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Radiologist

Healthcare

Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.

ScienceAllied Health

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
  2. 2Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
  3. 3Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
  4. 4Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.
  5. 5Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.
  6. 6Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.
  7. 7Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.
  8. 8Recognize or treat complications during and after procedures, including blood pressure problems, pain, oversedation, or bleeding.
  9. 9Perform interventional procedures such as image-guided biopsy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, transhepatic biliary drainage, or nephrostomy catheter placement.
  10. 10Develop or monitor procedures to ensure adequate quality control of images.
  11. 11Provide counseling to radiologic patients to explain the processes, risks, benefits, or alternative treatments.
  12. 12Establish or enforce standards for protection of patients or personnel.
  13. 13Coordinate radiological services with other medical activities.
  14. 14Instruct radiologic staff in desired techniques, positions, or projections.
  15. 15Develop treatment plans for radiology patients.
  16. 16Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and develop expertise.
  17. 17Participate in quality improvement activities including discussions of areas where risk of error is high.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Physician
  • Radiologist
  • Mammographer
  • Radiologists
  • IR Technician
  • MSK Radiologist
  • Teleradiologist
  • Neuroradiologist
  • Nuclear Physician
  • Attending Physician

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationPost-doctoral training

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BiologyDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Medicine and Dentistry93%

    BiologyChemistry

  • Biology90%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • English Language86%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics78%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Education and Training74%
  • Customer and Personal Service73%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsOften
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

31%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

On Malaysia's official shortage list

TalentCorp and ILMIA's Critical Occupations List — evidence of a real hiring shortage in Malaysia right now.

Specialist Medical Practitioners · Shortage indicators met: INSUFFICIENT DATA

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Radiologists

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org