Radiology

Radiology is a medical specialty in which a variety of radiologic methodologies are used to diagnose and treat diseases. Diagnostic radiology encompasses a variety of diagnostic and image-guided therapeutic techniques including all aspects of radiological diagnosis (nuclear radiology, diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, interventional procedures, and the use of other forms of radiant energy). Physicians studying diagnostic radiology are primarily hospital-based and can specialize in a number of areas including vascular interventional, neuroimaging and intervention, abdominal imaging and intervention, nuclear medicine, chest and cardiac imaging, pediatric imaging, and mammography. The radiologist`s role has grown not only through great improvements in diagnosis but also through technological developments that permit numerous interventional radiology procedures. A diagnostic radiologist is the eye of medicine, helping the primary care physician diagnose and treat diseases.

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Competitiveness: High

IMG profile

Average Stats for a Matched US IMG in 2024:

Pct. that passed USMLE Step 1 on first attempt 100%
USMLE Step 2 CK score: 246
Research: 4
Abstracts/Presentations/Publications: 6
Work: 3
Volunteer: 7

Average Stats for a Matched Non-US IMG in 2024:

Pct. that passed USMLE Step 1 on first attempt 99.6%
USMLE Step 2 CK score: 251
Research: 2
Abstracts/Presentations/Publications: 3
Work: 4
Volunteer: 4

Speciality Factors

In March 2024, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducted its survey of directors of programs participating in the Main Residency Match® to characterize the factors that Program Directors use to select applicants for interviews and rank applicants for the Main Residency Match. See results of the Program Director Survey for Radiology below:

Frequency and Mean Importance Ratings of Each Factor Considered in Deciding Who to Interview

Class ranking/quartile: 93% (4.4)
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)/Dean`s Letter: 90% (4.5)
Letters of recommendation in the specialty: 73% (3.7)
Grades in required clerkships: 73% (4.5)
Consistency of grades: 70% (4.3)
Audition elective/rotation within your department: 63% (3.9)
Personal prior knowledge of the applicant: 59% (4.2)
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership: 53% (3.5)
Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership: 43% (3.6)
Grades in clerkship in desired specialty: 40% (4.4)
Awards or special honors in clinical clerkships: 37% (3.4)
Evidence of continuous medical education without gaps: 33% (3.9)
Ability to work legally in the U.S. without a visa: 30% (4.0)
Accreditation status of applicant`s medical school: 30% (3.9)
Applicant was flagged with Match violation by the NRMP: 27% (4.8)
Sigma Sigma Phi (osteopathic honor society) membership: 23% (3.0)
Awards or special honors in basic sciences: 23% (3.1)
Away rotation in your specialty at another institution: 20% (3.2)
Awards or special honors in clerkship in desired specialty: 20% (3.8)
Visa status: 17% (3.8)
Graduate of highly-regarded medical or osteopathic school: 17% (3.8)
How applicant`s medical school handled virtual rotations: 3% (3.0)

Frequency and Mean Importance Ratings of Each Factor Considered in Deciding Who to Rank

Interpersonal skills: 87% (4.8)
Interactions with faculty during interview and visit: 87% (4.9)
Interactions with house staff during interview and visit: 80% (4.9)
Feedback from current residents: 80% (4.8)
Class ranking/quartile: 77% (4.3)
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)/Dean`s Letter: 70% (4.3)
Grades in required clerkships: 57% (4.4)
Consistency of grades: 47% (4.3)
Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership: 40% (3.8)
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership: 40% (3.8)
Other post-interview contact: 27% (4.3)
Grades in clerkship in desired specialty: 27% (4.4)
Evidence of continuous medical education without gaps: 27% (4.3)
Awards or special honors in clinical clerkships: 27% (3.6)
Accreditation status of applicant`s medical school: 23% (4.1)
Awards or special honors in clerkship in desired specialty: 20% (4.3)
Sigma Sigma Phi (osteopathic honor society) membership: 17% (3.6)
Awards or special honors in basic sciences: 13% (2.5)
Graduate of highly-regarded medical or osteopathic school: 10% (4.0)
Applicant facility with meeting platform technology: 10% (3.7)
Second interview/visit: 7% (4.0)
How applicant`s medical school handled virtual rotations: 3% (3.0)

¹Ratings on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (very important).

% of Programs Interviewing IMGs:

US IMG: Often 37%, Seldom 53%, Never 10%
Non-US IMG: Often 26%, Seldom 55%, Never 19%

% of Programs Ranking IMGs:

US IMG: Often 39%, Seldom 45%, Never 16%
Non-US IMG: Often 32%, Seldom 45%, Never 23%

% of Programs Using USMLE to Select IMG Applicants for Interview:

Step 1: Does not consider 0%, Requires pass only 100%, Prefers but does not require target score 0%, Requires target score 0%
Step 2 CK: Does not consider 0%, Requires pass only 15%, Prefers but does not require target score 27%, Requires target score 58%
Step 3: Does not consider 54%, Requires pass only 19%, Prefers but does not require target score 23%, Requires target score 4%

Fast Facts

Total Training	5 years; PGY-1 year must consist of training in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery or surgical specialties, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, family practice, emergency medicine, or any combination of these, or an ACGME or equivalent accredited transitional year.
Average Residency Salary	$62,500
Average Physician Salary	$438,000
Average Work Week	58 Hours
Peak Interview Months	December-January
Key Organizations and Societies	The Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research, American Association for Women in Radiology, The American Board of Radiology, American College of Radiology, American Osteopathic College of Radiology, The American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Association of Program Directors in Radiology, Association of University Radiologists, Radiological Society of North America
Anyone who wishes to specialize in any of the subspecialty areas must first certify in Diagnostic Radiology. Radiology is one of the major consultation specialties which requires a broad knowledge base, research skills, and the ability to keep up with new modalities. The most competitive locations for Radiology are California, Boston, New York, and Seattle.

Match Statistics 2025

Main Residency Match

PGY-1

Main Residency Match and Post-Match Stats

16

Total IMGs Matched

35

Total Number of Available Programs

151

Positions

4

Post-Match SOAP Unfilled Positions

Post-Match SOAP

Program Track	Participating Programs	Positions Available	Filled Programs	Filled Positions
PGY-1	2	4	2	4

Subspecialties

Abdominal Imaging Radiology
Cardiothoracic Radiology
Clinical Informatics
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology
Interventional Radiology
Medical Physics
Musculoskeletal Imaging Radiology
Neuroradiology
Nuclear Radiology
Pain Medicine
Pediatric Radiology
Radiation Oncology

Additional Info

Select Diagnostic and Integrated Interventional Radiology programs may participate in program signaling (6 gold and 6 silver signals). Please visit the ERAS application webpage for information, guidance, timelines, and resources on completing the ERAS application.
Members of the GSA, Careers in Medicine, and Organization of Program Director Associations (OPDA) are collaborating in an effort to increase transparency in the residency application process through use of a Residency Guide template for each specialty. See guidance template here: Diagnostic Radiology_Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants 06.2024.pdf (cmss.org).