How training is structured
The Royal College sets out the training for Diagnostic Radiology in the blocks below. An internationally trained specialist is assessed on whether their own training and practice record is comparable in structure and content.
1. Basic clinical training (taken as a junior resident)
One (1) year
Broad-based medical experience relevant to Diagnostic Radiology; comprising sections 1.1 and 1.2 below. Generally the first of the five years.
2. Approved residency training
Four (4) years
Organ-system imaging across all modalities; comprising sections 2.1 to 2.8 below.
2.1 Thoracic (respiratory and cardiac) imaging
Six (6) blocks
Must include general radiography, fluoroscopy, interventional procedures, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear imaging.
2.2 Imaging of the abdomen and pelvis
Thirteen (13) blocks
Must include general radiography, fluoroscopy, interventional procedures, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging.
2.3 Vascular and interventional imaging
Three (3) blocks
Must include vascular and non-vascular procedures, ultrasound, CT, and MRI.
2.4 Musculoskeletal imaging
Six (6) blocks
Must include general radiography, diagnostic and interventional procedures, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging.
2.5 Neurological imaging (head, face, neck, and spine)
Six (6) blocks
Must include general radiography, interventional procedures, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear imaging.
2.6 Breast imaging
Four (4) blocks
Must include mammography, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear imaging, and interventional procedures under ultrasound and MRI guidance.
2.7 Pediatric imaging
Four (4) blocks, or longitudinal equivalent
Must include general radiography, fluoroscopy, interventional procedures, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging.
2.8 Selected/integrated imaging
Ten (10) blocks
Selected from listed areas, appropriately integrated and approved by the residency training committee; maximum three (3) blocks in any one area (see flexible options).
Required experiences
Specific experiences the Royal College names for this discipline.
- 1.1 A minimum of eleven (11) blocks of broad-based medical experience relevant to Diagnostic Radiology, selected from the following (and not to exceed six (6) blocks in any one element): 1.1.1 Internal Medicine and relevant subspecialties; 1.1.2 any surgical specialty; 1.1.3 Pediatrics; 1.1.4 Obstetrics and Gynecology; 1.1.5 Emergency Medicine; 1.1.6 Neurology; 1.1.7 Family Medicine; 1.1.8 Radiation Oncology
- 1.2 A maximum of two (2) blocks selected from: 1.2.1 Diagnostic Radiology; 1.2.2 Nuclear Medicine; 1.2.3 basic sciences related to Diagnostic Radiology; 1.2.4 research related to Diagnostic Radiology
- 2.1.1 A minimum of one (1) block of training, or longitudinal equivalent, in cardiac imaging using CT and MRI
- 2.2.1 A minimum of two (2) blocks of training, or longitudinal equivalent, in obstetric ultrasound and fetal imaging
- 2.4.1 A minimum of one (1) block of training, or longitudinal equivalent, in ultrasound of the musculoskeletal system
Flexible or selective components
Where the requirements allow a choice.
- 2.8 Ten (10) blocks of approved residency selected from any combination of the following (maximum three (3) blocks in any one area): 2.8.1 thoracic imaging; 2.8.2 body imaging (abdominal, pelvic, obstetric, or fetal); 2.8.3 vascular imaging (may include imaging for interventional procedures); 2.8.4 musculoskeletal imaging; 2.8.5 neurological imaging; 2.8.6 breast imaging; 2.8.7 pediatric imaging; 2.8.8 nuclear medicine; 2.8.9 quality improvement or research relevant to Diagnostic Radiology; 2.8.10 pathology, including training at the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP); 2.8.11 training in another clinical specialty relevant to the practice of diagnostic radiology
The Diagnostic Radiology guide as one PDF
The six PER steps, your document checklist, and the Diagnostic Radiology training requirements in a single file. Free.
Get the free PDFCommon questions
What is the Practice Eligibility Route in Diagnostic Radiology?
The Practice Eligibility Route (PER) is the Royal College process by which an internationally trained specialist can be assessed for eligibility to sit the certification examination in Diagnostic Radiology without repeating a Canadian residency. The Royal College reads your postgraduate training and practice record against the published Specialty Training Requirements for the discipline.
What training does the Royal College expect in Diagnostic Radiology?
The Specialty Training Requirements describe five (5) years of approved residency in Diagnostic Radiology. The full block-by-block structure is set out on this page, taken from the Royal College document for this discipline.
Does meeting the training requirements guarantee eligibility?
No. Eligibility is a committee decision made on your individual file, and other factors are considered. This page reproduces the published requirements so you can see how your own training compares before you apply; it is not an eligibility ruling.
Where do I start?
Read the six steps in the PER guide, then have your training mapped against the Specialty Training Requirements before you pay any fees. The free PDF for this specialty carries the steps, the document checklist, and the Diagnostic Radiology requirements in one file.
Not sure the PER is your route?
Some specialists are better served by a provincial practice-ready assessment, and some provinces assess only the disciplines currently on their intake list. The free screener checks your file against every route in about two minutes.
Check my options
PRA for specialists
More on the route itself: the full PER guide covers the six steps and the document checklist. Royal College examination dates for every discipline are on the Deadline Radar, and Canadian clinical fellowships in Diagnostic Radiology are in the Fellowship Finder.
Adapted from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Specialty Training Requirements for Diagnostic Radiology. This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Royal College. Requirements change and every application is reviewed individually; final decisions rest solely with the Royal College. Always verify current requirements at
royalcollege.ca before acting.