Quick Summary
Radiology is a fascinating medical field that combines technology, diagnosis, and patient care. As a radiologist, you play a crucial role in detecting diseases and guiding treatment plans through imaging techniques like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. If you aspire to become a radiologist in 2025, this guide will walk you through the necessary steps, education, skills, and career outlook to help you succeed in this high-demand profession.
A radiologist is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases using medical imaging technologies. They analyze results from X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and nuclear medicine to provide crucial insights into a patient’s condition.
Radiologists often work in hospitals, diagnostic centers, and research institutions. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Radiology is one of the most rewarding medical careers, offering:
When you want to know how to become a radiologist, you should also understand the different branches you can work in.
When you look online at ‘what is the work of a radiologist’ out of curiosity, diagnostic radiology may come first. In this specialization, radiologists diagnose and treat diseases using different imaging procedures. These imaging techniques involve electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound, X-rays, and radionuclides.
Radiation oncologists are responsible for using radiation to treat cancer patients. They use high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and ensure they don’t grow back. Along with this, they must make sure the patients respond to their treatment regime.
You will get to learn this subspecialty by becoming a radiologist. As a neuroradiologist, you will diagnose and characterize the abnormalities of different body parts. These parts are the central and peripheral nervous system, head, and spine using an advanced neuro-imaging system.
Pediatric radiologists are in demand because they ensure a baby’s good health. These experts examine and diagnose any health-related issue of infants, children, and adolescents.
This part of radiology involves invasive procedures to prevent illness and injuries. As an interventional radiologist, you will provide treatment/therapy to non-cancerous patients. The surgery procedures in this field are safe and ensure a faster recovery.
Radiologists are a significant part of any diagnostic centre or clinic. If you want to learn how to become a radiologist, you can’t avoid the diverse roles and responsibilities you may have to perform daily.
Depending on the specialization, your responsibilities will differ. Besides, every radiologist has to perform almost similar responsibilities. For example, if you are a pediatric radiologist, you will attend to the kids and adolescents first. If you have to perform radiation on a cancer patient, you will be a radiation oncologist. If you are wondering, ‘Is a radiologist a doctor?’, the answer to your query would be YES. A radiologist is a medical professional and trained doctor who performs different procedures to ensure the health issues you might be facing.
When it comes to the responsibilities of a radiologist, they are as follows –
The primary responsibility of a radiologist starts by discussing the diagnostic process that their physician might have suggested. The patient must understand the process to cooperate in completing the diagnosis. You should understand your role and responsibilities on this road how to become a radiologist.
Every diagnostic process is complex and might frighten the patients at first. As a radiologist, you must ensure the patient can understand the instructions and what they must do during the process.
A radiologist is also responsible for maintaining the efficient management of the system. They ensure radiographers can use appropriate imaging techniques to retrieve the best test results. Supervising the diagnostic process helps efficiently determine any problem in the patient’s health.
Radiologists use advanced technology and modern machines to diagnose your health condition. X-rays, MRI, CT scans, nuclear testing, etc., display the accurate condition of the internal organs and tissues. Their primary goal is to ensure the damage your body might have incurred.
Once the diagnosis has been over, the radiologists prepare a report of the findings. This is where they use their skill, knowledge, and understanding to process a report. The report must contain all the findings through the diagnosis procedure. You may have to explain the results to the doctors occasionally.
After the findings are on the report, you can either hand it over to the patient or connect with their physician. The physician and a radiologist can collaborate to suggest an approach and the best treatment plan for the patient.
If you are looking online for ‘what is the work of a radiologist’, you will find these answers to your query. However, a radiologist can have many more responsibilities based on their degree, location, job experience, and others.
The salary of a radiologist can differ based on factors such as location, specialization, and experience. Here’s a general idea:
These salary ranges can vary depending on geographic location, the type of institution (private or public), and additional certifications.
Before you know how to study radiology, you must understand the skills and responsibilities of a radiologist. This knowledge will help you decide whether this would be the right profession for you in the long run. For this reason, we have compiled a list of common skills and responsibilities that a professional should have to understand how to become a radiologist.
It is no wonder that a radiologist must have the skill to pay attention to the details. You must use your attentiveness to study the patient’s condition, charts, and reports and take notes from the imaging. The human body is complex and requires excellent observation skills to understand minute details. Your sharp attention to detail will help you learn to become a radiologist.
One of the primary job requirements of radiologists is to consult with patients, identify their health concerns and understand the plan’s effectiveness. For these reasons, the radiologist must have outstanding analytical abilities to process all this information. Their analytical skill will help them decide on an efficient diagnosis for a health issue.
A radiologist must have sound technical knowledge of the equipment like an X-ray machine, MRI machine, CT scan machine, and more. You must develop this technical knowledge when studying the course and keep adding new information to avoid getting stuck at any stage. This knowledge will further your career and help you secure a bright future in the healthcare industry.
As a radiologist, you communicate daily with doctors, patients, and colleagues. You will receive instruction from the doctors, share a logical explanation of the diagnosis and consult with patients to inform them about the results. All these duties need excellent communication skills to avoid confusion, keep efficiency and provide better patient support. You must also be excellent in written communication because it teaches you how to become a radiologist.
The interpersonal skill of a radiologist decides how comfortable a patient may feel to approach you. You need to keep patience and listen to their problems. The way you carry yourself will also decide whether you can handle patients.
One of the top requirements for how to be a radiologist is to understand whether you can manage to work under pressure. Radiologists work in a high-paced environment where they handle the responsibilities of many patients daily. You need to keep your frustration in check and perform under pressure.
Your journey to becoming a radiologist starts with excelling in high school science courses, particularly biology, chemistry, and physics. Strong performance in mathematics is also essential, as medical imaging involves calculations and data interpretation.
After high school, you must complete a 4-year undergraduate degree in a science-related field such as biological sciences, chemistry, or physics.
To become a radiologist, you must earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. This requires another 4 years of medical school.
After medical school, you must complete a radiology residency, which lasts 4-5 years. Residency provides hands-on training in medical imaging techniques and their interpretation.
After completing residency, radiologists must pass a board certification exam from the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or an equivalent certifying body in their country.
Radiologists can further specialize in fields like:
To work as a radiologist, you must obtain a medical license from your country or state’s medical board.
Once you are licensed and certified, you can begin working as a radiologist in various settings such as hospitals, diagnostic imaging centers, private practices, or academic institutions.
If you want to be a licensed and professional radiologist in India, you must start taking preparations before your 10th exam at least. This will improve your chances of learning how to become a radiologist. But you don’t require an MBBS degree to become a radiologist. You can become a radiologist if you have 7 years of formal medical education, including UG and PG.
Radiology is thriving in India and making significant contributions to improve human life, and choosing it as a career can be rewarding too. If you focus on how to become a radiologist nowadays, the institutions always matter. You will learn every nook and hook of radiology through theoretical and practical knowledge. The coursework will ensure you get the best education and prepare you to be a professional radiologist. After PG courses, you can pursue several diplomas and certificate courses, such as Diploma in Radiology Therapy, Diploma in Radiography, etc. You can even opt for a higher degree, such as a PhD, to discover new things in radiology and refine the healthcare industry.
Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive into our guide on Career Advice.
To become a radiologist, one must undergo a significant amount of education and training. The journey begins with obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a science discipline, after which aspiring radiologists must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to gain entry into medical school. Once they have earned their medical degree, they will need to complete a four-year residency in radiology. For those looking to specialize further, a fellowship may be required. Additionally, obtaining board certification and state licensure is essential. This demanding pathway ensures that radiologists are thoroughly prepared to analyze medical images and diagnose various conditions, making it a fulfilling career for dedicated individuals in the healthcare sector.
It is not essential to have an MBBS degree to become a professional radiologist. You are eligible to become a licensed radiologist if you have completed at least 7 years of medical education. You also must have PCB (physics, chemistry, and biology) in your 10+2 syllabus and physics and chemistry throughout your UG and PG degrees. MBBS degree ensures you enter the MD or MS course for higher studies.
No. NEET is not mandatory to get admission into the radiology course. While some institutions admit students based on the merit list, others conduct entrance exams to secure admission into this course at the university. The qualifications of a radiologist in India require you to complete the UG course first and move on to the PG course. You can pursue many other diploma courses to gain knowledge and experience in this field.
You must take the years after the 12th to achieve eligibility for a radiologist. You can opt for many famous radiology courses such as –
1. BSc in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
2. BSc in Radiation Therapy and Oncology.
3. BSc in X-ray Technology.
4. Bachelor of Radiologic Technology.
5. BHS in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences.
Each course is special in a specific field and will propel your career as a radiologist.
You can become a radiologist after your 12th by pursuing seven years of formal medical education through UG and PG courses. You must select a specialization in your undergraduate course, such as a BSc in Medical Radiography and Imaging Technology, a BSc in Nuclear Medicine Technology, etc. After graduation, you can take a post-graduate course to further your knowledge in this field.
The estimated total pay for a Radiologist is ₹1,42,875 per month, with an average salary of ₹1,40,000 per month.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
