Radiologists are board-certified doctors.
A radiologist is a board-certified doctor who diagnoses diseases from images created by instruments such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. A radiology technician, on the other hand, is a licensed professional who uses diagnostic instruments to capture internal images of the human body.
Education
Radiology technicians earn a certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree in radiological science from a program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Radiologists earn an undergraduate degree and a Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.).
Duties
Radiology technicians perform diagnostic imaging examinations and administer radiation treatments. Radiologists, meanwhile, diagnose diseases through the interpretation of medical images.
Compensation
In July 2010, radiologists in the United States made between $101,278 to $294,791 a year, according to PayScale. The average hourly pay for a radiology technician in 2010 was $14 to $24.
Time Frame
The time it takes to become a radiologist is triple that of a radiology technician. Future radiologists complete at least 13 years of schooling (four years of undergraduate work, four years of medical school, four years of residency, and one-year radiology fellowship or practice). An individual can become a radiology technician in two to four years.
Examination
As part of state licensing requirements, Most radiology technician candidates must pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists test. As of July 2010, radiology residents are required to pass a three-part board licensing exam that includes physics, written and oral elements. At the end of their residency, a certification exam is completed. The radiologist exams are administered by the American Board of Radiology.
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