To work as a radiologist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete a bachelor's degree;
• graduate from a medical school;
• complete an internship;
• pass a state licensing exam;
• complete a residency program in radiology;
• pass additional exams to become board certified; and
• complete an optional specialization fellowship.

Education after high school

To become a radiologist, you need to complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DOM) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and labs studying anatomy, biochemistry, advanced physics, and medicines. You also learn how to take medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of experienced physicians.

You need a bachelor's degree to get into medical school. While you do not need to be a pre-medicine or science major, these programs are good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and writing.

On-the-job training

While in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through different medical specialties. These include internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.

After medical school, you complete a residency program in radiology that lasts four to five years. Residents usually work in hospitals. The first year of your residence is a preliminary year, and remaining years will be focused on radiology. During this time you'll become familiar with different types of imaging and radiology, interact with patients, and learn how to diagnose and treat all types of diseases. After your residency, you'll take additional exams to become board certified. If you want to specialize in a specific type of radiology, you'll need an additional fellowship after residency. This takes one to two years.

Military training

The military provides advanced training for doctors. However, it does not provide the initial training to become a doctor. Scholarships for advanced medical training are available in return for a required period of military service.