If you’re interested in how to become a radiologist, you’ve come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through every step of the process (and yes, you’ll get your 10,000 steps in!). I’ll start by outlining the education requirements and how long it takes to become a radiologist. Then, I’ll discuss what steps you need to take to secure a job in this field, the best of all medical specialties (though I may be biased).
Radiology is an exciting and rewarding medical specialty, and I hope this guide helps you on your journey to becoming a radiologist!
What is a Radiologist?
Before we get started on how to become a radiologist, I want to make sure you have a good understanding of what a radiologist is and what skills are important for this career.
A radiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders using medical imaging techniques such as x-rays, fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound. Radiologists come in two flavors: diagnostic radiologists and interventional radiologists.
Regardless of their specialization and sub-specialization, radiologists play a vital role in the healthcare team, primarily working as consultants to other specialists such as surgeons, oncologists, emergency medicine physicians, urologists, critical care providers, and internists.
Diagnostic Radiology
A diagnostic radiologist is a radiologist who focuses primarily on the interpretation of medical imaging exams (hence ‘diagnostic’) and may perform a range of medical procedures ranging from common fluoroscopy exams, such as esophagrams, to basic procedures including paracentesis, thoracentesis, lumbar puncture, hysterosalpingogram, joint arthrogram, and image-guided biopsy. The vast majority of diagnostic radiologists complete a fellowship and are subspecialized (e.g., abdominal imaging, musculoskeletal radiology, pediatric radiology, nuclear radiology, etc.).
Interventional Radiology
An interventional radiologist performs a wide range of minimally invasive interventional image-guided procedures that aid in both the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions. Interventional radiologists perform high-end interventional procedures such as angiograms (without or with angioplasty), image-guided biopsies, tumor ablation using techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), transcatheter embolization in the setting of active hemorrhage, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and more. They also perform basic procedures such as those listed under “Diagnostic Radiology” and typically interpret medical imaging exams in between procedural cases.
What is Important to Become a Radiologist?
Radiologists must enjoy problem-solving, have an eye for detail, and bring everything together in a succinct, easy-to-understand conclusion – a synthesis of the clinical importance of the relevant findings. Each case a radiologist reviews may have hundreds or even thousands of images, and it is their job to figure out what the most likely diagnosis is.
Radiologists must be masters of human anatomy. Practically everything a radiologist does revolves around a deep understanding of human anatomy and they must master both normal anatomy and a wide array of pathological processes affecting essentially every human organ system. They have to know a lot about a lot – a jack of all trades and master of one (sometimes two).
Radiologists must be excellent communicators. They often have to explain complex concepts to patients and their families, as well as to referring physicians and healthcare professionals. They must be able to clearly communicate the results of imaging studies and make recommendations for next steps or treatment.
Radiologists must be able to handle stress and work well under pressure as well. They often have to make quick decisions that can have a profound impact on a patient’s life. They must be able to remain calm in emergencies and deal with the emotional stress of seeing some horrific traumas and diagnosing, staging, and restaging patients’ cancers every day.
Moreover, radiology is a rapidly evolving medical field. New applications for medical imaging are continuously being developed, new promising PET radiotracers are being discovered in nuclear radiology, and there are constant advancements in post-processing techniques and algorithms. Imaging technology is constantly advancing and artificial intelligence is quickly integrating into radiology practices and augmenting workflows.
To stay relevant, radiologists must keep up-to-date on the latest technology to provide the best possible care for their patients. In addition, as more and more procedures are performed using image guidance, radiologists must be able to work closely with surgeons and other interventionalists.
What is the Average Salary of a Radiologist?
The average annual salary of a radiologist is $430,890 (ranging from $374,590 to $498,390) according to Salary.com (as of February 25, 2022). However, this varies depending on multiple factors such as location, job type (academics, private practice, hybrid, independent contractor), practice model (time-based or productivity-based), how much an individual radiologist works, etc.
How to Become a Radiologist?
What are the Education Requirements for a Radiologist?
Radiology, like all medical specialties, requires the same general pathway: undergraduate college (bachelor’s degree) followed by medical school (medical degree), radiology residency, and concludes with a fellowship (fellowships are the norm for radiologists, unlike most specialties).
How Long Does It Take to Become a Radiologist?
Becoming a radiologist takes about 10-11 years after undergraduate college. It includes four years of medical school, followed by a one-year internship, and a four-year residency in diagnostic radiology. Then most radiologists complete a one- to two-year fellowship to subspecialize.
What is the Cost of Education to Become a Radiologist?
As noted previously, there is a substantial time cost for becoming a radiologist; inclusive of undergraduate college, it takes upwards of 15 years to become a radiologist.
In terms of monetary costs, let’s break it down (brace yourself):
- The average cost of undergraduate college is $35,331 per year* (attending an in-state public university is substantially less expensive than attending an out-of-state private university)
- The average cost of medical school is $218,792* (similarly, attending an in-state public medical school is less expensive than attending an out-of-state private medical school)
- Total cost = $35,331 x 4 + $218,792 = $360,116
These numbers do not consider the opportunity cost of earnings forgone while in school (for example, if you could have been working and earning $X per year instead of attending medical school) or the interest rate that accrues on student loans.
In short, the cost of becoming a radiologist is significant both in terms of time and money. However, the monetary returns are substantial as radiology is a highly-paid medical specialty. Delayed gratification, anyone?
What Training is Needed to Become a Radiologist?
There are many pathways to becoming a radiologist and I know many people who followed a non-traditional path. Below, however, I will discuss the shortest path from undergraduate college to medical school to internship to residency to fellowship.
Undergraduate College
Undergraduate college is your time to pursue any/all of your interests! I sincerely mean that. Medical schools like to have students with diverse backgrounds so you can obtain a bachelor’s degree in any field of your choice. However, you must complete all the prerequisite courses for medical school, including biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, English, genetics, and cal