Best Radiology and Radiography Courses in India
Are you interested to make a career in radiology/radiography? Are you confused about choosing the right course? If yes, read this article to know the details of various radiology/radiography courses in India. You will also find eligibility, career opportunities and top college in which you can apply for the same.
Radiology/ radiography is a branch of paramedical sciences and one of the expanding field of medicines and in India, it is growing day by day at a rapid pace. It is a demanding medical profession. Computer technology advancements and its use in the medical field have also popularised these courses and made them a need. With the proliferation of medical facilities in government health care centres and mushrooming of private medical facilities, the future of radiologists and radiographers is very bright and students can get direct employment after completing these courses. Radiology is an interesting medical field where radio imaging is utilised to treat any disease in the interior part of the human body. There are two fields where students can make their career These are radiology and radiography.A. Radiology
Radiology is the branch of medical science in which images of the internal body's organs are interpreted to diagnose a disease. A radiologist is a medical doctor who has developed the highly advanced skill of interpreting and diagnosing medical imaging and works with a team of other doctors. They study ultrasounds, mammography, X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, and CT scans to identify illness and disease and acts as an integral part of medical diagnosis. However, they do not perform imaging tests. The radiology field is divided into two areas, namely diagnostic radiology, and international radiology. Radio technologists are the medical professional that use and manage the equipment for making the images. B. Radiography
Radiography is an imaging technique in which X-rays or some other kind of ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation are used to illuminate and see the internal part of a body. Radiography is being used widely in the medical field, and it is called medical radiography. The ultrasound tests performed by the radiographers are called sonography. Medical radiography is of two types diagnostic and therapeutic. There is one more type of radiography is industrial radiography. A radiographer is a professional who usually performs imaging tests of human anatomy and produces radiography of patients with the help of X-rays, MRI, CT scan, ultrasounds to find the exact medical condition, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease or injury of the patient. They also converse with the concerned doctor to carry out the particular treatment.Skills required for Radiologists/Radiographers
Good radiologists/radiographers must be trained in their fields and must have the following skills:
Specialization in Radiology and Radiography
Aspirants can get a job as per their specialization, skills, and experience. In the field of radiology and radiography, there are several specializations available. Candidates can choose any of the specializations. Specialized branches of Radiology include Cardiovascular radiology, Radiation oncology, Diagnostic radiology, Neuroradiology, Nuclear Radiology, Genitourinary, Breast-imaging Diagnostic Imaging, Cardiovascular Radiology, Emergency Radiology, Gastrointestinal and Paediatric radiology. In radiography, common specializations are ultrasonography, mammography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiograph interpretation, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine.Career Opportunities
Due to the recent advancements and developments in medical science and technologies, there are huge career and job opportunities in the field of radiology and radiography. The demand for qualified radiologists, radiographers, and technologists is increasing day by day. Not only in India, radiologists and radiographers are in huge demand overseas also. There are lots of full-time or part-time jobs available in both governments and private sectors including government hospitals, private hospitals, private clinics, public health centers, nursing homes, diagnostic laboratories, super speciality hospitals, and medical science institutes/colleges, etc. After getting some experience, they can self-practice also and start their diagnostic center. Popular jobs in this field are Radiologists, Radiology Assistants, Radiology Technicians, Radiology Technologists, Radiology Nurse, Radiographers, Ultrasound technicians, MRI Technician, CT/CAT Scan Technologist, and Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, etc. There is a lot of scope of research and development in this field therefore students can make a successful career in research institutes and academics as well. Salary Structure
In India, salary slabs for Radiologists/radiographers are good as compared to other professions. Salaries of radiologists, radiographers and other technicians depend upon their job titles. The radiologists who have one year or less experience may receive an average pay of approximately Rs.15 lakhs per year and those who have some experience may receive a salary up to Rs.50 lakhs per year. The average salary of a Radiologic Technologist is around Rs.50000, while the average salary of a radiographer ranges between Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 per month in government or private hospitals. Courses available in Radiology and Radiography
There are several courses available in Radiology/ Radiography/ Radiologic Technology, etc. These courses help students to make their careers in a diverse and growing field of medical diagnostics and imaging. In radiology/ radiography courses, students learn medical terminologies, detailed human anatomies, principles of imaging, radiation protection, advanced imaging techniques, digital image acquisition, clinical research methods, competent patient care and management in diagnostic healthcare, etc.1. Bachelor's Degree Courses (Three-years degree course)
2. Master's Degree Courses (Two-years degree course)
3. PG Diploma/Diploma Courses (Two-years duration)
4. Certificate Courses
These are short-term courses of one year or shorter duration. Certificate courses are as follows:Eligibility for these courses
Anybody interested in the radiology field can join a bachelor's degree or Diploma Course or Certificate course after passing the class 12th examination from a recognized board. They must have studied science subjects with Biology as a compulsory subject in class 12th or senior secondary with a minimum of 50% in physics, chemistry, and biology. To be eligible for a PG Diploma course or a master's degree course, the applicant must have passed a bachelor's degree. The candidates who wish to take admission in MD Radiology must have completed MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, BDS, DMS, DHMS, and one year of internship. Admission Procedure
Admission to Bachelor's degree or Master's degree or PG Diploma or Diploma or Certificate courses varies from institution to institution. It may be done based on the merit prepared based on the percentage of marks obtained in class 12th or through an entrance examination. Sometimes there will be direct admission to these courses. Admission to MD radiology, the student can take admission through NEET PG examination conducted by NBE or state level exam or AIIMS, JIPMER or exam conducted by some institutions, etc.Top Institutes offering /Radiography Courses
The following are the institutes where you can study for these courses. After successful completion of required qualification for a radiologist or radiographer from any of the medical college, anyone can apply for a medical license. Some top colleges of India offering medical education in radiology/radiography are listed here: