Training

Paediatric Cardiology has traditionally included care of patients of all ages with congenital heart disease. Many of these patients require lifelong follow up, leading to a most rewarding, close and long term relationship with patients and their families. Higher medical training in paediatric cardiology has maintained its openness to trainees from either a paediatric or an adult medicine background, although a solid basis of both paediatrics and cardiology (adult or paediatric) is essential for entry into specialist training. Skill requirements for training in congenital cardiology have gradually become less rigid, but paediatric or medical experience up to the level of achievement of MRCPCH or MRCP(UK) remains essential. Perhaps the most important attribute of any budding paediatric cardiologist is highly developed communications skills.

Entry into Paediatric Cardiology training is possible following successful completion of both a foundation programme and a core training programme. There are two core training programmes for Paediatric Cardiology training:

• Core Paediatrics Training - visit the Royal College of Paedatrics and Child Health website for details (3 years)
• Internal Medicine Training stage 1 - two years plus 1 year dedicated paediatrics training

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. The 2021 curriculum was approved by the GMC for implementation in August 2021.

The 2021 curriculum and supporting documents are given below:

Paediatric Cardiology 2021 Curriculum

Paediatric Cardiology Mapping of 2021 CiPs to previous curriculum competencies

The 2010 curriculum is available below:

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. The ARCP decision aid for the new 2021 curriculum is available below:

Paediatric Cardiology 2021 ARCP Decision Aid

To assist in the preparation for ARCPs, the SAC has also developed 2 checklists - one for ST4-6 and one for ST7-8

The decision aid for those on the previous version of the curriculum is avalable below: