Friday, July 22, 2011

Radiologist Education Requirements

Radiologists are medical doctors who use medical imaging techniques such as X-rays, MRI, and ultrasound to diagnose and treat health problems. Becoming a radiologist takes many years of education and training. The average radiologist has 13 years of educational training.


College


Becoming a radiologist means going to college. While some medical schools do not require a bachelor's degree for admittance, they do require a significant number of undergraduate science courses.


Medical School


Radiologists attend medical school for four years after completing their required undergraduate coursework. The medical school should be accredited.


Residency


Radiologists spend at least four years in residency after completing medical school and passing a licensing exam. Residency is when radiologists get learn specific aspects of radiology, such as radiation safety.


Fellowship


Some radiologists continue their education and training with a fellowship. A fellowship is one to two years of specialized training in a radiological subspecialty such as nuclear medicine.


Certification


After more than a decade of studying and training, radiologist take oral and written exams to become board certified. This ensures they have been properly educated and trained.


Salary


Radiologists' salaries vary depending on where they work, but they can expect to make about $200,000 each year the first few years on the job. After three years, radiologists annual salaries increase to more than $350,000 and can reach as high as $900,000 each year.

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