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Studies & Degrees in Radiology

Radiology is the branch of medicine that uses images of the inside of the body to diagnose and treat disease. It began as a medical specialty after the discovery of X-rays in 1895. Today it covers X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound.

Two different professions work in a radiology department, and they have separate study routes. The radiologist is a medical doctor who reviews and interprets the images. The radiologic technologist, called a radiographer in the United Kingdom, operates the equipment and acquires the images. Anyone looking for a radiology course should first decide which of the two routes they want.

Qualifications and levels

Radiologist (physician). This route starts with a full medical degree and continues with a hospital residency.

  • United States: the American College of Radiology states that radiologists complete at least 13 years of training, including medical school, a one-year internship and a four-year residency.
  • United Kingdom: after a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine and the foundation programme, specialty training in clinical radiology takes a minimum of five years, according to NHS Health Careers. Interventional radiology is the only sub-specialty.
  • Spain: the official specialty is called Radiodiagnóstico. Its programme lasts 4 years and requires a prior degree in Medicine.

Radiologic technologist or radiographer. This is a shorter, practical route.

  • United States: technologists typically need an associate's degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To earn a credential from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) through its primary pathway, candidates need an associate's degree or higher, an ARRT-approved educational programme in the same discipline, and a pass in the ARRT exam. The Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Science at Tacoma Community College, for example, takes about 2.5 years and 114 credits, and entry is selective.
  • United Kingdom: a diagnostic radiographer needs an approved degree or master's in diagnostic radiography. Degree courses take three or four years full time, and graduates must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before practising.
  • Spain: the qualification is a higher vocational (FP) one, the Técnico Superior en Imagen para el Diagnóstico y Medicina Nuclear, with 2,000 hours. Students learn to obtain images with X-ray, MRI and nuclear medicine equipment and to assist in ultrasound scans. They work under the supervision of the specialist doctor and need accreditation as an operator of radioactive facilities from the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN).

Technologist programmes teach anatomy, patient positioning, examination techniques, equipment protocols, radiation safety and patient care, as the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) describes it.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 62 active schools for radiology. Forty-five are in the United States. Spain and Mexico have two each. Countries with one listed school include Canada, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Iraq and Ukraine.

Many of the US schools are two-year community and technical colleges that train technologists, such as Tacoma Community College, Broward College, Bergen Community College, Augusta Technical College, Piedmont Technical College and Northeast Community College. The list also includes universities with medical schools, among them The Ohio State University, Stanford University, Yale University, the University of Florida and Drexel University. Outside the United States, listed schools include the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad Católica de Valencia in Spain, the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico, the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Kathmandu University in Nepal and Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.

Before applying, check which of the two routes the programme belongs to, whether it is approved by the body that registers or certifies professionals in that country (ARRT in the United States, HCPC in the United Kingdom), how many hours of clinical placement it includes and in which language it is taught. A qualification from one country does not automatically allow practice in another, so ask the school and the regulator about recognition.

Careers

Radiologists work in hospitals and imaging centres and may specialise further. According to the BLS, there were 28,700 radiologists in the United States in 2025 and employment is projected to grow 3 percent by 2035.

Technologists work in hospitals, clinics and imaging centres. The BLS counted 278,100 radiologic and MRI technologists in 2025 and projects growth of 5 percent from 2025 to 2035. Most US states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified. Registered technologists must also earn 24 continuing education credits every two years, according to the ASRT. In Spain the higher technician qualification leads to jobs such as specialist technician in radiodiagnosis.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a radiologist and a radiologic technologist?

A radiologist is a medical doctor who interprets medical images and decides on the diagnosis. A radiologic technologist or radiographer operates the equipment and acquires the images.

How long does it take to become a radiologist?

It takes a medical degree plus specialty training. The American College of Radiology speaks of at least 13 years of training in the United States. In Spain the Radiodiagnóstico specialty lasts 4 years after the degree in Medicine, and in the United Kingdom specialty training takes a minimum of five years.

Can I work in radiology without studying medicine?

Yes, as a technologist or radiographer. In the United States this typically requires an associate's degree, in the United Kingdom a degree in diagnostic radiography, and in Spain a higher vocational qualification of 2,000 hours.

Where is radiology taught?

Of the 62 schools in the SpainExchange directory, 45 are in the United States; the others are spread over other countries, including Spain and Mexico.