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Diagnostic Radiologist - How to get into this job

Kaimātai Tātari Hihi Irirangi

Entry Requirements

To become a diagnostic radiologist you need to complete a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MbChB) and spend at least two years as a junior house surgeon in a hospital. You must then complete at least five years of specialist training and examinations to become a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists or have an equivalent overseas qualification.

Entrance into the radiology training programme is competitive and many diagnostic radiologists will begin surgical, paediatric or obstetrics training while applying for the training programme.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists website – information on radiology training

Secondary Education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include Bursary or NCEA equivalent maths, chemistry, physics, biology and English.

Get help with choosing school subjects

Tertiary Education

To enter the MBChB you need to complete the first year of a Bachelor of Health Science or a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical), and undertake the Undergraduate Medicine and Health (UMAT) admission test, where up to one-third of your first year final grade is determined by non-academic achievements.

Alternatively, you can complete a related health sciences degree and apply for graduate entry to the MBChB programme. Graduate applicants must also undergo the UMAT admission test.

Relevant courses

Training on the job

Diagnostic radiologists must take part in continuing education courses through their fellowship college. In the programme administered by the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists, diagnostic radiologists are required to complete a number of educational credits every three years, with a maximum number of credits to be completed in any one year. They also need to keep up to date with the latest technology and practices through reading medical journals and using the Internet.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists website – information on continuing professional development

"Radiology is always going to be challenging because there are always new things to learn about. Everything gets upgraded regularly, so you need to keep up to date with new techniques and technologies."

Lisa Sweetman - Diagnostic Radiologist

Registration

Diagnostic radiologists need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Medical Council of New Zealand website – information on registration

Useful Experience

Useful experience for diagnostic radiologists includes experience as a medical radiation technologist or nurse, other hospital work, or any work involving contact with people.

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Updated September 2009

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