The Full Curriculum — 16 Lessons, 21+ Hours, 100% ACC Core Curriculum

The APP Cardiology Academy curriculum covers all major domains of the ACC Core Curriculum for Cardiovascular Care across 16 lessons organized into three sections: Core Clinical Skills, Disease Management, and Professional Development. Each lesson includes a video lecture, structured handout, interactive case study, and physician discussion guide. Total instruction time is 21+ hours, designed for completion in 2–3 months at a self-paced schedule.

Total lessons 16
Total instruction 21+ hours
Completion time 2–3 months (self-paced)
Format per lesson 60-min video + handout + case study + physician discussion guide
ACC Core Curriculum coverage 100% (verified against all 14 ACC competency tables)
Certificate Yes, upon completion

Section 1: Core Clinical Skills — Lessons 1–5

Section 1 starts with the clinical skills you will use every day — before any disease-specific content. Cardiac physical examination, ECG interpretation, diagnostic reasoning for cardiovascular symptoms, pharmacology foundations, and imaging interpretation. This is what cardiology practice actually requires from Day 1.

Lesson 1: Cardiovascular History & Physical ExaminationLive Now

  • Taking focused histories for chest pain, dyspnea, syncope, and palpitations
  • Systematic physical examination: JVP assessment, peripheral pulses, PMI, heart sounds (S1, S2, S3, S4, murmurs)
  • Interpreting volume status and hemodynamics at the bedside
  • Identifying examination findings that change management

Why this lesson matters: The cardiovascular physical exam is the foundation of every patient encounter in cardiology. New APPs who can assess JVP, identify an S3, and interpret a murmur earn clinical credibility faster than those who rely on imaging to do what a stethoscope should.

Lesson 2: ECG, CXR & Laboratory EssentialsLive Now

  • Systematic ECG interpretation: rate, rhythm, axis, hypertrophy, ischemia/infarction
  • Chest X-ray essentials: cardiac silhouette, pulmonary vascular redistribution, pleural effusions, device leads
  • Cardiac biomarkers: troponin kinetics, BNP/NT-proBNP, D-dimer in clinical context
  • Common ECG findings requiring immediate action

Why this lesson matters: An APP in cardiology reads ECGs every day. This lesson builds the systematic approach that prevents missed findings.

Lesson 3: Common Cardiovascular SymptomsMay 21

  • Chest pain differential: ACS, aortic dissection, PE, pericarditis, musculoskeletal
  • Syncope: cardiogenic vs. vasovagal vs. orthostatic — risk stratification and admission decisions
  • Palpitations: workup, risk stratification, when to pursue EP referral
  • Risk stratification tools: HEART score, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, PERC rule

Why this lesson matters: The most common reason a cardiology APP gets called is one of these three presentations.

Lesson 4: Cardiovascular PharmacologyMay 21

  • Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNIs: mechanisms, indications, titration
  • Diuretics: loop, thiazide, mineralocorticoid antagonists
  • Statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors: intensity selection, LDL targets
  • Antiplatelet agents: aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, DAPT duration
  • Anticoagulants: DOACs vs. warfarin, dosing in renal impairment

Why this lesson matters: Cardiovascular pharmacology is where APPs get burned most often — wrong dose, wrong monitoring, wrong drug for the indication.

Lesson 5: Cardiac Imaging & Invasive ProceduresMay 28

  • Stress testing: exercise vs. pharmacologic, imaging vs. non-imaging, appropriate use criteria
  • Echocardiography: LV function, wall motion, valvular assessment, LVEF interpretation
  • Cardiac CT: coronary CTA, calcium scoring
  • Cardiac MRI: when it adds to echo, viability assessment
  • Cardiac catheterization: indications, basic hemodynamic interpretation, post-procedure care

Why this lesson matters: Ordering the wrong test at the wrong time delays care and exposes patients to risk.

Section 2: Disease Management — Lessons 6–14

Section 2 covers the bread-and-butter cardiovascular conditions you will manage in any cardiology practice. Each lesson is built against the current ACC/AHA guideline for that condition, with Class of Recommendation and Level of Evidence stated for every management recommendation.

Lesson 6: Coronary Artery Disease — Stable & AcuteMay 28

  • Risk stratification for stable ischemic heart disease
  • NSTE-ACS recognition: NSTEMI vs. unstable angina, early invasive vs. conservative strategy
  • STEMI: recognition including LBBB/Sgarbossa criteria, reperfusion strategy
  • Guideline-directed medical therapy for all CAD
  • Revascularization decisions: PCI vs. CABG
  • Post-PCI and post-ACS management: DAPT duration, secondary prevention

Lesson 7: Heart Failure — HFrEF, HFpEF & AdvancedMay 28

  • Heart failure classification: HFrEF, HFmrEF, HFpEF
  • HFrEF quadruple therapy: initiation, titration, and targets
  • Diuretic management: loop diuretics, decongestion monitoring
  • HFpEF: evidence-based management, comorbidity treatment
  • Device therapy: ICD indications, CRT selection, LVEF thresholds
  • Advanced heart failure: MCS, transplant criteria, palliative trajectory

Lesson 8: Cardiac Arrhythmias & Device TherapyJune 4

  • Atrial fibrillation: rate vs. rhythm control, anticoagulation, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, DOAC selection
  • SVT: AVNRT, AVRT, atrial flutter — acute and long-term management
  • Bradyarrhythmias: sinus node dysfunction, AV block, pacemaker indications
  • Ventricular tachycardia: sustained vs. non-sustained, ICD indications
  • Device basics: pacemaker vs. ICD vs. CRT — indications, programming overview

Lesson 9: Hypertension & Lipid ManagementJune 4

  • Hypertension staging, therapy selection, resistant hypertension workup
  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, white coat and masked hypertension
  • ASCVD risk calculators: PCE, when to calculate and communicate
  • Statin intensity selection: high, moderate, low — indications and LDL targets
  • Non-statin agents: ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors

Lesson 10: Structural Heart DiseaseJune 4

  • Pericarditis: diagnosis, treatment, recurrence; cardiac tamponade; constrictive physiology
  • Cardiomyopathy phenotypes: dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, ARVC
  • HCM: diagnosis, management, SCD risk stratification
  • Valvular heart disease: aortic stenosis, MR, AR, mitral stenosis — grading and intervention timing
  • TAVR and transcatheter mitral repair: indications, heart team referral

Lesson 11: Vascular DiseaseJune 11

  • Peripheral arterial disease: ABI interpretation, medical therapy, revascularization indications
  • VTE: DVT and PE diagnosis, anticoagulation selection and duration
  • Aortic aneurysm: screening, surveillance, surgical thresholds
  • Aortic dissection: Stanford classification, Type A vs. B management
  • Secondary prevention in vascular disease

Lesson 12: Preventive Cardiology & Special PopulationsJune 11

  • Diet, physical activity, tobacco cessation — evidence-based counseling
  • Coronary artery calcium scoring: when to order, how to apply results
  • Cardio-oncology: cardiac surveillance on cardiotoxic therapy
  • Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy: peripartum cardiomyopathy
  • Diabetes and cardiovascular risk: SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists

Lesson 13: Critical Care Cardiology EssentialsJune 11

  • Shock classification: cardiogenic, distributive, hypovolemic, obstructive
  • Vasopressor and inotrope selection: norepinephrine, dobutamine, milrinone
  • Temporary MCS: IABP, Impella, VA-ECMO — indications and basics
  • Acute decompensated heart failure in the ICU
  • Post-cardiac surgery complications

Lesson 14: Palliative & End-of-Life Care in Cardiovascular DiseaseJune 18

  • Symptom management in advanced heart failure
  • Goals-of-care conversations: prognostic disclosure, documentation
  • ICD deactivation: clinical and ethical framework
  • Hospice criteria for heart failure and advanced cardiovascular disease
  • Caregiver support and family communication

Section 3: Professional Development — Lessons 15–16

The final section addresses the professional skills that determine how effectively you practice cardiology — not just whether you know the clinical content.

Lesson 15: Professional Competencies, Communication & Practice ManagementJune 18

  • NP and PA role definition in cardiovascular medicine: scope, collaborative agreements, privileging
  • Billing and documentation: E&M coding, incident-to, split/shared visits
  • Transitions of care: hospital-to-outpatient handoffs, readmission reduction
  • Difficult conversations: serious news, goals-of-care, motivational interviewing
  • QI participation, burnout prevention, sustainable practice

Lesson 16: Career Development & Lifelong Learning in CardiologyJune 18

  • Self-assessment and reflective practice
  • Reading cardiology literature: trials, meta-analyses, guidelines
  • ACC, AANP, AAPA membership and resources
  • Cardiology subspecialty pathways for APPs: HF, EP, structural, interventional, imaging, prevention
  • Building niche expertise

Optional Module: Adult Congenital Heart Disease (30 minutes)

A focused introduction to the congenital heart disease patients you will encounter in general cardiology practice.

One Payment. Lifetime Access to All 16 Lessons.

Enroll Now — $999

$999 early adopter through June 30, 2026 · $1,899 regular starting July 1, 2026