How long does it take to become a radiologist?

4 Years Undergrad + 4 Years Medical School + 1 Year Internship (Transitional, Medical, or Surgical Residency) + 4 Years Radiology Residency + an Optional Fellowship 1-3 years. So, 13 years minimum, 16 for an extended interventional fellowship

Long Answer:

After completing medical school prerequisites (typically a bachelor's degree in biology or chemistry) , Diagnostic radiologists must complete four years of medical school (M.D.) or the alternative, osteopathic school (D.O.) plus a five year of post-graduate training (residency). The first year of residency is a preliminary year in medicine, surgery or both, after which a four-year diagnostic radiology residency follows. During residency, both oral and written national examinations must be passed for board certification in diagnostic radiology. There are two separate written examinations required for certification by the American Board of Radiology, one covering the physics of medical imaging which is usually taken at the beginning of the second or third year, and a second covering clinical diagnostic imaging knowledge which is usually taken at the beginning of the third or fourth year. Both written exams must be passed before being eligible to take the oral examination, which is typically taken at the end of the fourth year. Many hospitals consider certification by the American Board of Radiology and by the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology to be nearly equivalent.

After completion of residency, radiologists may choose to either practice or enter into a fellowship program in a radiologic subspecialty (such as abdominal CT, MRI, musculoskeletal imaging, interventional radiology, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, etc.). Fellowship training programs typically last between one-to-two years.

Radiology is currently considered a highly competitive field. Radiologists generally enjoy good compensation as well as a good balance between time required at work and time spent away from work. The field is rapidly expanding due to advances in computer technology which is closely linked to modern imaging.