Fees, Dates, Locations
Requirements
Five years of approved training
One year in clinical training
The first postgraduate year must be accredited clinical training in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery or surgical specialties, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, family practice, emergency medicine, transitional year, or any combination of these.
If there is an elective in diagnostic radiology, it must be in a department with an ACGME-approved residency program and cannot be longer than two months. No more than a total of three months may be spent in radiation oncology and/or pathology. All clinical training must be in an ACGME-, AOA-, or RCPSC-approved program (or equivalent).
Four years in a diagnostic radiology program
The program must be approved for training in diagnostic radiology by the Review Committee (RC) for diagnostic radiology of the ACGME, or by the RCPSC (Canada).
- A minimum of four months of the four-year diagnostic radiology training program must be spent in nuclear medicine.
(See Nuclear Medicine 2004 Training Update.) - A minimum of three months must be spent in mammography.
- No more than 16 months may be spent in any one discipline. Research is considered a discipline. Those considering careers in research may want to participate in the Holman Research Pathway.
Will be a graduate of an accredited U.S. or Canadian program by September 30 of the year the exam will be taken
The following table shows when you can apply and take parts of the exam.
Diagnostic Radiology Examinations
| May apply for computer- based cognitive exams |
Eligible to take physics exam | Eligible to take clinical exam | Eligible to take oral exam (after passing both written cognitive exams) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year: 0 - 12 months of training | YES | |||
| 2nd year: 12 - 24 months of training | YES | YES | ||
| 3rd year: 24 - 36 months of training | YES | YES | YES | |
| 4th year: 36 - 48 months of training | YES | YES | YES | |
| 48 months + clinical year completed | YES | YES | YES | YES |
TRANSFER
You are expected to remain in the same program for all four years. If you wish to transfer for any reason, that transfer must be verified by the initial program director with whom you have successfully completed the training. A listing of the specific rotations is required. This training also must be accepted by the new program director. If a program director states that a resident has not successfully completed training, that statement must have the signatures of two other faculty members from the same program, supporting the claim of unsatisfactory completion.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Leaves of absence and vacation may be granted to residents at the discretion of the program director in accordance with local rules. Within the required period(s) of graduate medical education, the total such leave and vacation time may not exceed:
| 6 calendar weeks (30 working days) |
for residents in a program for one year |
| 12 calendar weeks (60 working days) |
for residents in a program for two years |
| 18 calendar weeks (90 working days) |
for residents in a program for three years |
| 24 calendar weeks (120 working days) |
for residents in a program for four years |
If a longer leave of absence is granted, the required period of graduate medical education must be extended accordingly.
The ABR leave policy is based on educational needs and is not affected by other institutional, state or federal policies.
CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT CERTIFICATION
You must have basic cardiac life support certification. Advanced cardiac life support certification is encouraged.
HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
You must be recognized by your peers to have high moral and ethical standards in the profession.
PROOF OF VALID STATE LICENSURE OR CANADIAN EQUIVALENT
For those in training, a training license is acceptable.
PASS ALL ABR WRITTEN AND ORAL EXAMS
A candidate who does not obtain initial certification as of the ninth year after completion of training should contact the American Board of Radiology to obtain further information. Candidates who completed their training prior to 2009 and who have not yet obtained initial certification should also contact the American Board of Radiology for further information.
Special Circumstances
In special instances these requirements may be modified by a majority vote of the entire Board of Trustees, or by the Executive Committee of the Board acting in its stead.
Failure to Qualify
If your program director fails to indicate in writing that you will have the required special training and will have achieved adequate professional qualifications before the examination, documentation of the reason(s) must be submitted, along with evidence that you have been appropriately apprised of these deficiencies. See the ABR's Appeals Policy.
Appealing a Decision
The applicant must provide the Executive Committee of the Board with a written statement supporting the appeal. The Executive Committee may ask the program director to submit a written response to the applicant's appeal.
Final Decision
Within a reasonable timeframe, the Executive Committee must reach a final decision in determining the candidate's admissibility to the examination.
Final Action of the Board
The final action of the Board is based on the applicant's professional record, training, and attainment in the field of diagnostic radiology, as well as on the results of examinations. The Board has not been organized to prevent qualified radiologists from obtaining certificates, but to assist them in becoming recognized in their communities as men and women competent to practice diagnostic radiology.
Revocation of Certificate
Certificates issued by this Board shall be subject to revocation in the event that:
- the certificate was issued contrary to or in violation of any rule or regulation of the ABR; or
- the person to whom the certificate was issued was not eligible to receive it; or
- there is substantial misstatement or omission of a material fact to the ABR in an application or in any other information submitted to the ABR; or
- any license of the person to practice is not, or ceases to be, a valid and unrestricted license to practice within the meaning set forth in the Rules and Regulations of the ABR (in the event a diplomate's license to practice is suspended, revoked or restricted in any state in which the diplomate practices, holds a license or has held a license, the diplomate's board certification may be revoked or suspended); or
- there is a violation of rules and regulations relating to the Initial Qualifying, Oral, or Maintenance of Certification Examinations and applications to take the examinations; or
- the person is found presenting or distributing, or aiding or assisting another person(s) to present or distribute, a forged document or other written instrument purporting to have been issued by or under the authority of the ABR to evidence that a candidate, diplomate, or any other person(s) is currently or was previously certified by the ABR, when that is not the case, or claims orally or in writing, or assists another person(s) to claim, that a candidate, diplomate, or any other person(s) is currently or was previously certified by the ABR, when that is not the case; or
- the person engages in any conduct that materially disrupts any examination or that could reasonably be interpreted as threatening or abusive toward any examinee, proctor or staff; or
- there is failure to cooperate with the ABR or its Hearing Committee at any point during the investigation of a matter arising under Article X of the ABR Bylaws.
Before any such certificate shall be revoked, a notice shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the last known address of the holder of such certificate (as it appears on the records of the ABR). The notice will set forth the act, omission or conduct alleged or complained of and will give the holder of the certificate a reasonable opportunity to answer in writing thereto. Such certificate holder shall have not less than 30 days in which to reply thereto. The Board of Trustees may at its discretion make such further investigation as it deems necessary and proper.
The Board of Trustees of this Corporation shall have the sole power, jurisdiction, and right to determine and decide whether or not the evidence or information before it is sufficient to constitute one of the grounds for revocation of any certificate issued by the Board. The decision of the Board of Trustees in the premise shall be final.
The Board reserves the right to make changes in its fees, policies, and procedures at any time and cannot assume responsibility for giving advance notice thereof.
