Searching for how to become a radiologist in Canada? Do you want to know the exact steps to take to become a radiologist in Canada? Then this article is just for you.
Job opportunities in the field of radiology are very extensive, and with the recent development in technology and medicine, the demand for radiologists has increased rapidly.
Radiology in Canada is a career with lots of benefits as radiologists can work in both private, government hospitals, medical laboratories, and clinics.
Becoming a medical practitioner is not an easy task, even more, when you are a foreigner.
Foreign Medical practitioners are welcomed in Canada, though it is demanding. You must have an excellent academic record and practice to become a radiologist.
What Is Radiology?
Before we show you how to become a radiologist in Canada, you might want to know what radiology is.
Radiology is a specialty of medicine that involves imaging techniques used in medicine, along with magnetic resonance, imaging (MRI), ultrasound, or echography.
Who Is A Radiologist?
A radiologist is a doctor who specializes in radiology. The radiologist uses x-rays on patients to establish a diagnosis to act in a therapeutic context.
Intervening in prevention, detection, or treatment protocol, he uses the transmission of images to hand out his recommendations and monitor the development of the pathologies identified.
What is the role of the radiologist?
The action of the radiologist can take place at three stages of the patient’s care:
• In prevention to detect possible diseases,
• In detection in response to suffering or a problem encountered by the patient, and
• In treatment when it is necessary to treat the patient with the help of rays.
What Are The Main Tasks Of A radiologist?
A Radiologist is involved in the following:
– Examines patients with opacifying devices that make internal organs or systems visible on x-ray films.
– Analyzes x-rays to diagnose a disease.
– Shares the results of the analyses to the expert who referred the patient.
– Ensures the quality of the tests carried out by the technical team.
– Monitors radiation levels.
– Performs certain intervention techniques under fluoroscopic, scanner, or microscopic control.
The main tasks of the radiology technologist:
– Reads and evaluates clinical data on the prescription.
– Assesses the patient’s condition.
– Chooses the essential appliances for conducting the required medical image.
– Explains to the patient the progress of the examination to ensure his cooperation and his understanding of the technique to observe each image.
– Properly positions the patient and the device according to the conditions of the examination.
– Monitors the patient, provides care, and educates him of the possible side effects.
– Selects exposure settings on devices and operates device operating mechanisms.
– Ensures compliance with safety rules to avoid excessive exposure of the patient to radiation (radiation protection measures).
– Evaluates the quality of the medical images.
– Performs quality controls of the radiological equipment and film processing devices.
– May be called upon to assist the medical specialist during special examinations.
The Qualities Required Of A Radiologist
A radiologist must have certain ethical values and attributes to be able to relate with patients.
1. The radiologist must be empathetic, and considerate, and then he must be a very good listener.
2. He is also required to demonstrate immense rigor, as he deals with potentially dangerous materials that he uses directly on the bodies of his patients.
3. He must be detailed and organized so as not to make any errors.
4. The radiologist must also be a fine analyst and an excellent observer to formulate correct conclusions.
5. The radiologist deals with subjects that can sometimes be very serious for his patients; he must therefore have a highly developed sense of communication. Now, let’s show you how to become a radiologist in Canada.
How to become a radiologist in Canada?
To be a radiologist in Canada, you must be driven by the desire to treat people and work for the health sector.
A radiologist must demonstrate various ethical qualities to adequately practice his profession.
Also, there are certain laws governing medical practices in Canada which you must take note of.
Below are some steps on how to become a Radiologist in Canada
While you’re still making up your mind on how to become a radiologist in Canada, you have to know that before you can become a medical practitioner you need to have a Canadian Citizenship or permanent resident status.
- Study And Get A Bachelors Degree in Medicine Or Sciences
- Enroll On The MCAT {MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST}
- Attend Medical School
- Internship programs
- Write And Pass The Medical Licensing Examination Part 1
- Obtain Residency
- Pass Part II of the MCCEE and earn a medical license in your region
- You must check your age. You must be 18 years Of Age or Above
- Practice Your Dream Job
Step 1: Study And Get A Bachelors Degree in Medicine Or Sciences
As a goal to become a radiologist you must first get a bachelor’s degree in medicine or any sciences related to it, like biology, chemistry, or sciences.
The radiologist must follow a long university course to acquire the skills necessary in this specialization. He must first complete a course in general medicine before specializing in radiology.
His studies in medicine are based on a classic program containing the usual theoretical training during the first three years as well as two years of externship.
A specialty involving five years of residency
The specialization in radiology leads to a diploma of specialized studies (DES) in diagnostic radiology.
Step 2: Enroll On The MCAT {MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST}
This is a standard test for every aspiring medical practitioner.
It is used to determine, select and enroll the very best candidates for entry into medical school programs.
Step 3: Attend Medical School
Radiology is a medical specialty, to become a radiologist officially you will have to start by attending a medical school.
Medical school takes a 4 years process depending on the specialty. This is available in 17 Canadian universities.
Here is a list of some reputable medical schools in Canada:
Do your research and find out which schools will help you reach your medical career goals.
(Medical schools that do not approve non-contract international students)
- University of Ottawa: https://med.uottawa.ca/en
- University of British Columbia: https://www.med.ubc.ca/
- Western University: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/
- Memorial University of Newfound Land: https://www.med.mun.ca/medicine/home.aspx
- University of Saskatchewan: https://medicine.usask.ca/
- University Of Alberta: https://www.ualberta.ca/medicine/
- University Of Calgary: https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/
- Northern Ontario School Of Medicine: https://www.nosm.ca/
- Dalhousie University: https://medicine.dal.ca/
- University of Manitoba: http://umanitoba.ca/medicine/
(Medical schools that approve non-contact international students)
- University of Sherbrooke: https://www.usherbrooke.ca/medecine/
- McGill University: https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/applying
- University of Toronto:https://applymd.utoronto.ca/
- Laval University: http://www.fmed.ulaval.ca/accueil/
- Queen’s University: https://meds.queensu.ca/
- McMaster University: https://mdprogram.mcmaster.ca/
- University Of Montréal:https://medecine.umontreal.ca/medical-school/
Step 4: Internship programs
In addition to theoretical courses, internships in university hospital centres, or a cardiology institute.
The future radiologist will be confronted with all sorts of pathologies to know how to examine any part of the human body.
Internships and other optional courses are also offered so that the student specializes more (research, teaching, training in pedagogy, internships abroad).
Step 5: Write And Pass The Medical Licensing Examination Part 1
This is carried out by the MCCEE {Medical Council Of Canada Evaluation Examination }.
Licensing exams are to test the capabilities of the candidates as medical practitioners, just after completion of medical school.
It is very necessary to study, prepare, and pass this test because it is a very critical exam that determines your career as a radiologist in Canada.
Step 6: Obtain Residency
Just like every other career with mentorship programs, in medicine, it is called residency.
This is done Just after passing the MCCEE test and then being legally able to practice medicine. Here you learn from more experienced doctors with a focus on your specialty.
For a radiologist in Canada residency requires a minimum of 5 years with an additional one year in some cases.
You can apply for residency through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) https://www.carms.ca/
Step 7: Pass Part II of the MCCEE and earn a medical license in your region
Apply to take Part II of the Medical Council of Canada Evaluation Exam. During this exam, you are going to be tested on your medical knowledge, diagnostic mastery, and abilities to carry out clinical protocols.
After passing the exam, the Medical Council of Canada makes you a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). This is an essential factor before receiving your full medical license.
Step 8: You must check your age. You must be 18 years Of Age or Above
According to Canadian laws and policies, you must be 18 years of age before you can work legally in any sector of the country.
Step 9: Practice Your Dream Job
Finally on how to become a radiologist in Canada, you must practice. After a very long period of study and achievement, you can now fully practice your dream career as a radiologist in Canada.
What is radiology used for?
Having gone through the list of how to become a radiologist in Canada, you might want to know what radiology is used for. Radiology is used for the following:
Cancer Screening
A radiologist can detect cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer, with the use of machines.
The radiologist is called to provide a classic examination depending on the frequency of certain diseases. Screening is useful because it is done even before the symptoms appear so that cancer can be treated on time.
Biopsy
Through biopsy, cancer can also be detected. This is done by taking a sample of the tissue or cells of the patients, from the part of the body that is concerned.
The radiologist performs this type of examination on patients who are already undergoing or who have presented abnormal blood tests. The radiologist uses his imaging techniques to discover the region that needs to be treated as precisely as possible.
Detect Aberrations And Diseases
When a radiologist receives information from a patient who indicates pain in a specific area, with a due prescription from a general practitioner so that the radiologist knows which part of the body to explore.
He then writes an analysis report which he attaches to the recorded images before transmitting them and also interprets or sometimes gives an opinion by recommending another examination.
Therapeutic Radiation Treatment
Therapeutic radiation treatment is one of the last areas of activity of a radiologist.
When cancer cells are detected, they can be treated with radiotherapy, which is the use of rays to destroy cancer cells by irradiating them.
With this technique, it is possible to irradiate the cells that are affected by the tumors without harming that located periphery.
What is the salary of a radiologist?
According to the Government of Canada statistical data posted on the Job Bank website, the average salary for a specialty physician job in Canada is $275,247 per year.
Salaries may vary depending on the actual position, the company, the level of experience, and the location.
The lowest recorded average salary is $99,478 and the highest is $560,036.
Is Radiology A Good Job?
Radiology is an excellent job, there are currently still a lot of needs even if they are slowly being filled with the increase in cohorts of medical students.
Why Is Radiology Important?
Radiology is a very important element used in the diagnosis and has become a crucial and integral part of modern medicine.
Radiology has been used for the quick identification and treatment of conditions of brain tumor, stroke, cancer, kidney diseases, lymphoma, appendicitis, bladder stones, and more without surgery.
Do Doctors Need Radiologists?
Yes, doctors need radiologists. Radiologists assist doctors to operate on patients by identifying the cause or cure of health issues, through the proper and thorough diagnosis of patients.
Without the help of radiologists providing results based on findings, doctors will not be able to treat patients effectively.
What Should I Study To Become A Radiologist?
Studying to become a radiologist starts with a bachelor’s degree in radiology or a premedical school degree and then with a master’s degree in radiology.
Do I Need to Be Licensed To work As A Radiologist In Canada?
Yes, you have to be licensed before you can work as a radiologist in Canada.
Experienced radiologists in Canada have at least 13years and above in healthcare training. This means that it takes this amount of time to be a licensed radiologist in Canada.
You can learn more via the official website of The Canadian Association Of Medical Radiologist Technicians.
Do Canadian Medical Schools Accept Foreigners?
Out of 17 Canada’s Medical schools, 7 take applications from international students though there is a variety of policies towards International students.
They focus on homegrown applicants to ensure that Canadian Medical graduates continue to practice in Canada
Conclusion
At this point, you must have known how to become a radiologist in Canada. Medicine is a discipline that is practiced with so much passion and by vocation, but a radiologist must also have a taste for technology because he uses it to treat illnesses and improve the comfort of patients.
Today, there are more radiologists in the medical field, because the needs of the profession are more and more important.
Indeed, the aging of the population implies the need for greater access to care: the older the population, the greater the risk of seeing the number of patients increase. Thus, the radiologist finds himself in a context where employment is very favorable.
The presence of the radiologist offers a guarantee that the machines used will not harm the patient’s body.
Vigilant and considerate, he also provides instructions to patients and ensures that they do not put themselves in danger during the examinations they have to undergo.
He also observes the behavior of his team made up of radiology residents or radiology technologists. What are your thoughts on our list of steps on how to become a radiologist in Canada? Please let us know if there are other steps you think should be on the list.