Radiology Training Pathway
How to become a radiologist in Australia — the RANZCR Clinical Radiology program, how network-based selection works, the exam phases, and what radiologists actually earn.
Radiology is consistently sought-after, but there's no single national match — you apply network by network after registering with the College, and Victoria is run centrally by RANZCR. Getting an accredited post is the competitive step; the five exams across two phases are the long grind that follows.
Why radiology
You interpret imaging across every body system — CT, MRI, ultrasound, plain film, fluoroscopy and nuclear-medicine correlation — report findings that drive management, perform image-guided procedures, and consult constantly with referring teams. Most work is reading-room based, with interventional and on-call components. It suits people who like pattern recognition, anatomy and technology, want broad exposure to every specialty's pathology, and prefer diagnostic and procedural work to long-term outpatient continuity.
- Draws: Broad exposure to every specialty's pathology, Mostly predictable hours with strong private-sector options, Among the higher-earning specialties (ATO data), Technology-rich and rapidly evolving (MRI, AI, intervention).
- Trade-offs: Competitive entry with no national match to fall back on, Five exams across two phases — a long assessment load, Reading-room volume pressure and reporting backlogs, Less direct, continuous patient contact than clinical specialties.
- Subspecialties: Interventional radiology (IR), Interventional neuroradiology (INR), Neuroradiology / head & neck, Musculoskeletal (MSK), Breast imaging, Paediatric radiology, Abdominal / body imaging, Cardiothoracic imaging, Nuclear medicine (dual pathway).
The training pathway
The same fellowship, two very different timelines. The fast route assumes everything goes right; most people land on the realistic one.
How competitive is it?
Clinical radiology is widely regarded as competitive, but there is no single national applicant-to-position dataset — no national applicant-to-place ratio, offer rate or count of first-year posts is published. What is published is the workforce: RANZCR's 2020 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census (Australia) recorded about 2,350 full-time equivalent radiologists and 512 trainees in accredited Australian posts. Jurisdiction-level signals point to strong demand — Queensland Health's careers material has been reported as around 169 eligible applications for 21 clinical-radiology positions in 2023 (about 8 to 1), and NSW networks are described as receiving over 100 applications each — but these are jurisdictional or third-party figures, not a consolidated national ratio. The College also caps applications at four non-consecutive attempts, which itself reflects recurring oversupply of applicants. The longer test is the exams: across five assessments in two phases, RANZCR publishes per-sitting pass rates (for the 2024 second sitting, Phase 1 overall about 72% and Phase 2 overall about 71%, with trainees passing Phase 2 at roughly 77% versus about 55% for IMGs).
Unaccredited time: No formal unaccredited-registrar period — you apply directly into accredited training posts from PGY3. Any de facto competition for those posts is not quantified in published data.
Sources: RANZCR — Clinical Radiology training programs, RANZCR — Selection into Specialty Training Policy (2025), RANZCR — Clinical Radiology examination phases & reports, RANZCR — 2020 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census (Australia).
Selection criteria & how to apply
There's no single national match for radiology. You register with RANZCR for a College Registration Verification Number (CRVN), then apply to a state network — except in Victoria, where RANZCR runs recruitment centrally. CVs are scored by at least two Fellows, but the College does not publish percentage weightings between the components for the Australian jurisdictions, so the steps below are shown qualitatively rather than as a points bar. (A published 50/50 interview/CV split applies to New Zealand only and is not used here.) The assessed steps:
Key documents: RANZCR — Selection into Specialty Training Policy, RANZCR — Victorian registrar recruitment.
How it works, state by state
NSW
Who runs selection: Three Local Area Networks (LANs) coordinated with HETI and RANZCR; you apply through the JMO recruitment portal and HETI runs a preference-based match after networks submit ranked lists.
Where to apply: HETI / JMO Recruitment (ROB) + RANZCR CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: NSW networks are described as receiving well over 100 applications each, so the LAN you preference and a network-aware CV both matter. Penalty and recall arrangements apply to salaried staff specialists.
Links: HETI — radiology training in NSW, NSW Radiology Training Network — LAN 3 (SESLHD).
VIC
Who runs selection: Run centrally by RANZCR since 2025 — the College manages recruitment for all Victorian accredited clinical-radiology positions, with a templated CV, a single centralised interview and preference-based matching to sites. Applicants no longer register through PMCV.
Where to apply: RANZCR Victorian registrar recruitment + CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: One application and one interview cover all Victorian sites you preference; the interview panel includes a representative from each participating health service.
QLD
Who runs selection: Statewide RMO & Registrar Campaign via the Queensland Health careers portal; you apply to the Queensland clinical-radiology training network after obtaining your CRVN.
Where to apply: Queensland Health RMO & Registrar Campaign + CRVN — application portal.
When: Aligns with the annual Queensland Health medical recruitment campaign.
Worth knowing: Queensland Health material has been reported as around 169 eligible applications for 21 positions in 2023 — a strong signal of demand. A North Queensland training network (NQRTH) extends regional training.
Links: Queensland Health — clinical radiology training, North Queensland Regional Training Hubs — radiology.
SA
Who runs selection: A statewide network through SA Medical Imaging (SAMI) / the South Australian Radiology Training network, rotating across the Royal Adelaide, Flinders, The Queen Elizabeth, Lyell McEwin and Women's & Children's hospitals.
Where to apply: SA Health (iworkfor.sa.gov.au) + CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: SAMI describes a network of just over 50 accredited trainees with an average of about 10 radiologists graduating each year — a small, cohesive statewide program.
Links: SA Medical Imaging — training.
WA
Who runs selection: A coordinated statewide WA Radiology Training Program (via MedCareersWA / PMCWA), rotating Sir Charles Gairdner, Fiona Stanley, Royal Perth and Perth Children's hospitals plus private and regional sites.
Where to apply: MedCareersWA + CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: WA training is concentrated in a handful of large Perth tertiary units, with regional and private rotations rounding out the program.
Links: MedCareersWA — registrar training, PMCWA — radiology.
TAS
Who runs selection: Hospital/health-service based — you apply directly to the accredited site (principally the Royal Hobart Hospital) after obtaining your CRVN; there is no separate statewide radiology portal.
Where to apply: Tasmanian Health Service recruitment + CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: A small jurisdiction with limited accredited capacity; applicant and position counts are not published.
Links: RANZCR — training programs.
ACT
Who runs selection: Hospital-based — recruitment runs through Canberra Health Services for accredited posts at the Canberra Hospital, with RANZCR CRVN registration first. No dedicated statewide radiology portal.
Where to apply: Canberra Health Services recruitment + CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: A single major tertiary centre; applicant and position counts are not published.
Links: RANZCR — training programs.
NT
Who runs selection: Hospital-based — accredited training is centred on the Royal Darwin Hospital, with direct application to the health service after obtaining your CRVN. No dedicated statewide radiology portal.
Where to apply: NT Health recruitment + CRVN — application portal.
Worth knowing: A small jurisdiction; some accredited training may be completed interstate, and applicant/position counts are not published.
Links: RANZCR — training programs.
How to optimise your application
- Build an imaging-relevant CV early (tied to CV score, start PGY1–2) — Radiology, anatomy, research, audit and relevant medical/surgical terms strengthen the CV that Fellows score.
- Get your CRVN and target networks (tied to Eligibility, start PGY2) — Register with RANZCR for the CRVN (valid 12 months) and apply across networks; consider Victoria's centralised round and where posts are less contested.
- Line up strong referees (tied to Referee reports, start PGY2) — Secure clinical-supervisor referees who can speak to recent performance — policy expects at least one from the last 12 months.
- Plan the exam sequence (tied to Progression, start on entry) — Anatomy and AIT come fast in Phase 1 (four attempts each); Pathology, the Clinical Radiology written and OSCER follow in Phase 2 (three attempts each). Don't let resits stall progression.
Key documents & official links
- RANZCR — Clinical Radiology training programs
- RANZCR — examination phases & reports
- RANZCR — careers in clinical radiology
- RANZCR — international medical graduates
FAQ
Is radiology hard to get into?
How long does training take?
What are the exams?
Is selection run nationally?
Do radiologists earn well?
Trained overseas? (IMG pathway)
How overseas-trained radiology doctors get recognised
Overseas-trained radiologists are assessed through RANZCR's Specialist Recognition (IMG) pathway, which compares your training and experience against FRANZCR as substantially comparable, partially comparable or not comparable. Substantially comparable applicants complete 3–12 months of supervised peer review; partially comparable applicants upskill for 6–24 months and must pass the Phase 2 examinations. RANZCR notes most applicants are found partially comparable. A separate Defined Scope of Practice pathway exists for interventional radiology, interventional neuroradiology and paediatric radiology.
See the RANZCR — international medical graduates and our IMG internship guide.
Related specialties
Last reviewed 2026-06-01.