Radiologists interpret diagnostic images such as X-rays to diagnose patients.
After you graduate from medical school, you must complete a residency. Residencies are essentially paid internships. During this time you will specialize in an area of your choice. Residencies vary in length; a radiology residency, which involves learning interpret medical images, is on average four years long.
Courses
While completing your residency you will have to attend courses and lectures on radiology. These lectures will be given by experts in the field, perhaps even the medical staff at the hospital. The goal of these courses is to educate you in the field of radiology, as you will need extensive knowledge when you take the licensing exams.
Patients
While completing your residency you will start seeing patients, as you are a medical doctor by that point. You won't see them one on one but will practice radiology under the guidance of a supervisor. You will also be required to present patient cases to supervisors on a regular basis. You will be expected to know patient history, diagnostic testing completed, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Licensing
Radiologists are board certified, usually through the American Board of Radiology for medical doctors or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology for doctors of osteopathic medicine. The American Board of Radiology requires that applicants pass a qualifying exam. After that you will have to pass an oral exam to become licensed. Having certification makes you more desirable to prospective employees and patients.
Continuing Education
American Board of Radiology certification is valid for 10 years, during which you must complete 250 continuing education hours. The hours can be completed by attending courses that are approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. The goal of continuing education is to ensure that doctors keep up with the latest medical and legal advances in medicine so patients are receiving the minimum standard of care.
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