According to College Board, becoming a radiologist requires math, technical and communication skills. Below explains the formal qualifications to become a board certified radiologist.<\/p>\n
High school or new college students should focus on pre-medical classes that will fulfill admission prerequisites. Advanced math and science courses will prepare students for med school. Most colleges require similar pre-medical curriculum requirements for radiology degrees. This will likely include math classes, such as calculus and trigonometry, and science classes, such as microbiology and organic chemistry. All programs will require students to take advanced physics, especially those related to radiation. Health science classes, such as anatomy and physiology, as well as communication classes, such as business composition, are recommended.<\/p>\n
The official road to a career as a radiologist begins with a bachelor’s degree program. The goals of these programs are to develop competent medical imaging professionals and promote the skills needed to effectively practice in intense health care environments. The curriculum and teaching methods of radiology programs encourage students to develop the integrative and critical thinking skills needed to excel as a health care professional. Radiology students are expected to obtain the basic clinical competence needed for an entry-level medical imaging provider. Thus, they must demonstrate professionalism through consistent ethical behavior and clinical based decisions.<\/p>\n
The admission process to medical schools are very competitive, so most radiologists simultaneously apply for two to three. The most highly sought after programs are affiliated with hospitals or medical universities. The four-year doctoral program for radiology students starts with two years of classroom instruction that is followed by clinical rotations during the third and fourth years. Radiology classroom subjects include genetics, medical law, biochemistry, microbiology and pharmacology. During the final two years of clinical rotations, students will be exposed to specialty areas such as surgery, pediatrics and internal medicine. Students may have opportunities to learn unique fields of radiologic science.<\/p>\n
After graduating from med school, radiology doctors enter their field of medicine through a residency program. Radiologists typically spend their first year in an internship practicing general medicine. Afterwards, they spend four more years working and learning under the supervision of veteran radiologists. After the residency is complete, all medical doctors must pass the national licensing examination, but every state will have additional requirements. The American Board of Radiology mandates that all doctors pass their board exam within six years of completing residency. Once successful, the new physician will become a board-certified radiologist.<\/p>\n