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How to Become a Cardiologist in India After 12th (2025 Guide)

Becoming a cardiologist in India is a dream for many students passionate about heart health and saving lives. If you’ve just completed your 12th and aim to enter this prestigious medical field, you need a clear roadmap. In this 2025 guide, we’ll explain the step-by-step process, eligibility, courses, entrance exams, and career opportunities in cardiology. Whether you’re exploring MBBS or super-specialization, this article will help you understand how to become a successful cardiologist in India after 12th.

How to Become a Cardiologist After 12th

What Does a Cardiologist do

A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating heart conditions like heart attacks, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases. They use advanced tools like ECGs, angiograms, and echocardiograms to assess heart health and recommend treatments, such as lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes surgeries.

Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Cardiologist

1. Complete Your 12th Grade with Science

The first step toward becoming a cardiologist is to complete your 12th grade with a focus on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). These subjects are essential as they form the foundation for all future medical studies. Ensure that you perform well in these subjects to increase your chances of passing the medical entrance exams.

2. Clear the Medical Entrance Exam

After your 12th, you need to clear a medical entrance exam to gain admission into a medical college. The most common entrance exams in India for MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) are:

1- NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test): After completing 12th grade, the next step is to clear the NEET UG (National Eligibility Entrance Test) exam. NEET is the entrance exam for admission to undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS and BDS in India. The NEET UG exam evaluates your knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Important Tips for NEET UG Preparation:

    1. Start preparation early (from 11th grade or during 12th).
    2. Focus on understanding concepts rather than rote learning.
    3. Take regular mock tests and practice papers to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern

2- AIIMS Entrance Exam: To become a Cardiologist after 12th in india, You can Clear AIIMS Entrance Exam. For admission to the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

3- JIPMER Entrance Exam: For admission to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research.

These exams assess your knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, so thorough preparation is key.

3. Pursue MBBS (5.5 Years)

Once you clear the entrance exam, you will be enrolled in an MBBS program. This typically takes 5.5 years to complete, including a year-long internship. The curriculum covers basic medical science, clinical knowledge, patient care, and hands-on practice. You will rotate through different hospital departments during the internship to gain practical experience.

4. Complete an internship (1 Year)

The internship is a critical part of your MBBS program. During this time, you will work directly with patients under the supervision of senior doctors, which helps you gain practical experience in diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including heart diseases.

5. Pursue Postgraduate Studies (MD in General Medicine)

After completing your MBBS, the next step is to specialize in General Medicine by pursuing an MD (Doctor of Medicine). The MD program lasts for 3 years and focuses on internal medicine, which is essential for understanding heart diseases. You will learn how to diagnose and treat a wide range of health conditions and build the necessary knowledge for cardiology.

6. Specialize in Cardiology (DM or DNB in Cardiology)

After completing your MD in General Medicine, you will need to further specialize in cardiology. This involves enrolling in a DM (Doctorate of Medicine) or DNB (Diplomate of National Board) program in Cardiology. This typically takes 3 years and includes in-depth training on heart diseases, diagnostics, treatment procedures, and surgical techniques.

  • DM in Cardiology: Offered by various medical colleges, this is the most common pathway to becoming a cardiologist.
  • DNB in Cardiology: This is another option and is recognized by the National Board of Examinations.

During your DM/DNB, you will learn advanced skills like cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, stent placements, and the use of technologies like MRI and CT scans in cardiology.

7. Gain Clinical Experience

While studying for your DM/DNB, you will gain clinical experience by working with patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. You will also perform various diagnostic tests and may assist in surgeries like heart bypass and angioplasty.

Key Skills You Will Need to Become a Cardiologist

To succeed as a cardiologist, you’ll need a combination of technical knowledge and soft skills:

  • Attention to Detail: Cardiologists must pay close attention to even the smallest signs and symptoms of heart diseases.
  • Strong Communication: You will need to communicate complex medical information in a way that patients can understand.
  • Problem-Solving: Cardiologists diagnose and treat life-threatening conditions, requiring quick and accurate decision-making.
  • Empathy and Patience: Treating heart disease often involves long-term care, so having patience and empathy for your patients is crucial.

Career Opportunities and Salary

Once you complete your DM/DNB in Cardiology, there are several career paths available:

Once you have completed your studies and obtained your medical license, you can choose to work in various settings such as:

  • Hospitals (public and private)

  • Cardiology clinics

  • Teaching and research institutions

  • Healthcare startups focusing on cardiology and healthtech

As a cardiologist, you can specialize in various subspecialties like:

  • Interventional Cardiology: Focuses on catheter-based treatments for heart diseases.

  • Electrophysiology: Specializes in the electrical functioning of the heart.

  • Pediatric Cardiology: Deals with heart conditions in children.

  • Cardiac Imaging: Specializes in using imaging techniques to diagnose heart diseases.

  • Heart Failure/Transplantation: Specializes in managing heart failure and transplant procedures.

In terms of salary, cardiologists in India can expect to earn anywhere between ₹10 to ₹30 lakh annually, depending on experience, specialization, and the type of practice (private or government). Cardiologists working in metro cities or large hospitals tend to earn more due to the demand for specialized heart care.

The Future of Cardiology

With technological advancements in healthcare, the field of cardiology is continuously evolving. New techniques like robotic surgery, telemedicine, and AI-powered diagnostics are reshaping how cardiologists work. Moreover, with the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases, especially in older populations, the demand for skilled cardiologists is expected to grow in the coming years.

By 2025, cardiology will likely become even more focused on prevention, with an emphasis on early detection and personalized treatments using advanced technologies. This makes it a highly promising and dynamic career choice for medical students.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It typically takes around 11-13 years to become a cardiologist in India. This includes:

  • 5.5 years for MBBS

  • 3 years for MD/DNB in General Medicine

  • 3 years for DM/DNB in Cardiology

No, to become a cardiologist, you must complete an MBBS degree followed by a postgraduate degree in General Medicine and then a super-specialization in cardiology.

Some of the top medical colleges for pursuing cardiology in India include:

  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi

  • Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore

  • Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi

  • King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai

  • Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

The total cost can vary based on the medical college and the type of institution (government or private). On average, the cost for MBBS can range from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, and for MD/DNB and DM/DNB, the cost can be between ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh.