HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Radiographer (X-ray, CT and MRI Technologist)
Operates X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound machines to produce scans that doctors use to diagnose illness.
Physics, Chemistry and Biology needed After Class 12 Private sector
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
People in this work enjoy
- Working with machines and seeing what is happening inside the body
- Helping nervous patients feel safe and calm
- Being part of a team with doctors, nurses and other technologists
It may not suit you if you dislike
- Shifts, night duty and weekend rotas, especially in hospitals
- Long hours on your feet, and lifting or moving patients who cannot walk
- Years of study, plus registration rules that are still settling
- Class 11–12 subjects
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB), with English. Most colleges ask for about 50% in Class 12, though some list 40% or 60%. Some colleges also accept PCM, and a few accept Maths in place of Biology.
- First degree
- B.Sc in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT). It usually runs 3 years plus a 1-year internship, though some colleges list 4 years in all. A new 2-year Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (D.MRIT) is also being introduced.
- Entrance exams
- NEET is usually not needed for this course. Admission is mostly on Class 12 marks. Some colleges use their own test, a state or university entrance exam, or AIIMS's paramedical entrance. Check each college's notice.
- Licence or registration
- You must be registered with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), in the State or Central Register, before you practise.
Subjects that keep this door openClass 11–12: Physics + Chemistry + Biology.Physics, Chemistry and Biology needed.Way back: You can add the missing subject later as an extra subject (for example through NIOS) and still apply, but check the exam's and college's rules. A longer road, but open.Check your subjects against every career
What the work is like
Operating X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound machines; positioning patients; checking that images are clear enough for the doctor; following radiation safety rules; keeping equipment and records in order.
A day in the work
You begin by checking the list of patients and the doctor's request for each scan. You position the patient, set the machine, and make sure protective shields are in place before each X-ray or CT. You check each image for clarity and repeat a scan if needed. Between patients you calm anxious people, especially children and older adults, and explain each scan in simple words.
Professional qualificationRun by National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), under the NCAHP Act, 2021. You can start after: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Minimum time: 3 to 4 years after Class 12 for the B.MRIT degree; 2 years for the D.MRIT diploma.
The full route: exams, training, registration
- Step 1 · Class 11–12Take Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Keep your English and maths steady too, because the course is taught in English and has a lot of physics.
- Step 2 · Class 12Pass with PCB and the minimum marks your college asks for. Apply through merit or the college's entrance test. Check the admission notice of each college, since rules differ.
- Step 3 · 3–4 yearsStudy the B.MRIT course: anatomy, radiation physics, and hands-on work with X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound. The final year is a clinical internship in a hospital. (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 4 · After the degreeRegister with the NCAHP under the 2026 registration rules. Registration is needed before you practise, and it has to be renewed every five years.
- OptionalTake an M.Sc or a PG diploma in CT, MRI, mammography or nuclear medicine to go deeper into one area.
Ways in
- RouteB.Sc in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (degree, about 3 to 4 years including internship). This is the main route for most students.
- RouteD.MRIT diploma (2 years including a 6-month internship). It is a shorter entry into the field, and it can lead to the degree later through an upgrade route.
- Under the 2026 registration rules, a person can practise only after registration. Registration is valid for five years and must be renewed with continuing professional development.
- The D.MRIT diploma curriculum was notified on 30 September 2026. Colleges must follow it from the 2027-28 academic year, and may adopt it from 2026-27.
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (PCB subjects) | 2 years | Your school's fees | Your school's fees | — |
| Class 12 pass and college admission (merit or entrance test) | Check the notice | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page | Some private colleges give fee waivers based on Class 12 marks |
| Route 1: B.Sc in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT), incl. internship | 3–4 years | AIIMS Delhi B.Sc: about ₹1,195 first-year fee (third-party listing, check prospectus) | About ₹4.29 lakh for full course (one private university listing) | Some AIIMS Rishikesh internships carry a stipend (reported) |
| Route 2: D.MRIT diploma, incl. 6-month internship | 2 years | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page | — |
| NCAHP registration (before practising; renew every 5 years) | Check your State Council | Check the NCAHP notice for registration fee | Check the NCAHP notice for registration fee | — |
Total timeAbout 3 to 4 years after Class 12 for the B.MRIT degree; 2 years for the D.MRIT diploma
Total costGovernment and AIIMS-run colleges charge low fees, while private colleges can cost about ₹4.29 lakh for the full course.
Good to knowFees vary widely, so check each college's fee page; the AIIMS figure is a third-party listing that may be out of date.
Fees from: Brainware University B.MRIT course and fee page (private institution). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Pay depends on your qualification, the type of hospital or centre, the city, and your experience; people with MRI or CT skills and several years of work usually earn more than fresh graduates.
Myth and fact
Myth: You need NEET to become a radiographer.
Fact: NEET is the entry exam for MBBS, which leads to doctors such as radiologists. The B.Sc in medical imaging usually admits students on Class 12 marks or its own test, and NEET is not usually needed for it.
For girls and students with disabilities
Government and AIIMS-run seat tables include reserved seats for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and persons with disabilities (reported, from seat matrices). Private colleges set their own rules, so check each college's notice.
Try it now
- Class 7–9Watch a free video on how bones, lungs and the heart work. Then draw the body part and label what it does, in your notebook.Open link ↗
- Class 10–12Ask your family doctor or a local government hospital if you can visit the X-ray or scan department for a morning as a supervised observer. Ask the hospital for permission first.
- College or afterSearch NPTEL for a free course on human anatomy or the physics of radiation, and finish one unit this month.Open link ↗
Good to know
- A radiographer is not a doctor. A radiologist is a doctor (MBBS, then MD or DNB in radiology) who reads and reports the scans. The radiographer runs the machine and makes sure the images are good.
- The rules are new. The NCAHP registration regulations were notified in August or September 2026 (reports differ on the exact date), and some State Councils are still being set up. Check the current position with your State Council before you accept a job.
- Radiation safety in India also falls under the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), so safety rules are part of the daily work, not just a classroom subject.