Cardiac sciences
Healthcare scientists working in cardiac science diagnose, monitor and conduct analytical procedures for patients with known or suspected heart disease.
Cardiac science is a patient-facing area of healthcare science, including everyone from babies to the elderly.
Life in cardiac science
Depending on your role, you’ll carry out a range of procedures, including:
- echocardiography - using ultrasound to obtain pictures of the heart to help diagnose and monitor diseases that affect the structure and function of the heart including heart valves and muscle
- pacemaker implantation and follow-up - taking measurements and programming pacemaker devices to ensure they are functioning correctly when they are implanted and during long-term follow-up
- exercise stress testing - closely monitoring a patient as they exercise (usually on a treadmill) to test if the blood vessels supplying the heart are working properly
Roles in cardiac sciences
There are different roles within cardiac science, including:
Healthcare science assistant or associate
As a healthcare science assistant or associate in cardiac sciences (also sometimes known as a cardiographer) you’ll conduct routine tests for patients such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) and blood pressure measurement.
Healthcare science practitioner
As a healthcare science practitioner in cardiac sciences, your role will vary according to the procedures carried out by the hospital in which you’re working, but will usually include:
• ambulatory electrocardiography
• ambulatory blood pressure measurement
• providing technical support during pacemaker implantation and follow-up
• helping with exercise stress testing
• providing technical reports on the tests you perform
If you’re a clinical scientist in cardiac sciences, you’ll:
- work at a more senior level
- have a considerable amount of responsibility for performing more complex tests and interpreting the results of each test
- be expected to teach and supervise other members of the team
- often work in a management role with responsibility for resources (such as staff, budgets or equipment)
Samantha Thorn
Trainee healthcare scientist
Read Samantha's storyWorking in the catheter labs is very exciting, especially during an angioplasty.
How much can I earn?
You’ll be employed on a national pay and conditions system called Agenda for Change (AfC).
There are nine pay bands and below are examples of the pay band you’ll be on, depending on your role within cardiac science.
- Healthcare science assistant – B2/3
- Healthcare science associate – B4
- Healthcare science practitioner – B5
- Echocardiographer - B6/7/8a
- Clinical scientist – B6/7/8a
- Consultant clinical scientist – B8a-d/9
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
There are several different ways to start your career in cardiac science, depending on your experience and qualifications.
- You could look for an entry level job/level 2 apprenticeship – typically GCSEs 9-4/A-C in maths, English and a science.
- If an apprenticeship feels right for you, you’ll need 5 GCSEs at 9-4/A-C (or equivalent) including maths, English and science or Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Science to start a level 4 apprenticeship.
- An associate practitioner role is another route to a career in cardiac science. You’ll likely require foundation degree, or equivalent experience with training and experience to NVQ level 3
- A level 6 apprenticeship or degree course require relevant level 3 qualifications e.g. 3 A levels (including at least one science subject) or Access to HE course
- To start the Scientist Training Programme, you’ll need a 1st or 2:1 in relevant first degree or relevant higher degree and 2:2 in any subject
- Higher Specialist Scientist Training is available for registered clinical scientists with relevant MSc
How to become a clinical scientist in cardiac science
Starting your career in cardiac science might be easier than you think. You could undertake study at university or find an apprenticeship that takes you straight into a job.
There are assistant or level 2 apprenticeships, associate practitioner roles and level 4 and level 6 apprenticeships. If you’re already a registered and experienced healthcare scientist, there are degrees, Master’s degrees and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.
See our How to become a healthcare science professional for details.
Where a career in cardiac science will take you
As you gain experience, and with further training, you’ll be able to apply for vacancies in areas such as further specialisation, management, research and teaching.
