Career in Radiology: Scope, Courses, Job Roles and Salary

Have you seen images of X-rays? or heard about MRI?

Yes! They are all part of radiology technology. These medical tools help us see inside the human body, enabling doctors to diagnose and treat various conditions without invasive procedures. Let’s dive deeper and understand radiology in detail.

Radiology is a field of medical science that uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases inside the human body.

Radiology plays a crucial role in the modern healthcare system, helping doctors understand what is happening inside a patient without the need for an invasive procedures.

Radiologists are medical professionals who are experts in interpreting images from technologies like X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and Ultrasounds.

Radiologists work closely with other doctors to provide accurate diagnoses and sometimes even perform treatments using imaging guidance.

To pursue a career in radiology, students must complete 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects.

Radiology is not just about using machines; it also requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate findings effectively.

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Career Scope

The need of educated and professional radiology technologists in Hospitals, Clinics, and Nursing Homes are increasing continuously.

The field of radiography will be continued to show higher than average job growth into the future.

After completing your degree in this field you will become Radiologist (MD), Radiology Technologists/ Radiographer, Radiology Technicians, Ultrasound Technician/ Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, MRI Technician, CT Tech/ CAT Scan Technologist/ CT Scan Technologist.

This career is ideal for those who are fascinated by medical science and technology and want to contribute to patient care in a meaningful way.

A radiographer produces radiography of patients with the help of X-ray to find the exact medical condition of the patient. In addition with X-ray, a radiographer also considers CT scans, ultrasounds and MRI for producing radiography.

Radiology field is broadly divided into two areas namely diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology.

Diagnostic Radiology is the specialization of medicine that uses the images of X-Ray and other imaging techniques to diagnose the disease and injury of patient.

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

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Techniques Used in Radiology

To determine or discover the diseases within the human body, a radiologists uses a variety of imaging techniques that include X-ray radiography, ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT), Nuclear medicine such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to diagnose and treat the diseases.

How can i Become Radiologist in India

If you are wondering how to become a radiologist in India, then here is a step by step guide for you:

• First complete 10+2 with Science Stream having Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English as a core subjects.
• Next step is to qualify NEET UG exam with a good score (ideally 600+). A good rank in NEET UG helps in securing admission in a good medical college.
• To become a radiologist, candidates have to study medicine (MBBS) as a UG courses.
• Enroll in a MBBS course, which takes 5.5 years (including a 1-year internship).
• Clear a NEET PG exam for pursuing postgraduate studies in Medicine.
• Enroll in MD Radiology or DNB Radiology programs
• After completing MD/DNB, you can pursue fellowships or a DM (Doctorate in Medicine) in advanced fields like Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology etc.
• Register with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or your state medical council to practice as a radiologist.

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Radiology Courses in India

Candidates interested in this field can pursue Radiology courses at diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The course curriculum covers theoretical knowledge in medical science along with practical in advanced imaging technology.

Students who have passed class 12th with Science subjects (PCB) are eligible to pursue UG course in radiology. Below are the complete details of popular courses in the Radiology field.

Certificate Courses

• Certificate in Radiography
• Certificate in Radiology Assistant
• Certificate in Radiography Diagnostic

Diploma Courses

• Diploma in Radiography and Radiotherapy (2 years)
• Diploma in Radio-diagnostic Technology (2 years)

Bachelor’s Courses

• B.Sc in Radiography or Radiology (3 years)
• B.Sc in Medical Imaging Technology (3 years)
• MBBS (5.5 years)

Master’s Courses

• MD in Radiology or Radio-Diagnosis (3 years)
• DNB in Radiology (Diplomate of National Board) (3 years)
• M.Sc. in Medical Imaging Technology (3 years)

PG Diploma Courses in Radiology

• 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

Radiology  Specializations

Candidates seeking for subspecialization in radiology can go for the below mentioned courses:

DM in Interventional Radiology

The course duration is 3 year’s and candidates must have completed MD in Radiology. Below are the fellowships available:

• Neuroradiology
• Musculoskeletal Radiology
• Pediatric Radiology
• Cardiovascular Radiology

Entrance Exams and Admission Process

The admission in diploma, UG and PG radiology courses is done on the basis of entrance exams. For diploma programs candidates have to appear in diploma entrance exams.

For admission to UG courses like B.Sc Radiology or similar programmes candidates have to appear in CUET UG 2025 exam.

For MBBS and PG Medicine programs, candidates have to qualify NEET UG 2025 and NEET PG exams.

Candidates must qualify these entrance exams with a good score and appear in the counselling process for admission to top medical colleges offering radiology courses.

Key Skills required for a Radiologists

A good radiologists must be skilled in the following areas:

• A complete understanding of medical and human anatomy that relates human health.
• Strong technical skills is required as they have to work on computer.
• Excellent vision and analytical skills are required.
• One must have interest and solid background in Biology, Physiology and Anatomy.

Top Colleges to Pursue Radiology Courses in India

Here is the list of top medical institution for pursuing radiology courses in India:

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
2. Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
3. Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai
4. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
5. Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
6. Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
7. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh
8. Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal
9. King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow
10. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai

Jobs & Career Opportunities

Working as a radiologist can be a smart career choice!

Yes, you heard it right! this is one of the highly rewarding career field in medicine. The career and job opportunities available for radiography professionals are very extensive.

The demand of radiographers has been continuously on the rise. In the last few decades, with the advancement of radiology technologies the medical science has created a new and wide scope in this field.

In India, the radiographers can work both in private as well in government settings. Professional can practice privately and offer consultancy services to the clinics, nursing homes, NGO’s and hospitals.

After completing your course you will become a radiographer. The radiographers perform the ultrasound test which is known as sonography. The employment prospects for radiographers are vast, both within the country and in overseas.

Radiographers are constantly in demand in various health centres like nursing homes, hospitals, diagnostic centres as well as super-specialty hospitals.

Radiology field is expanding vastly in the area of medicine. Due to advances in computer technology, this field gets the advantage as it is closely linked to modern imaging.

Candidates are offered jobs or roles as per their specialization, experience and skills. The career paths and job profile in the radiology field are mentioned below.

Job Profile in Radiology

• Radiology Technician
• Radiology Assistant
• Radiologist
• Radiology Technologist/Radiographer
• Radiology Nurse
• Ultrasound Technician / Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
• MRI Technician
• CT Tech / CAT Scan Technologist / CT Scan Technologist
• Diagnostic Radiologist
• Radiology Technician/Technologist
• MRI Technologist
• CT Scan Specialist
• Ultrasound Technician (Sonographer)
• Nuclear Medicine Specialist
• Pediatric Radiologist
• Musculoskeletal Radiologist
• Cardiovascular Radiologist

Common working places where radiologist can work:

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

Salary

How much does a radiologist make?

The salary of a Radiologist largely depends on the factors like experience, location, type of employment and their working Organization. Graduates have excellent earning potential and ample opportunities for career advancement.

An entry level radiologist can start his career with INR 5 to 8 lakhs per annum. Candidates with 4-5 years of experience and further specialization, such as in interventional radiology or neuro-radiology, salaries can increase to ₹15 lakh to ₹25 lakh per year.

In Government Sector

Fresh radiologists starting their careers in government hospitals or healthcare centers can expect an initial salary ranging from ₹60,000 to ₹90,000 per month.

With 5-10 years of experience and career promotion candidates can easily reach upto ₹15 to 20 Lakhs per annum or more.

In the Private Sector

Radiologists working in private hospitals, clinics, or diagnostic centers often start with a monthly salary between ₹50,000 and ₹1,50,000.

Over time, with experience and additional qualifications they can earn ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh annually.

Radiologists working as consultants or in private practice can also earn significantly higher, often the yearly fees or profits from consultation can go as high as ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore per year.

Books & Study Materials

You can refer these books for the preparation of radiography. Some of the best highly 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

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