Radiologists are physicians who specialize in radiology after either becoming a MD or OD. They specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases through medical imaging. Radiologists often get a better work-life balance than other medical professions, and earn high salaries averaging $353, 960 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Whether you’re still mapping out your career in medicine, are a physician prepping for their specialty certification or looking for information on continuing education and maintaining your certification, this is the guide for you!
How do I become a licensed radiologist?
After high school, it takes approximately 13 years of training to become a radiologist. Radiologists are doctors, so to start the process of becoming a radiologist, you first need to become a physician. This can be done by graduating college with a bachelor’s degree, then passing the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). You then need to graduate from an accredited medical school.
As a prospective physician, you then need to pass a licensing exam. The licensing exam that they need to take depends on the kind of school they graduated from- MDs need to take the United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE), while ODs can take either the USMLE or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure Exam (COMLEX-USA).
The physician then needs to complete a year of American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited internship, then at least four years of graduate residency training in radiology.
Prospective radiologists then need to get certified by the American Board of Radiology if they are an MD or by the American Osteopathic College of Radiology if they are an OD in order to practice.
How do I get certified by the American Board of Radiology?
To become a radiologist, you need to be board certified. If you’re an MD or are planning to become an MD, you’ll need to get board certification from the American Board of Radiology (ABR).
You’ll need to take two exams to get initial certification in diagnostic radiology by the ABR.
The Qualifying (Core) Exam is offered after 36 months of diagnostic radiology training. It’s designed to evaluate a candidate’s core knowledge and clinical judgment across practice domains of diagnostic radiology and integrated interventional radiology. The exam is computerized and takes place over three days.
The Certifying Exam can be taken approximately 15 months after completion of diagnostic radiology residency, and must be taken after passing the Qualifying Exam. The exam emphasizes synthesis of information, differential diagnosis, and patient management. The exam consists of four modules- essentials of diagnostic radiology and an additional three modules in clinical practice of your choice. The exam is seven and a half hours long and consists of four modules, which are described below.
How to get certified by the American Osteopathic College of Radiology
If you’re an OD, you’ll need to get certified by the American Osteopathic College of Radiology to become a radiologist.
To get certified by the AOCR, you’ll need to take a written and an oral exam.
To take the written exam, candidates must be in the second year of a four year AOA or ACGME approved training program in diagnostic radiology, which includes 700 hours of nuclear medicine training. The exam consists of a Physics section, which is made up of 50 multiple choice questions and a Diagnostic Imaging section, which is made up of 250 multiple choice questions.
To take the oral exam, candidates must first pass the Combined Written Examination- Physics and Diagnostic Imaging Exam, and be in their fourth and final year of training, or at any examination following training.
What are continuing education requirements for radiologists?
To stay certified, you will need to meet continuing education (CE) requirements. CE requirements vary by state.
For continuing certification, the American Board of Radiology requires a minimum of 75 AMA Category 1 CME credits every three years. It also requires passing the most recent Online Longitudinal Assessment performance evaluation or having passed a Continuing Certification Exam in the previous five years. The ABR also requires radiologists to complete at least one Practice Quality Improvement Project or Participatory Quality Improvement Activity every three years.
To stay certified, the AOCR requires diplomates to have active licensure, earn at least 60 specialty CME credits per three year AOA CME cycle, and complete 15 Self Assessment modules. They must also complete an Osteopathic Continuous Certification Practice Performance Assessment (PPA) every three year CME cycle. This can be done by completing an Attestation Form on the AOA Physician Portal or by submitting a PPA using patient data to demonstrate that they can assess the quality of radiological care they provide compared to peers and national benchmarks, then apply recommendations to improve that radiological care using follow-up assessments.
How much do radiologists typically earn?
Radiologists are some of the best paid physician specialties, according to Medscape’s 2023 Compensation Report. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that radiologists earned a mean annual wage of $353, 960 in May 2023. It shows Delaware, Hawaii and Maine as the top paying states for radiologists.
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This article was written by Liliana French