What is a radiologist?
A radiologist is a doctor who interprets the findings of medical imaging tests done by a radiological technician in a clinic or hospital. A radiologist will check the results of an X-ray scan. The radiologist will notify the primary caregiver of the optimal treatment strategy after reviewing the results of the imaging tests. Radiologists, for example, work in this sector and use radiation to treat disorders like cancer.
Radiologists are medical professionals with a license to practice. They may specialize in a particular discipline of radiology, such as breast radiology, emergency radiology, or cardiology.
Steps to become a licensed radiologist
To work as a radiologist, you must have a medical degree. As a result, a bachelor’s degree must require to pursue a career in radiography. The student will next need to attend medical school, followed by a medical residency, to put what they’ve learned into practice. A fellowship in a radiology subspecialty may be available as an alternative. After high school graduation, the entire training path to full license in radiography takes 13 to 15 years.
Earn a Bachelor degree
Students who want to pursue a career as a doctor must first obtain a bachelor’s degree. They must take courses like physics, biology, general and organic chemistry, and English as prerequisites for medical school. Medical school applicants must take the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, during their undergraduate years.
An allopathic medical school prepares future doctors to treat medical issues with drugs and surgery.
Medical school
An M.D. degree is a must for radiologists. Medical school is a four-year program. Students will be dealing with human cadavers in anatomy class.
Following the academic component of medical school, the student will begin the clinical rotations portion of their curriculum. The student will be undertaking hands-on work under experienced doctors in all sub-fields of medicine, such as surgery, internal medicine, osteopathy, and pediatrics, throughout medical school. They will work at both hospitals and clinics, with both in-patients and out-patients.
Internship & residency
The majority of radiologists continue their education after completing their four-year residency program. They proceed on to a fellowship program, which allows them to specialize in a particular area of radiology. These fellowship programs are structured similarly to residencies, including lectures and training and hands-on work with patients to apply what they’ve learned. Fellowships are typically for a year or two. Approximately 90% of all radiologists participate in at least one fellowship program. Some people participate in two programs.
License and certifications
The radiologist will be able to obtain full state licensure to practice in their area at this stage. Most radiologists will also choose to take radiology board certification examinations, as most employers will require board certification of their radiologists. M.D.s and state licenses are a must for board-certified radiologists. They must have finished their residency and passed the written and oral tests administered by the board. After a radiologist has earned their primary radiology certification and completed a fellowship, they can take an extra exam to get certification in radiological specialties.
