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A Radiologist is a specialist doctor who uses various imaging and diagnostic machinery and techniques such as X-ray, MRI, CT Scan, ultrasound, angiography etc to diagnose human ailment and guide their treatment. Career as a Radiologist has witnessed exponential growth over the years. It is one of the fastest growing careers along with a lucrative salary package. According to a survey by IBEF, the scope for radiologists is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2020 to 2027 and it is also expected that India will see a significant growth in the radiology sector by 2026 with an ever evolving medical field.
In order to become a Radiologist, aspiring students must clear class 12th board exam with science stream. Candidates for undergraduate degree can pursue courses in relevant streams such as Biology, Medical Lab technology, Radiography, Medical Imaging Technology, Biochemistry and many more. It will be very beneficial for the candidates to pursue a masters degree with any of the relevant specializations in the area where the candidate wants to pursue the career as a Radiologist.
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Radiologist Qualifications
To pursue a career as a radiologist, there are several courses available from which the candidate can choose to pursue the career. Listed below are a few of the courses that can be taken up to become a Radiologist.
- Medical Lab Technology: This is one of the courses which has seen remarkable growth in the field of radiology. This course basically deals with practicing, diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases with the use of lab tests.
- They identify any abnormalities with the sample collected by them. After pursuing a course in Medical Lab technology candidates can see a good growth as technical officers, laboratory managers, cyto technologists etc.
- This area deals with diagnostic molecular biology, clinical endocrinology & toxicology, diagnostic cytology and many more.
- Medical Imaging Technology: Medical Imaging Technology deals with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of all the advanced imaging modalities and their associated intricacies .
- They basically capture the image of bones, organs, tissues etc for diagnosis of various kinds of ailments in the human body.
- This course deals with pathology, general radiography, intervention in diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine etc. This course covers CT scan, PET Scan, radiography, echography, MRI Scan, Ultrasound etc.
- Radiography: This course provides the knowledge for diagnosis of diseases in the internal organs which are not visible.
- This course also deals with handling of equipment and apart from all this it also covers therapeutic aspects such as treating cancer and tumors with radiation.
- Radiography is used in X-Ray, fluoroscopy, Sonography, Angiography, MRI Scan, CT scan and many more.
- There are various diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses available which teach courses related to Radiography such as Diploma in radiography, B.Sc in radiography, etc.
- Biochemistry: This branch of Science deals with the study of chemical processes in living organisms.
- This helps in understanding the structure of human anatomy and also covers cellular processes, details about proteins, lipids, and biomolecules which are very useful for the functioning of the body of any living organism. Some of the courses related to Biochemistry are B.Sc in Biochemistry, M.Sc in Biochemistry, MD biochemistry, M.Sc Medical Biochemistry etc.
- Biology: Biology is the study of life and living organisms. Through biology one can understand the process and evolution of human beings, genetics, cell biology, reproduction process, life sustaining processes and elements, disorders, diseases, treatments etc.
- Through this course candidates can pursue a course to become a radiologist with a specialization in x-ray technology, Anaesthesia technology, Radiography, Physiotherapy etc.
Top Radiology Colleges
India is home to more than 200 colleges offering undergraduate or other related courses to Radiology. There are more than 141 private medical colleges in India offering postgraduate courses. Tabulated below are some of the top colleges in India for your reference.
| Name of the Colleges | Duration | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences | 3 years | 12,395 |
| Delhi University | 3 years | 7810 |
| KLE University | 3 years | 71,000 |
| Parul university | 3 years | 78,000 |
| Vinayaka Missions University | 3 years | 75,700 |
| Maharaja Agrasen Medical college | 3 years | 26,300 |
| National Institute of Mental health and Neuro Sciences | 3 years | 22,500 |
Radiologist Skills
Radiologists are required to possess some excellent soft as well as technical skills to understand and operate radiological equipment such as CT scanner, X-ray machines, MRI Scanners etc. These machines are used to diagnose a number of ailments.
Tabulated below are some of the top essential skills that are required to become a successful Radiologist.
| Strong analytical mind | Knowledge of radiological machinery | Knowledge of human anatomy |
| Good communication skills | Stress management | Organizational abilities |
Radiologist Salary
According to Ambitionbox, the average salary of a radiologist is around INR 12 LPA. The average monthly salary of a radiologist ranges between INR 85,335 - 87,568. There are a number of other factors determining the salary of a radiologist which includes experience, knowledge, skills, designation, location, company etc.
A candidate with minimum of 4- 5 years of experience can expect a salary of around INR 17.8 LPA while the highest salary of a Radiologist can go on to INR 51 LPA.. Tabulated below is the salary of a Radiologist based on the company for your better reference. Read More: Salary of a Radiologist
| Name of the company | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Apollo Hospitals | 18.3 L |
| AIIMS | 36 L |
| Fortis Healthcare | 15.7 L |
| Medical College, Kolkata | 18.7 L |
| Government Medical College | 21 L |
| St.Stephens Hospital | 9.50 L |
Radiologist Qualifications: FAQs
Ques. Who is a Radiologist?
Ans. A Radiologist is a skilled professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases with the help of medical imaging procedures such as X-Ray, CT SCan, MRI scan, PET Scan, ultrasound etc.
Ques. What are the options after completing a course to become a Radiologist?
Ans. The career options after completing a course to become a Radiologist are:
- Radiologist
- Radiology Technician
- Radiology Nurse
- MRI technician
- Ultrasound Technician
Ques. What is the salary of a Radiologist after completing a Master's?
Ans. After completion of master’s course, The salary of a Radiologist after completing post-graduation is around INR 15 LPA.
Ques. What are the Skills required to be a Radiologist?
Ans. To become a Radiologist, the candidate must possess following skills:
- Communication skills
- Stress management
- Knowledge of machinery
- Knowledge of human anatomy
Ques. What are the certificate courses required to be a Radiologist?
Ans. The certificate courses required to be a Radiologist are:
- Visualizing the Living body: Diagnostic Imaging
- MRI Fundamentals
- Anatomy of the Chest, neck, Abdomen and Pelvis
- Biomedical visualization
Ques. What is the highest salary of a Radiologist?
Ans. According to Ambitionbox, The highest salary of a Radiologist can go up to INR 51 LPA.
Ques. How many semesters are there in M.Sc Radiology?
Ans. M.Sc Radiology is a 2-year postgraduate course divided into 4 semesters.
Ques. What entrance should a Radiologist take?
Ans. To pursue a course of a radiologist, candidates might have to appear for the entrance exam. Candidates can take up the following test:
- AIIMS
- JNU-CEEB
- DUET
- IPU CET
Ques. Is Radiologist a good job?
Ans. Yes, being a Radiologist is a great career. The career has seen tremendous growth in the recent past and is one of the fastest growing careers with a good salary.
Ques. Does Radiologist have a scope in the Government sector?
Ans. Yes, Radiologist has a scope in the government sector. Vacancies are released in a timely manner by various government hospitals such as PGI, AIIMS, and other government hospitals. A good salary package is offered to them with a lot of monetary benefits etc.
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