The RA’s second
major area of responsibility involves performing certain procedures and
examinations under the supervision of a radiologist. An RA may perform a
fluoroscopy (producing images of internal organs using an x-ray machine) and
certain diagnostic procedures for the peripheral venous system. They may assist
the radiologist in invasive procedures and place nasoenteric and oroenteric
feeding tubes in some patients. And the third area of responsibility for a
radiology assistant is evaluating the quality of acquired images and making the
first observations of them. They then forward the information to the radiologist
who will handle the final interpretation or diagnosis.

To become a
radiologist assistant, there are five basic steps that must be completed. First,
a potential RA must begin by training as a radiographer, during which they will
learn to operate Radiographers generally have at least a certificate or
associate’s degree in radiography. However, students wishing to become a
radiologist assistant must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Second, the
potential RA must complete the prerequisites required for admission into a
radiologist assistant program. There are two requirements: certification as a
radiographer and two to three years of work experience as a radiology
technician.

The third step in this process is enrollment into a
nationally recognized RA program. This is a two year program that includes
coursework and a radiologist directed clinical internship. Once this program is
completed, the next step is certification. Individuals must receive
certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in
order to become a Registered Radiologist Assistant (R.R.A.). Certification
involves graduating from an ARRT accepted educational program and presenting a
“clinical portfolio”, which consists of documentation of clinical experience,
competency assessments, professional achievements and activities, case studies,
and the summary assessment of internship from the supervising radiologist. The
candidate must have earned a baccalaureate degree to become certified. To
continue as an R.R.A., individuals must renew registration annually.
Certification expires after ten years, so in order to retain their
certification, R.R.A.s must meet continuing qualifications. An R.R.A. must
complete fifty credits of continuing education every two years to remain
certified. After certification is obtained, the final step in becoming an RA is
obtaining a license. There are varying licensing guidelines depending on the
state. Right now there are twenty-nine states that offer licensing for RAs.

Radiologists spend most of their time reading and interpreting images obtained by a radiologic technologist, and then recording their results and findings, which will be given to the patient’s primary care physician. Like other physicians, a radiologist job description involves understanding human anatomy, medical and scientific principles of human health. Additionally, radiologists need to have excellent concentration and vision, analytical skills and be detail oriented. They correlate medical images with tests and examinations, consult with other physicians and recommend additional imaging when necessary.

A radiologist job description requires interpersonal skills as they work with other physicians. Radiologists also communicate with technicians and allied health professionals who obtained the medical images for them. For instance, an oncologist requires a CT scan to decide the location and size of a tumor before treating it. A radiologic technician will operate the CT equipment to obtain the images. Then the radiologist will interpret the images and write a report. Based on the report, the oncologist will decide on the course of treatment for the patient.

A radiologist job description also involves treating diseases by means of radiation or minimally invasive, images-guided surgery, or interventional radiology. There are several subspecialties for diagnostic radiologists, including:

• Cardiovascular radiology devoted to the diagnosis of diseases of the heart and blood vessels using x-rays, CT, ultrasound and MRI.

• Breast imaging using mammography, breast MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy to diagnose the diseases of the breast.

• Chest radiology focuses on chest diseases, especially of the lungs and heart using diagnostic imaging, such as x-rays, ultrasound, CT and lungs biopsy and drainage of fluid from the chest.

• Gastrointestinal radiology will diagnose the intestinal tract, or the stomach and intestines and abdomen. The medical images are obtained through fluoroscopy, x-rays, CT, biopsy, ultrasound, MRI and fluid and abscess drainage.

• Head and neck radiology will diagnose the diseases of the head and neck through CT, x-rays, ultrasound and MRI.

• Emergency radiology diagnoses trauma and non-traumatic emergency conditions. The diagnostic imaging obtained through x-rays, MRI, ultrasound and CT.

• Genitourinary radiology will diagnose the conditions of the reproductive organs and urinary tracts using x-rays, MRI, and CT.

• Neuroradiology is subspecialty to diagnose the brain and nerve, head, neck and spine using MRI, x-rays, CT and ultrasound.

• Musculoskeletal radiology involves diagnosing the skeleton and muscles using CT, x-rays, ultrasound and MRI.

• Pediatric radiology diagnoses diseases of children. Medical images obtained through x-rays, MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and biopsy.

• Nuclear radiology diagnoses patients who have been exposed to radioactive material to obtain images of their heart, skeletal system and other organs, such as liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and others.

A radiologist job description is an important medical professional to help the treating physician arrive at a course of action for the patient.

But how to become a radiologist? It’s not easy, as it is a branch of medicine, it requires extensive schooling, good grades, and a lot of determination.

Here is how to become a Radiologist:

The work actually can start from high school, by taking advanced science and math courses, and doing any sort of volunteer work in a hospital, you will give yourself a very good head start on the long, but rewarding path to becoming a radiologist. The next step is college, which, if you did do volunteer work and advanced courses, will be much easier to get enrolled in. Take pre-med courses, and dedicate yourself to your classes, as having excellent grades (particularly in science) is critical on the path of how to become a radiologist. Also important is enrolling in creative writing classes, and classes in general communication, as having good written and verbal communication skills is absolutely necessary.

Passing all of your exams in college and getting enrolled into medical school is the next step on the path. Work diligently towards excellence in the fields of chemistry, organic chemistry, advanced biology, and physics to further your goals, as these are used in the field of radiology. After this, five years of residency must be completed. During this time you will learn to diagnose conditions like kidney and gallstones, internal bleeding, and torn ligaments. Pneumonia, broken bones, and cancer are also among the roster of illnesses that you will learn to diagnose in your patients.

It is worth noting that in order to become a radiologist, you will need to have a voracious appetite for knowledge, and a mind to keep that information in your head, and available at a moment’s notice. Performing procedures will also be a large part of your job, so if you don’t already, learn to enjoy them.

Work hard on your residency, and earn grades in on your medical board exams that show you excel, and qualify for a spot in a fellowship program under an established doctor. These programs will commonly take one to two years, and during this period of time, you will get hands-on training in the medical field. This training can include performing biopsies, doing angioplasties, treating aneurysms, and draining abscesses.

This is a basic layout of how to become a radiologist, while there are a lot of finer, more specific points to the classes you must take in high school and college, this is the most basic plan to become a radiologist. The primary points to take away from this is to perform very well in both high school and college, and achieve excellent grades, particularly in the fields of mathematics and science, especially biology and anatomy. Adherence to this path will eventually lead you to become a radiologist.

A radiologist salary depends on many things, including level of education, where they are employed, and even where they live. Wages can vary greatly from state to state, and even between metropolitan and rural areas. Before exploring exactly what a radiologist earns, it is important to fully understand what is required to gain entry into the field.

Radiologists must have a specialized education. A diagnostic radiologist, the most specialized and highly trained in the profession, is responsible for diagnosing medical conditions. They must attend four years of medical school followed by a year of internship and four additional years of residency. Many then choose to specialize in a certain area, which often requires a year or two of further training. They must then take the board exam given by the American Board of Radiology. Once they have passed the boards, they are qualified to practice radiology in their field of study.

People wishing to become a radiologist may also complete a hospital training program, which usually takes less than a year, or may choose to get their Associate’s Degree in radiology, which takes two years. These degrees have fewer qualifications and radiologists possessing them are trained to do far fewer things. Thus the earnings in these branches of radiology are much less than those of a diagnostic radiologist.

This is where the radiologist salary range begins to differ. A radiologist just out of residency can expect to make much less than one who has been practicing for ten years. Consequently, a diagnostic radiologist makes much more than an x-ray technician who has attended a hospital training program. Radiology jobs within a hospital tend to pay less than jobs in education facilities or the private sector.

The following figures are based on the 2010 Occupational Employment and Wages report from the United States Department of Labor. Median wage for a radiologist across the entire nation stood at $55,730 per year. Radiologists working in a doctor’s office made the least, with a median annual salary of $54,000 while those in scientific research and development earned the most at $66,910. Massachusetts radiologist salary is the highest nationally, while technicians in South Dakota, North Dakota, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi statistically earn the least. It is important to remember that these figures are based on the “median” percentage of employed radiologists. This means that 50% earn more than listed, and 50% earn less.

Radiology is an exciting field of study and employment and there is significant money to be made in this career. A radiologist salary will depend on the area in which they decide to specialize, the sector in which they prefer to work, and the geographic location in which they practice. It will also depend on the individual’s work ethic and performance level. A career in radiology can be incredibly rewarding, both personally and financially.