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Diagnostic Radiologist

Kaimātai Tātari Hihi Irirangi

Diagnostic radiologists diagnose disease and injury using x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT, nuclear medicine and radioactive solutions.

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Secondary education

You need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job. Useful subjects include biology, chemistry, English, maths and physics.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Master's degree and above
  • Bachelor's degree

Useful experience

Useful experience for diagnostic radiologists includes:

  • work as a medical radiation technologist
  • work in hospitals or other health-related work, such as nursing
  • work caring for people.

What you will do

Diagnostic radiologists may do some or all of the following:

  • advise doctors on the best examination to perform on a patient
  • explain examination procedures to patients and discuss the results with them 
  • supervise medical radiation technologists when they perform examinations
  • interpret images from radiographic examinations
  • perform biopsies (taking tissue for diagnosis) from areas such as breasts, liver and kidneys 
  • teach medical students and trainee radiologists
  • carry out research.

Skills and knowledge

Diagnostic radiologists need to have knowledge of:

  • anatomy and how the human body works
  • different diseases and illnesses
  • medicines and treatments, and the effect these have on patients
  • how to do minor surgical procedures, such as putting in stitches
  • radiographic theory and methods, and the safe handling of unsealed radioactive sources
  • research, treatments and practices
  • medical ethics and law.
Pay

Diagnostic radiologists usually earn

$206K-$247K

per year

Diagnostic radiologists can earn

$185K-$268K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a diagnostic radiologist are good due to a shortage of workers.
Length of training
13
years of training required.

Industry

Health

Diagnostic radiologists diagnose disease and injury using x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT, nuclear medicine and radioactive solutions.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

You need more than one qualification to become a radiologist.

You need:

  • to complete the Health Sciences First Year programme at the University of Otago OR the first year of either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland
  • a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
  • 2 years of general medical experience
  • 6 years of specialist training and examinations to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
  • a current Annual Practising Certificate
  • to pass a police check.

You also need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.

Chances of getting a job

Strong demand for diagnostic radiologists

Chances of getting a job as a diagnostic radiologist are good due to:

  • not enough diagnostic radiologists being trained
  • an ageing population with more health problems
  • diagnostic radiologists moving to overseas positions.

Diagnostic radiologist appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled diagnostic radiologists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 435 diagnostic radiologists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Diagnostic radiologists work for public and private hospitals

Most diagnostic radiologists work in public or private hospitals. Some work in university medical schools.

Find out more about training

Medical Council of New Zealand
0800 286 801 - enquiry@mcnz.org.nz - www.mcnz.org.nz
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
(04) 472 6470 - www.ranzcr.edu.au

Progression and specialisations

Diagnostic radiologists may progress to teach students and trainee diagnostic radiologists. They can also become a senior consultant with responsibility for their department, or combine their duties with research or teaching.

Diagnostic radiologists may also specialise in an area such as:

Cardiovascular Radiologist
Cardiovascular radiologists specialise in heart and blood vessel imaging.
Mammographer
Mammographers specialise in breast imaging.
Musculoskeletal Radiologist
Musculoskeletal radiologists specialise in imaging muscles and bones.
Neuroradiologist
Neuroradiologists specialise in brain imaging.
Paediatric Radiologist
Paediatric radiologists specialise in imaging for children and babies.

Working conditions

Diagnostic radiologists:

  • usually work 40 to 60 hours a week, which may include on-call work during evenings, nights and weekends
  • work in hospitals, clinics and private practices, using x-rays, chemicals and radioactive materials
  • may travel nationally or overseas for conferences and seminars.

Physical Requirements

Diagnostic radiologists need to have good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses) and excellent hand-eye co-ordination.

Useful personal qualities

Diagnostic radiologists need to be:

  • accurate and careful, with an eye for detail
  • motivated and disciplined
  • able to work well under pressure
  • able to make good decisions, and solve problems
  • excellent at analysis and interpretation
  • good at communicating and inspiring confidence in others
  • good at report writing
  • understanding of other cultures' attitudes to medical procedures.

Industry

Health

Diagnostic radiologists diagnose disease and injury using x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT, nuclear medicine and radioactive solutions.

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