Onboarding plan

Cardiologist Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new cardiologist from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Cardiologist onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: ABIM cardiovascular disease certification, State medical license (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: EKG machines; echocardiography; catheterization lab equipment; stress test systems
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Cardiologist training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Use radiation protection in cath labs
  • Follow sterile technique
  • Verify anticoagulation safely
  • Follow time-out procedures
  • Shadow an experienced cardiologist through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: read a 12-lead EKG
  • Supervised practice: respond to a STEMI alert
  • Supervised practice: counsel a patient on heart failure
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Evaluate heart symptoms: independently
  • Read EKGs and imaging: independently
  • Manage heart failure and hypertension: independently
  • Treat arrhythmias: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, ABIM cardiovascular disease certification)
  • Discuss the career path: Internal Medicine Resident → Cardiology Fellow → Cardiologist
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Read a 12-Lead EKG
Respond to a STEMI Alert
Counsel a Patient on Heart Failure
Cardiac diagnosis
EKG interpretation
Echocardiography
Catheterization

How to measure onboarding success

  • Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
  • Competency sign-offs completed on time
  • Documentation or charting error rate
  • 90-day retention

How Cardiologist training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Cardiologist Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Cardiologist Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Cardiologist Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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