Among the many different areas of work in the medical profession is radiology. Radiologists are skilled and licensed medical professionals who specialize in X-rays, CT scans, medical imaging, ultrasounds, and MRIs to accurately diagnose and treat patients' health conditions. This blog details how to become a Radiologist for those interested in this work domain.
This Amity online Blog, will give you a step-by-step guide to becoming a Radiologist , their work , salary , education , and scope . Amity offers the best Online UG and PG Degrees Explore now (Limited Seats ).
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Step-By-Step Approach To Become A Radiologist
Here is a simple strategy to follow for becoming a radiologist after the 12th:
Step 1: Pursue a 10+2
The bare minimum qualification for becoming a radiologist is to complete your 10+2 with compulsory subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Students are required to have a strong foundation in science, which can be very helpful in clearing the entrance exams for radiology.
Step 2: Pursue a Bachelor’s
The next step is completing an undergraduate degree, i.e., Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). You would also need to clear various entrance tests to secure admission to a recognized medical school for pursuing an MBBS. Once you gain admission, pursue the degree for five-and-a-half years.
Step 3: Completion of Residency Program
Upon completing the undergraduate degree, students must enroll in a radiology residency program for 3 years. It is an internship that offers practical training to students in real-world hospital settings. In the first year of the residency program, students practice general medicine and surgery, and radiology in the remaining two years. The program allows students to gain sufficient experience before practicing as a radiologist full-time.
Step 4: Pursue a PG Degree
Students completing their Bachelor’s and residency program can choose to pursue a postgraduate degree, such as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) for 3 years, a Diplomat of National Board (DNB) for 3 years, and a Diploma in Medical Radiodiagnosis (DMRD) for 2 years. Clearance of competitive exams is required for gaining admission to any of these PG programs.
Step 5: Participate in a Fellowship Program
This allows you to learn more about specific specializations in radiology, such as breast imaging radiology, gastrointestinal radiology, diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, and cardiovascular radiology. Students can gain advanced skills and knowledge in any one of the subspecialties of radiology. The average duration of a fellowship program is around 1-2 years.
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Types Of Radiologists
As discussed above, students are allowed a choice from different subspecialties in radiology as per their academic interests and professional aspirations. Before deciding how to become a Radiologic Technologist, it helps to know the different types of radiologists that you can choose to become:
- Radiation Oncologists: They offer treatment for cancer using radiation therapy.
- Diagnostic Radiologists: They are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases using various imaging procedures, such as ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, X-rays, and radionuclides.
- Interventional Radiologists: They offer therapies to patients with non-cancerous health conditions using imaging procedures.
Role Of A Radiologist
Radiologists are skilled in the treatment of patients using medical imaging. This is known as radiology. They are responsible for performing the following routine duties:
- Interpreting medical images derived from the examination to arrive at accurate results for diagnosis and treatment of patients
- Find out the type of imaging required for a patient based on the specific health condition
- Oversee different imaging techniques
- Assess the medical history of the patient
- Offer medical advice to physicians and other specialists
- Perform medical imaging procedures
- Offer suggestions for treatment and recommend further testing, if required, based on imaging results
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Skills Required To Become A Radiologist
The following skills are required of radiologists to be able to perform their duties effectively:
- Good knowledge of human anatomy
- Ability to handle stress
- Analytical thinking ability
- Organizational ability
- Technical skills
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Dexterity
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How Long Does It Take To Become A Radiologist?
The academic journey up to being able to practice radiology professionally is rather comprehensive and intensive, including obtaining a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and residency and specialized training programs. All of these together may take up to a total of 13 years approximately.
Salary Potential Of A Radiologist
The average annual salary earned by a radiologist in India is estimated to be Rs 6,06,899 per annum approximately. This is subject to variation based on the qualifications, work experience, and location of the applicants.
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Summing Up
The field of radiology is a specialized one, involving professionals to do intensive study before being able to practice professionally. Moreover, existing radiologists need to be able to stay on top of their game by constantly upskilling themselves.
This is where online courses in Radiology come in handy. Carefully designed by Amity University Online, these programs are meant to offer convenience to the students, enabling them to study the subject at their own pace. It also facilitates gaining further skills and knowledge in the area for existing professionals, giving them sufficient time to handle study schedules with their work commitments.