wanting to change career...is this possible Radiologist

400rr

Hi all I want to change career.

I am a 31 year's old and work in a factory making medical devices. I did not do my leaving cert, I did a trade when I left school.I have always been interested in having some kind of medical career, what interest me most would be radiology, How and would it be possible for me to become a radiologist.

paperclip2

Hi OP, Radiologists are fully qualified medical doctors who do a further 4-5 years training to become radiologists. So your first step would be to train as a doctor. Details of this job are on the Careers Portal website here:
http://www.careersportal.ie/careers/detail.php?sector_id=15&job_title=Radiologist+-+Diagnostic+&job_id=749#.VYkpn_lViko

You might also consider Radiography. Diagnostic Radiographers use x-rays and ultrasounds to image parts of the body to assess injury or illness. Therapeutic radiographers usually administer therapies such as radium to cancer patients. Careers portal has some good info on both types of jobs:
Diagnostic: http://www.careersportal.ie/careers/detail.php?sector_id=15&job_title=Radiographer+-+Diagnostic&job_id=874#.VYkq7_lViko
Therapeutic: http://www.careersportal.ie/careers/detail.php?sector_id=15&job_title=Radiographer+-+Therapeutic&job_id=291#.VYkqnPlViko

There are two specific radiography courses in Ireland, one for Diagnostic Radiography in UCD and another in Trinity called Radiation Therapy. Both are 4 years fulltime. Mature student application is possible for both although entry requirements can vary.
There are also some postgrad courses that may enable you to qualify if your initial degree was not specifically in radiography.

huntd3

Hi paperclip, I've a masters in Mechanical Engineering and am considering a change to Radiography. Do you know of any postgrad courses that are available to someone like me or is there even a conversion course ican do rather then doing the 4 year degree?

paperclip2

Hi huntd3
Not sure what the entry requirements are but you could have a look at this: http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/multidisciplinary-radiology.html#course_overview

Chances are for a lot of the graduate routes you would need a related undergrad course or a relevant science degree. Its a question of checking with the colleges.

Trinity, UCD and NUI Galway have graduate programmes. It might be worthwhile talking to them.