Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Last verified on January 5, 2018
In 2012, the American Board of Radiology was approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to begin issuing specialty certification in interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology (IR/DR). As a result, the ABR issued the last vascular and interventional radiology (VIR) subspecialty certificates in 2016.
The initial IR/DR certificates were issued in late 2017 to those who pass the inaugural IR/DR Certifying Exam in October 2017. The VIR subspecialty certificate will become a legacy certificate at that time.
Candidates completing an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited diagnostic radiology residency, and then completing an ACGME-accredited VIR fellowship in 2016 and beyond, have two options for gaining Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR) certification:
Option One:1
- Take the DR Certifying Exam in the fall immediately following completion of fellowship.
- If passed, candidate is awarded DR certification.
- Take the IR/DR Certifying Exam (oral component only) in the fall of the next year after completion of fellowship.
- If passed, candidate is awarded IR/DR certification
- Fees: five DR annual fees, plus $3,270 IR/DR application fee
Option Two:1
- Wait until fall of the next year after completion of fellowship and take the IR/DR Certifying Exam (computer-based component and oral component) in Tucson.
- If passed, candidate is awarded IR/DR certification.
- Fees: five DR annual fees, plus $ 3,270 IR/DR application fee