Many people believe that becoming a radiation oncologist is a difficult path to take. It entails completing high school, a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of medical school, a post-graduate clinical year, and a four-year radiation oncology residency training program. Students who complete these steps will be eligible to sit for an exam to become certified in this field.
To become a radiation oncologist, you must have a variety of educational experiences. Students must first complete their high school education. Following that, four years of undergraduate study are required. Although there are no specific requirements for which major students should pursue, they must complete the required courses for medical school admission, which include calculus, physics, molecular biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and English literature. Many students choose physics or biology as a major because these subjects provide a strong foundation for further study.
The completion of medical school is the next major step toward becoming a radiation oncologist. Students interested in the field may be able to participate in clinical rotations in this field during their third or fourth years of medical school. Because radiation oncology is a competitive specialty, students who are interested in it typically study hard in medical school to achieve good grades and test scores.
Many students do scientific research in addition to their basic medical school coursework. A student’s intellectual abilities and interest in the field can be demonstrated by performing basic science or clinical research in radiation oncology. Although research is not a requirement for obtaining a radiation oncology residency, it does make applicants more appealing to residency programs.
Students can submit their applications to become radiation oncologists in their fourth year of medical school once they have completed all of these components. Many students apply to dozens of residency programs in the hopes of being accepted to at least one of them. Excellent medical school grades, high scores on Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®), glowing letters of recommendation from clinical faculty, and research experience in the field are all important components of a successful application.
In March of their fourth year of medical school, students who have applied to become a radiation oncologist learn whether or not they have been accepted. These accepted doctors practice general clinical medicine for an additional year after graduating from medical school. A transitional year program, a preliminary year in internal medicine, or a preliminary year in general surgery are all options. Students will begin subject-specific radiation oncology training after this year. Before a doctor can take the test to become a licensed, certified radiation oncologist, he or she must complete four years of clinical radiation oncology training.