The following are key points to remember from the 2020 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) guideline for training cardiology and radiology trainees as independent and advanced practitioners in cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT):

1. There is a need for updated guidelines on competency standards for training in cardiovascular CT (CCT) for cardiology and radiology trainees.
2. Training to be an Independent Practitioner (IP), or Level II, requires competency to: 1) independently interpret cardiac findings on noncontrast and contrast-enhanced cardiac CT; 2) independently evaluate patient selection, preparation, scan protocols, post-processing, and study interpretation; and 3) evaluate coronary pathology and anatomy, basic structures, basic congenital heart disease, functional testing for coronary artery disease, and electrophysiology pre-procedure anatomy.
3. Training to be an Advanced Practitioner (AP), or Level III, additionally requires: 1) competency in the assessment of complex coronary artery disease, structural heart disease assessment and procedural planning, and advanced congenital heart disease; 2) competency in assessment of vascular CT; 3) competency in laboratory accreditation; 4) competency in equipment purchasing and maintenance; 5) active participation in quality improvement, performance improvement, and/or research projects; and 6) competency in the business and administrative aspects of CCT.
4. Achieving IP competency may be performed during a cardiology fellowship or radiology residency with adequate dedicated training time and case volume. Achieving AP competency requires additional fellowship training in advanced cardiac imaging.
5. New curriculum items for training include understanding techniques to lower radiation dose, effects of iterative reconstruction, dual-energy CT acquisition techniques and applications, stress perfusion CT protocols, advanced post-processing tools, new developments in coronary calcium scoring, interpretation of noncoronary cardiac pathology, interpretation of vascular CT, proficiency in performing and interpreting CCT in patients with advanced congenital heart disease, and proficiency in performing and interpreting CCT in patients with structural heart disease being considered for an intervention.
6. For training to be an IP or AP, duration of training is expected to be 8 and 24 weeks, respectively; the minimum number of mentored exams interpreted with direct involvement are expected to be 65 and 150 cases, respectively; and the minimum number of mentored exams interpreted are expected to be 250 and 450 cases, respectively.
7. For competency in structural heart disease, trainees must have direct involvement and interpretation of a specific number of studies for a wide variety of considered procedures.
8. Competency in congenital heart disease requires direct involvement in a specific number of CTs in patients with both simple congenital and complex congenital heart disease.
9. These updates respond to recent advances in CCT and the expanding roles of CCT in structural heart disease as well as congenital heart disease. The goal of these updates is to provide a pathway to comprehensive training in CCT that establishes core competencies that match these recent advances and expanding roles of CT.

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Noninvasive Imaging, Atherosclerotic Disease (CAD/PAD), Implantable Devices, SCD/Ventricular Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Congenital Heart Disease, CHD and Pediatrics and Arrhythmias, CHD and Pediatrics and Imaging, CHD and Pediatrics and Prevention, CHD and Pediatrics and Quality Improvement, Computed Tomography, Nuclear Imaging, Interventions and Structural Heart Disease, Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Vascular Medicine

Keywords: Accreditation, Cardiac Imaging Techniques, Coronary Artery Disease, Diagnostic Imaging, Electrophysiology, Fellowships and Scholarships, Heart Defects, Congenital, Internship and Residency, Perfusion Imaging, Plaque, Atherosclerotic, Quality Improvement, Radiation Dosage, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Vascular Diseases

< Back to Listings