This page is intended for those thinking about a career in radiology. It’s lots of fun, challenging and, contrary to what some people might say, is all about communicating with your clinical colleagues and patients. It certainly isn’t about hiding away from everyone in a darkened room! The radiologist plays a crucial part in the decision making pathway for patients both in the acute and elective setting. It’s also a lot of fun with some fancy kit to play with and lots of new procedures, technologies and kit to keep you entertained. 

If you are thinking of applying it’s a good idea to try and organize a “taster” week for you to dip your toe in the water through the radiology department in your hospital and try to spend some time seeing what the day-to-day life of a radiologist is like. Before you apply for radiology you should think about getting some more clinical experience either through the medical or surgical common care stems. These can provide you with valuable experience before your application. Having said that, you can apply straight from FY2, it’s entirely up to you. You should make sure to do plenty of audits and try to get some research experience under your belt. Audit and research experience is very desirable at ST interview, so try to get some experience prior to your ST application. Even better is to have publications of abstracts or papers or to have presented your audit/ research as a poster or by podium presentation at a meeting. None of these have to be projects specific to radiology as these are generalizable skills, but a radiology slant on things shows an interest in the specialty that other candidates may not have. Second degrees, especially in medical physics or anatomy, are helpful in making your case and any experience of teaching e.g. anatomy demonstrating, is also helpful.

In the near future radiology training is to be split into separate interventional and diagnostic radiology stems which will last 6 and 5 years respectively with a common stem during years 1-3. Years 4-6 in interventional training are purely interventional. Years 4 and 5 in diagnostic radiology are to allow completion of modules for your sub-specialist interest. Most sub-specialities have the option of a pre-CCT or post-CCT fellowship as well. In terms of the FRCR exam, there are 3 parts in total (click on the links for more information) : 

Here are a few links with some more information

Royal College of Radiologist Website

Introduction pack for new registrars in Clinical Radiology

 

Tasters and Student Selected Components

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If you are a current doctor applying for a radiology registrar job or a student whose wanting to get more exposure to the world of radiology,  why not get in touch with us about doing a taster session or SSC.