Many IMG radiologist come up with question about their future as radiologists if they immigrate to the US. If you have done with your diagnostic radiology outside the U.S., its territories, or Canada then you either need to repeat your residency in the US in an IMG friendly program or follow the alternative pathway set by the American Board of Radiology to ease the way for foreign radiologist to get the ABR certification without the hassle of applying to this very competitive residency (where applicable). The IMG radiologist must serve four continuous years as a full-time member of the department in any
combination of the following categories: resident, ACGME-accredited fellowship, non-
accredited fellowship, or faculty. This should be done in an ACGME-accredited residency
training program and requires the sponsorship of the department chair of the institution in
which the IMG is a faculty member or fellow. The department chair establishes a
prospective four-year plan with the individual, attests to the plan in writing to the ABR, and
monitors and reports to the ABR on a yearly basis the individual IMG’s progress on the path
to certification. The required admission process to the alternate pathway to ABR
certification is (1) documentation of training and certification obtained internationally, and (2)
submission of the completed and signed form, “Sponsoring Department Agreement: IMG
Alternate Pathway for Diagnostic Radiology Certification” . An application fee is
required. The applicant must posses the ECFMG certificate to be eligible for the radiology alternative pathway.
