Do you have to go to medical school to become a radiologist?

Question

I am an accountant. I know this sounds shallow, but radiologists make a ton of money. Is it too late for me to become one? What would I have to do?

Answer 1

The radiologist (person who actually reads the xray) is a doctor. This does require medical school.
"Diagnostic radiologists must complete prerequisite undergraduate training, four years of medical school, and five years of post-graduate training. The first postgraduate year is usually a transitional year of various rotations, but is sometimes a preliminary internship in medicine or surgery. A four-year diagnostic radiology residency follows. After successful completion of their residency, the new radiologist is eligible to take board examinations (written and oral) given by the American Board of Radiology."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiologist

An xray tech can be done at a community college in 2 years.

Answer 2

Yes a radiologist is a physician (MD or DO). So you will have to go to medical school for 4 years and then do a 4 year residency. And yes, a radiologist does make absurd amounts of money (400K+ per year) as compared to a primary care doctor (family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics, who make about 150-200K a year)

HOWEVER, radiology is arguably the most competitive specialty of medicine to get into, and odds are well, you won't, unless you are the top 5% of your medical school class and have amazing Board Exam Scores. I generally reccomend to people who want to go into super competitive specialties of medicine to reevaluate there goals- because if you are not willing to become a primary care doctor (which could happen since the highest paying specialties are the most sought after, and most competitive), then you are taking a big gamble going into medicine with the hope that youll make it big.

Answer 3

The other responders are essentially correct. But if you follow this link to the Association of American Medical Colleges, you can obtain answers to most questions: http://www.aamc.org/start.htm

It is also correct that radiology is one of the more competitive residencies; however, that assumes that you will only pursue this training in the US. It is not as competitive elsewhere. I have known several people who completed medical school in the US, entered specialty training programs in other countries and then returned to the US to become board certified.

Answer 4

A radiologist is a doctor, so yes, you have to go to medical school. If you want to be an x-ray tech (radiologic technologist), you can do that in 2 years.

For more info: http://www.asrt.org/content/recruitmentretention/career_brochure.aspx
To find schools: http://jrcert.org/cert/Search.jsp (choose Radiography and your state)

Answer 5

you could go down to a community college and find courses there to take, like ones in science...maybe biology or chemistry, and become certified in two years

Answer 6

go back to university and take biology