Overview of Clinical Radiology Training ST3

An overview of Clinical Radiology Training ST3.

Pause to process for 2027 programmes

Due to the low availability of ST3 level posts in recent years, NHS England have taken the decision not to run any Clinical Radiology ST3+ recruitment for 2027.

A decision will be taken in summer 2027 regarding recruitment for programmes starting in 2028. The decision on future recruitment processes will be confirmed on this website.

In the interim, doctors interested in pursuing a career in clinical radiology could consider the following options:

Portfolio pathway application

This is for doctors who haven’t completed a GMC approved programme of training but can show they have knowledge, skills and experience of an eligible specialist in the UK, visit the GMC website for more information.

Local recruitment

There may be short-term registrar-level non-training posts being recruited to locally by hospitals. Recruitment procedures and requirements will be set by the appointing organisation. Where posts are advertised depends on the nation where the post is based. As this recruitment is carried out locally, vacancies could be advertised at any time and so you are advised to check back regularly if you are interested in seeking a post:

• England and Wales  
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland

A career as a clinical radiologist will allow you to read and interpret medical images in order to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases and injuries. You will be able to do this by using a range of imaging techniques, including:

• X-ray ultrasound
• computed tomography (CT)
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• positron emission tomography (PET)
• molecular imaging

You will also be able to run patient clinics, take biopsy samples and prepare patients for surgery, as well as using real-time imaging to perform minimally invasive surgery, called interventional radiology. 

You will have the opportunity to specialise, becoming experts in areas such as musculoskeletal, breast, cardiac, paediatric and gastrointestinal imaging.

You can also work as ‘generalists’, meaning that you work on all types of hospital imaging, as well as doing some interventional work.

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) plays a major role in the training of clinical and interventional radiologists, setting the standards and curriculum that lead to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and entry onto the General Medical Council's (GMC) Specialist Register.