Students must first work on becoming an interventional cardiologist before applying for an interventional cardiology fellowship. This requires extensive schooling, excellent grades, and a lengthy period of training in the field. Those who are interested in a medical profession must begin preparing early for a career in medicine. High school students should excel in mathematics and science in order to be accepted to an accredited four year university. These steps will help students get into medical school, which can be difficult because it is very competitive.
Many universities offer pre-medical programs, but a bachelor's of science (B.S.) degree in various fields is usually sufficient when applying to medical school. Students generally apply to more than one institution to increase their chances of getting into medical school. Almost every country requires an examination to ensure that students are fully prepared for medical school. Courses in pre-medical studies, including microbiology, anatomy, and physiology, can be of great assistance when taking medical admissions exam. Exams and coursework are an enormous portion of the interventional cardiology fellowship acceptance process.
Once students are accepted into medical school, they will spend the first few years learning about general medicine in a classroom setting. The last two years involve more laboratory work and long hours participating in training at hospitals or other medical centers. Coursework will begin to focus on the student's chosen specialty, and may include classes such as management of coronary artery disease, preventative cardiology, and insights in cardiology. After the successful completion of coursework and receiving a medical degree, students are usually required to complete a residency program.
Residencies typically last three years and includes practicing general medicine as well as working with professionals in cardiology. This learning period is essential for applying to an interventional cardiology fellowship because acceptance is primarily based on experience. Most of these programs will request a recommendation letter from a residency director, and this should display proficiency in the field.
Towards the end of the residency, students will begin to prepare for the examinations needed to practice medicine in their country. For example, the United States (US) requires the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), and other countries have extremely similar exams. These exams almost always have multiple sections, and different interventional cardiology fellowship programs may require the successful completion of all portions. Applications for an interventional cardiology fellowship typically require transcripts from all schools, recommendation letters, admission and licensing exam scores, eligibility for board certification or certification if available, and a completed fellowship application.
