An overview of Clinical Radiology Training ST3.

Applies to: England. See guidance for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Important: Accuracy

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this page. The information presented is accurate at the time of publication.

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.

Page last reviewed: 15 November 2023
Next review due: 15 November 2024