A heart surgeon is a cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in the heart. The cardiothoracic specialty qualifies you to perform surgery on the heart, nearby major blood vessels, the esophagus and the lungs. To qualify for this career, you must finish undergraduate prerequisites and medical school and complete residencies in both general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. Counting undergraduate study, this path typically takes between 14 and 16 years. Eight Years of Undergraduate College and Medical School Prospective heart surgeons usually complete a four-year bachelor's degree before medical school. You may have any major, but you must take the required prerequisites, including math, chemistry, biology and physics. Medical school takes an additional four years. During the first two years, you'll take classes in biochemistry, anatomy and medical law and receive training in practical medical techniques. Over the final two years, you'll complete clinical rotations in various specialties, including internal medicine and surgery. At Least Six to Eight Years of Clinical Training The traditional program for heart surgeons begins with five years of residency in general surgery, which includes clinical rotations in several surgical specialties, according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Heart surgeons then complete an additional two- to three-year residency in cardiothoracic surgery, for seven to eight years total. Some alternate residencies offer a seven-year program of four years of general surgery plus three years of cardiothoracic training. A fast track combining the general and cardiothoracic residencies in six years is also available. Upon completion of your residencies, you can pursue optional fellowship training in a specialty such as adult cardiac surgery. These fellowships typically last one to three years. Licensing and Board Certification Heart surgeons must also fulfill all state licensing requirements, including passing medical licensing exams. Completion of a cardiothoracic residency qualifies you for optional board certification upon passing exams from the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Source
