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Career in radiology

Career in radiology

| Published on: Oct 13, 2021 Views: 1029


Do you want to see yourself as a radiology technologist? Then you can see this article for a complete guide.

In This article we are going to describe careers in radiology, courses in radiology, duration of courses, eligibility, scope in radiology, difference Between Radiology technicians and Radiologists, Who are radiology technicians n colleges, admission, salary, syllabus and much more…

Have you ever seen x-ray films or heard about MRI and CT scans?

Now we have to understand What is the meaning of Radiology?

Radiology - Radiology is a branch of science in the medical field. Which uses medical Radio Imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the bodies of animals and humans.  

A radiographer performs radiographic tests of patients with the help of an X-ray to diagnose the exact medical condition of the patient.

Other than X-ray, a radiographer also performs CT scans and MRI for producing images for proper diagnosis.

The radiology field is divided into 2 types which are diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology.

Now we have to understand Diagnostic Radiology.

Diagnostic Radiology is the specialization of medicine that uses the film of x-ray, CT (Computed Tomography), and MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to diagnose the disease of a patient.

Interventional Radiology is another medical specialty that also uses imaging techniques (X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound) for the detection or treatment of certain diseases. Patients can be treated and diagnosed using minimally invasive procedures.

Scope in radiology

The need for educated and professional radiology technologists is in the field of hospitals, clinics, Diagnostic centres, Cancer Hospitals etc..

Physician’s offices are increasing continuously which has increased the scope of Radiology technologist jobs. The field of radiography will be continued to show higher than average job growth into the future. After completing your degree in the radiology field, you will become Radiologist (MD), Radiology Technologists/ Radiographer, Radiology Technicians, Ultrasound Technician/ Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, MRI Technician, CT Technologist/ CT Scan Technologist.

Techniques Used in Radiology

To determine or diagnose the diseases within the human body, Radiologists use a variety of imaging techniques that include X-ray radiography, ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT), and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to diagnose disease.

Courses & Duration

You can pursue diploma courses, bachelors courses, masters courses, and certification courses in the field of radiology. You can also apply for UG courses.

The courses offered in radiology are as follow:

Certificate Courses:

  • Certificate in Radiography
  • Certificate in Radiology Assistant
  • Certificate in Radiography Diagnostic
  • Certificate in X-Ray
  • Certificate in Ct Scan
  • Certificate in MRI Scan

Diploma Courses in Radiology – 2 years

  • Diploma in Radiography and Radiotherapy
  • Diploma in Radio-diagnostic Technology
  • Diploma In X-Ray Technology

Bachelors Courses in Radiology – 3 years

  • B.Sc in  Radio  Imaging Technology (Radiographer)
  • B.Sc (Hons.) in Medical Radiotherapy Technology

Masters Courses in Radiology – 2 years

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Radiotherapy Technology
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Radio-diagnosis and Imaging Sciences
  • Post Graduate Diploma in X-ray Radiography and Ultra-sonography

Difference between Radiology Technician and Radiologist?

Radiology Technician – Radiology technicians are those who perform X-ray, Ct scans,s, and MRI scans to diagnose the disease in the human body under Radiologists. Students who complete their education in B.Sc radio Imaging technology or Diploma in Radio imaging technology Gets the designation as a radiology technician.

Radiologist - Radiologists are medical doctors, who are specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases & injuries by using radiology procedures (exams/tests) for example X-rays, computed tomography (CT), MRI Scan and ultrasound, etc...

How to Become a Radiologist?

  • The career of Radiologists begins with earning a bachelor’s degree. After graduating from medical school, you are provided with the degree of medical officer. Now, you can apply for a medical license and will be considered as a physician.
  • a physician also must have completed a minimum of three years of a radiology residency to become a Radiologists.
  • A state license is very important for Radiologists. The license will be provided after the two-part examination covering medicine, anatomy, imaging modalities, and physics.

How to become a Radiology Technician?

To become a radiographer or a radiology technician one should complete 12th with science (PCB or PCM), Some colleges or universities provide Bsc courses on PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)  or some provides on the basis of (Physics, Chemistry, Math)

For Diploma one should have cleared 10th or 12th, the percentage can vary from college to college.

Radiology can be done in the following specializations:

  • Breast-imaging or mammography
  • Diagnostic radiology
  • Genitourinary radiology
  • Cardiovascular radiologist
  • Emergency radiology
  • Radiation oncology
  • Gastrointestinal radiology
  • Pediatric radiology

A good Radiologists or Radiology Technician must be skilled in the following areas:

  • A complete understanding of medical and human anatomy that relates to human health.
  • Basic computer skills is required is very much important.
  • Excellent vision and analytical skills are required.
  • One must have the proper knowledge and a solid background in Biology, Physiology and Anatomy and Physics and chemistry.

Jobs & Career Opportunities

A career working as a radiology technologist is an excellent choice.

It is a demanding profession not only in India but also overseas.

  • The career and job opportunities in the field of radiography are very extensive. The demand for radiographers has been increased recently with the development in technologies, the medical science created a new and wide scope in radiology. In India, radiographers can work both in private & government hospitals. Many numbers of jobs are available on part-time and full-time work also.
  •  After completing your course you will become a radiographer. The radiographers perform X-rays, MRIs, CTs, etc... The employment opportunity for radiographers is vast, both within the country and overseas. Radiographers are constantly in demand in various health centers like nursing homes, hospitals, diagnostic centers as well as super-specialty hospitals. The radiology course is expanding too much in the area of medicine. Due to advancements in computer technology, this field gets the advantage as it is closely linked to modern imaging.
  • You are provided with the job as per your specialization, experience, and skills. There are several career paths available in the radiology field.

Job Profile in Radiography:

  • Radiology Technician
  • Radiology Assistant
  • Radiologist
  • Radiology Technologist/Radiographer
  • Radiology Nurse
  • Ultrasound Technician / Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
  • MRI Technician
  • CT Tech / CT Scan Technologist

Common working places where Radiologist can work:

  • Government Hospitals
  • Private Hospitals
  • Public Health Center
  • Diagnostic Labs
  • Nursing Homes

Salary of Radiologist

  • A radiologist will get the salary depending upon their job title. The average pay of a Radiologist is $ 79,037 per year. In India, an average salary of Rs 545,630 per year has been paid to the Physician / Doctor, Radiologist.
  • A physician/Doctor/Radiologists should not think about salary, their salary is quite good as compared to other professions.

Salary of Radiology technician or Radiographer

The average salary for a Radiology Technician is ₹343,741

Book for preparation of Radiology courses

You can refer to these books for the preparation of radiology courses. The best-recommended books are listed here:

  • Radiology at a glance – Rajat Chowdhury
  • Clinical Guide to Sonography – Charlotte Henningsen
  • Obstetric Ultrasound – Trish Chudleigh
  • Core Radiology by Jacob Mandell
  • Radiology of the urinary system (The Little, Brown Library of radiology) by Milton Elkin
  • Bontrager’s Handbook of Radiographic Positioning and Techniques – Kenneth L.Bontrager
  • Radiography PREP Program Review and Exam Preparation, Seventh Edition – D.A. Saia

Top colleges of India that offer medical education in Radiology are listed here:

  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences( AIIMS)
  • Armed Forces Medical College, Pune (AFMC)
  • Christian Medical College, Vellore
  • Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Pondicherry (JIPMER)
  • Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi
  • Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi

Other Top Private colleges which are providing Radio Imaging Technology Course

Career in radiology

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