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To become a radiologist in the United States, you must complete medical school, pass required licensing exams, finish a radiology residency, and earn board certification.
The steps below explain the full training pathway from college to independent clinical practice.
To become a radiologist, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree and complete the prerequisite coursework required by US medical schools. Most applicants take courses such as:
The most common majors for students who aspire to get into medical school are:
Your major doesn’t necessarily give you an advantage, but science/math majors can provide helpful information to carry into your medical degree. Completing your prerequisite courses is the most important factor at this stage.
To apply to most MD and DO programs in the US, you must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized exam that tests scientific knowledge, critical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
A strong MCAT score improves your chances of getting into medical school and helps you qualify for more competitive programs.
After completing your undergraduate degree and MCAT, you must get into medical school and earn either an MD or DO degree.
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Medical school in the US typically lasts four years, and during that time, you will complete a broad medical curriculum and gain clinical experience through rotations. You will not officially specialize in radiology during medical school, but you can prepare for the field by:
To practice medicine in the US, you must pass national licensing exams during medical school and residency.
Students typically take:
Passing these exams is essential for medical licensure and residency progression.
After graduating from medical school, you must complete a one-year internship, also called the PGY-1 year. Most future radiologists complete this year in internal medicine, general surgery, or transitional year programs.
This year builds foundational clinical skills before radiology residency begins.
After your internship year, you must complete a Diagnostic Radiology (DR) residency, which typically lasts four years. During residency, you will train in major imaging modalities such as:
You will also learn how to interpret imaging studies, write radiology reports, and collaborate with other physicians to guide diagnosis and treatment planning.
Radiology residency is demanding because it requires both clinical responsibility and high-volume study outside of work hours.
After residency, many radiologists complete a one-year fellowship to specialize in a specific area of radiology. Common radiology subspecialties include:
Some radiologists also pursue additional specialized training in interventional radiology through dedicated residency pathways.
Fellowship training can improve job opportunities, earning potential, and clinical expertise.
Most radiologists pursue board certification through the American Board of Radiology (ABR). ABR certification typically involves passing major exams, such as:
Board certification helps demonstrate clinical competency and is often required or strongly preferred by hospitals and employers.
After entering practice, radiologists must continue learning to stay current with advances in imaging technology, diagnostic standards, and patient safety guidelines.
Radiologists typically complete continuing medical education (CME) through conferences, online CME courses, professional training workshops, and/or other certification activities.
Ongoing education ensures radiologists remain effective, compliant, and up to date throughout their careers.
As with any medical specialty, the road to becoming a radiologist requires years of hard work and dedication. Radiology residency programs are particularly challenging: they require a lot of reading outside regular work hours.
Radiology residencies can be rather competitive to get into. However, finding work as a radiologist once you’ve completed your residency should be quite easy. The U.S. faces a shortage of radiologists, and many positions have recently opened up.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiologists make an average annual salary of $359,820.
How much a radiologist makes varies based on education, certifications, geography, and work experience. Radiologists who complete a fellowship typically make more.
It typically takes 13 years to become a radiologist, including four years of undergraduate education, four years of medical school, one internship year, and four years of diagnostic radiology residency.
If you choose to complete a fellowship to subspecialize, the process usually takes 14 to 15 years total, depending on the length of your fellowship training. Radiology takes longer than some specialties because it requires extensive imaging-focused residency training and often includes optional advanced subspecialty education.
A radiologist diagnoses and helps manage medical conditions by interpreting imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and nuclear medicine scans. Radiologists provide detailed findings that help other doctors confirm diagnoses, plan treatments, and monitor disease progression.
Radiologists use medical imaging to detect abnormalities inside the body without surgery. They identify issues such as fractures, tumors, infections, organ damage, and internal bleeding, and they often compare imaging over time to evaluate whether a treatment is working.
Some radiologists specialize in interventional radiology, where they perform minimally invasive procedures using imaging guidance. These procedures can include biopsies, catheter placements, stent insertions, and treatments for blocked blood vessels or certain cancers.
The three major radiology career paths are Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, and Radiation Oncology. Each specialty plays a different role in patient care, ranging from interpreting imaging studies to performing minimally invasive procedures or treating cancer with radiation therapy.
Below, we’ll break down their responsibilities and daily activities in more detail.
Yes, radiology residencies are competitive in the US. In the 2025 NRMP Match, 703 U.S. MD seniors applied to Diagnostic Radiology, but only 147 matched into 151 available positions, showing that demand significantly exceeds available spots.
Diagnostic Radiology also filled 97.4% of positions, which reflects strong competition for residency placement. Interventional Radiology is also highly competitive. In the 2025 NRMP Match, 202 U.S. MD seniors applied for 52 integrated IR positions, and the specialty filled 100% of spots.
Yes, becoming a radiologist can be worth it if you enjoy diagnostic problem-solving, imaging technology, and collaborative patient care.
Although it takes about 13 to 15 years of education and training, radiology offers strong long-term earning potential, job stability, and the ability to impact patient outcomes through accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
To become a radiologist in the US, you must earn a bachelor’s degree, graduate from medical school with an MD or DO, pass required licensing exams (USMLE or COMLEX), and complete a radiology residency.
Many radiologists also complete a fellowship to subspecialize in areas such as neuroradiology, musculoskeletal radiology, pediatric radiology, or breast imaging.
Yes, you must go to medical school to become a radiologist. Radiologists are licensed physicians, so they must complete an MD or DO degree before entering radiology residency training.
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Physician, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
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