How to Become a Radiologist in the UK in 7 Easy Steps

How to become a Radiologist in 7 steps after high school in the UK

A radiologist is someone who uses medical images, such as X-rays and MRIs, to help diagnose and treat various injuries or illnesses. The journey of becoming a radiologist might not be easy, but it'll definitely be worth the effort, as the fruit will be sweet at the end of the day.

Good news is that due to the ageing patient population, the demand for radiologists is increasing rapidly, so if you want to make a career out of it, it’s a great time now. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiologists are the 8th highest earners in the USA.

Wanna know more about radiology? Good, as in this informative blog, you will know how to become a radiologist in seven steps after finishing high school. We’ll cover pretty much everything relevant about it. So, without any further ado, let’s go!

What is a radiologist?

A radiologist is a medical doctor who has expertise in reading and understanding medical images, known as radiology. When patients get sick, the doctor might ask them to take several tests like X-rays, ultrasounds, CTs, MRIs, and more.

It is the duty of a radiologist to understand their condition and illnesses based on those test reports. From those reports, radiologists evaluate patients and make diagnoses. In various cases, they might sit with other doctors to determine your treatment plans.

How do become a radiologist?

Becoming a radiologist requires great patience and dedication, as the whole path might span about 13 to 15 years.

Learn the 7 step-by-step processes to be a radiologist:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree

 After high school, aim for a bachelor’s degree in a science major like chemistry, biology, or anatomy.

Your major in science isn’t necessary for your radiology degree, but it can be of immense help to you, and it will certainly increase your chances of admission to a top medical school.

2. Prepare for medical school

During university, you have to prepare for medical school and study for the MCAT or UCAT exam. You can sit for this exam anytime, but it’s wise to take the exam in the third year of your bachelor’s degree.

• MCAT: MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test. With a total seating time of 7 hours and 30 minutes, it’s a computer-based exam for medical students in the USA, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. The test has four sections; each scored from 118 to 132 and 528 in total. The standard score is above 500. 
• UCAT: UCAT stands for University Clinical Aptitude Test. It is a computer-based exam that takes about 2 hours to complete. It has four cognitive tests and one professional behaviour test
  
  

The first four sections each scored at 300 to 900, and the fifth one scored with bands 1 to 4. A score above 680 is considered the standard score. This test is widely accepted in the UK, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. 

3. Apply for medical school

Before your graduation, the first thing that you should do is to choose your medical school wisely. You will have to choose an allopathic or osteopathic school. Both schools will lead you to the path of being a radiologist.

4. Attend medical school

You must earn an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree to become a radiologist. It typically takes four years. The first two years focus on classroom learning, and the other two years involve clinical rotations.

During your MD journey, you should sit for the medical licence exam. In order to practice medicine, you have to earn this licence. Each country has its own exam system for evaluation. In the USA, it’s the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and in the UK, it’s the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA).

5. Complete your residency

Even after you get the licence, you still can’t practice on your own. You have to do an internship that lasts 4 to 5 years; it’s called residency in medical terms. Radiologists spend their first year practicing medicine and surgery, and in their remaining years, they focus on radiology.

During their residency, doctors can work in clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms. They get to interact with patients and get paid in their residency programme.

6. A fellowship programme

After your residency, you are eligible to practice. However, there is a fellowship programme that allows you to take additional training in a subspeciality of radiology. This fellowship programme is not mandatory, but it will definitely help you gain more proficiency in radiology.

More than 90% of radiologists take at least one fellowship programme, and many of them aim for two. These programmes take one or two years to complete.

Subspecialties include:

• Interventional Radiology
  
  

7. Obtain board certification

Although a certification in radiology is not compulsory, most employers ask for this certificate. This certification includes exams that cover topics like medicine and imaging modalities. This exam will assess your knowledge and practical skills.

After passing this exam, you will be board-certified and be qualified for jobs as a radiologist. In the USA, there are two certification boards of radiology: one is the American Board of Radiology, and the other one is the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology.

What are the specialities that a radiologist can pursue?

After the residency programme, many radiologists pursue fellowships in one of the subfields of radiology. Through this fellowship, doctors get advanced training in specific areas. These programmes take one to two years.

The common fellowship programmes are mentioned below:

• Abdominal Radiology: One year
• Breast Radiology: One year
• Cardiothoracic Radiology: One year
• Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology: Two years
• Musculoskeletal Radiology: One year
• Neuroradiology: One to two years
• Nuclear Radiology: One year
• Pain Medicine: One year
• Pediatric Radiology: One year
• Vascular And Interventional Radiology: One year

What does a radiologist do?

The prime thing that a radiologist does is interpret medical images to diagnose and determine the possible best treatment for patients. They use special tools for these kinds of tests. Their job also includes:

• Evaluate a patient’s medical history

How many years does it take to become a radiologist?

After finishing high school, it typically takes about 13 years to become a radiologist. This includes a bachelor’s degree of 4 years, an MD (Doctor of Medicine) of 4 years, and a residency of 5 years. The duration may extend if you take any fellowship programme; it will add one or two years.

How do you become a radiologist without MBBS?

To become a radiologist, MBBS is not mandatory. You can become a radiologist without going to medical school. If you have done your undergraduate and postgraduate courses in science major subjects, then after that, you can pursue an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree to become a radiologist. You can also pursue an MD degree after completing your bachelor’s degree.

How much does it cost to become a radiologist?

The cost of becoming a radiologist may vary by institute and country. However, in the USA, it might take about $20,000 to $57,000 a year, and in the UK, the amount can lie between £9,250 and £34,000 per annum.

You’ll have to bear this cost for your bachelor’s degree and your medical school degree. After that, you will be paid for your full-time jobs in residences and fellowships.

Career paths in radiology

A career in radiology is quite rewarding, as it will open the door to many opportunities. The salary range of various types of radiologists is given below.

Types of radiologists	Salary range in the UK per year
Breast imaging radiologist	£105,504 to £139,882
Radiologic Technologists	£27,055 to £53,755
Radiation Therapists	£50,952 to £81,138
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	£38,137 to £97,500
MRI Technologists	£36,195 to £51,500
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	£33,623 to £50,000
Nuclear Medicine Technologists	£33,000 to £53,000
Radiation oncologist	£88,364 to £119,133
Interventional radiologist	£46,000 to £97,000
Diagnostic radiologist	£46,000 to £97,000
Pediatric radiologist	£43,923 to £126,281

Final note

Well, it looks like we’ve hit the bottom. We hope that this blog about ‘how to become a radiologist’ was of immense help to you. Becoming a radiologist requires a great deal of dedication and patience, as it’s a long journey to immense success.

If you need any kind of help, the AHZ team is here 24/7 to assist you with an open heart. That’s about it, and we wish you nothing less than the best in your future endeavours!