A Career In Radiology

Are you looking for a career in radiology? First of all, let us look at who is a radiologist and what kind of job duties are they required to perform.

A radiologist is a physician who has undergone specialised training in using complex radiology equipment to obtain medical images. The training also involves interpreting the images in order to diagnose medical problems in the patient. In radiology, images are obtained with the use of X-rays such as CT, radiographs and fluoroscopy. Images can also be obtained by using radioactive substances, sound waves or MRI.

The job of every physician is to examine patients, get their medical histories, diagnose their medical problem and prescribe treatment. In the US, 1.2 percent of physicians are in the area of radiology. The job duties of radiologists also involve treating diseases by means of radiation and interventional radiology.

Just like all the other healthcare providers and physicians, radiologists must also have graduated from a reputable and accredited medical school. Obtaining an MD degree is essential. Moreover, he must have also passed a licensure examination, completed his internship of one year and completed four years of his medical education in radiology which is also known as residency.

Once a radiology student has completed his residency, they can sub-specialize into any areas of radiology by entering a fellowship program. Radiologists are board certified which means that they have passed the required examination and have been approved to practice in the radiology field.

Some of the sub-specialties for radiologist include:

- breast imaging
- cardiovascular radiology
- emergency radiology
- chest radiology
- head and neck radiology
- gastrointestinal radiology
- genitourinary radiology
- neuroradiology
- musculoskeletal radiology
- nuclear radiology
- interventional radiology
- radiation oncology

Radiology Salary

When starting a radiology career, you can expect to make at least $40,000 per year. With more experience, your radiology salary will also increase. When you become more skilled and gain solid references, you can earn a minimum of $80,000 per year. The salary of a radiologist will vary depending on their experience and education level. Their salary will also depend on the number of specialties they have practiced. On average, the hourly rate can be about $30. For overtime hours, you can expect to earn an additional $3 per hour. You will have more chances to increase your salary, if you have a higher degree. For example, if you have a bachelor's degree in radiologic sciences, you will earn more than someone who has obtained an associate degree in radiology.

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