Pathways to pursue
Which IR residency route is right for you?
If you become an interventional radiologist, you’ll join the 2,000+ SIR trainee members worldwide considering or participating in these pathways. See your options below:
Integrated IR residency
The integrated interventional radiology (IR) residency is 5 years in length (a total of 6 years of post-graduate training with the required internship year) and is available to medical students. The curriculum is concentrated on diagnostic radiology in the first three years and interventional radiology in the last 2 years.
- Program Year 1: One year of ACGME-approved nonradiology clinical training (internship)
- Program Years 2-4: Diagnostic radiology training and three IR rotations
- Program Years 5-6: Two years of IR training
Independent IR residency
The independent interventional radiology (IR) residency is 2 years in length (total of 7 years of postgraduate training) and is only available to graduates of a diagnostic radiology residency.
- Program Year 1: One year of ACGME-approved nonradiology clinical training (internship)
- Program Years 2-5: Diagnostic radiology residency
- Program Years 6-7: Two years of IR residency training
Independent IR residency with ESIR
Many diagnostic radiology residencies have an approved early specialization in interventional radiology designation, or ESIR. Diagnostic radiology residents who complete ESIR training may be able to finish their independent interventional radiology (IR) residency program in 1 year.
- Program Year 1: One year of ACGME-approved nonradiology clinical training (internship)
- Program Years 2-5: Diagnostic radiology residency with ESIR: Program requires completion of 12 IR or IR-related rotations and at least 500 image-guided procedures within the IR domain
- Program Year 6: One year of IR residency training