Cardiologist

Your route, step by step

1. 1Class 11–12: take PCBBiology and Physics both count — the heart is part plumbing, part electrical system. Prepare for boards and NEET UG together.
2. 2NEET UG → MBBS · 5.5 years4.5 years of study plus a 1-year internship. Seats through MCC (all-India quota) and Tamil Nadu medical counselling.
3. 3NEET PG → MD General Medicine (or Paediatrics) · 3 yearsCardiology is a super-specialty, so first become a physician.
4. 4NEET SS → DM Cardiology · 3 yearsTraining in the cath lab, echocardiography and coronary care.
5. 5Practise as a cardiologistInterventional, electrophysiology and heart-failure fellowships are possible later.

What a cardiologist does

• Examine patients with chest pain, breathlessness or palpitations
• Read ECGs, echocardiograms and stress tests
• Do angiograms and fit stents and pacemakers
• Plan long-term treatment and prevention

Entrance exams & admission

• NEET UGFor the MBBS seat (conducted by NTA)
• NEET PGMD / MS / DNB seats (conducted by NBEMS); 50% of government seats are all-India quota, 50% Tamil Nadu quota
• INI-CETPG seats at AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER and NIMHANS
• NEET SSDM / MCh super-specialty seats (conducted by NBEMS)

Where you may work

Well-known colleges in and near Tamil Nadu

Outlook

Specialise later