cardiac surgeons.
Trainees undertake advanced specialist area modules in the final two years of Cardiology training. These modules include Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Non-invasive Imaging, Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) , Heart Failure and Inherited Cardiac Conditions. Trainees can also apply to undertake a dual training programme with General Internal Medicine (GIM).
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:
- Core Medical Training (CMT)
- Acute Care Common Stem - Acute Medicine (ACCS-AM)
A new curriculum for dual training in Cardiology and Internal Medicine will be implemented in August 2022, subject to GMC approval. Trainees already in training in 2022 will need to transfer to the new curriculum unless in their final year of training.
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 competencies 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 EEGC).
The draft 2022 curriculum is given below:
Cardiology 2022 curriculum DRAFT for consultation June 2021
The current curriculum for Cardiology training appears below:
2010 Cardiology Curriculum (amendments 2016)
Previous 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.
2017 National Trainee Survey report
The following reports are based on the results of the 2017 National Trainee Survey. For copies of older reports email quality.management@jrcptb.org.uk.
2017 Cardiology NTS Generic Indicators.pdf
2017 Cardiology NTS Specialty Specific Questions.pdf
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