To become a radiographer in the UK, you'll complete a degree or postgraduate qualification in radiography approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), or a Level 6 degree apprenticeship, then register with the HCPC before you can practise. In the NHS, diagnostic radiographers typically start on band 5.
Radiography is a degree-level healthcare career that combines patient care with some of the most advanced technology in medicine. Here's how to get in, how to pay for training and what you'll earn.
Routes come from the National Careers Service radiographer profile and the NHS Health Careers diagnostic radiographer page. Pay comes from the NHS Agenda for Change rates from April 2026. All were read on 26 October 2026.
Diagnostic or therapeutic: choose first
The National Careers Service says your choice of degree depends on whether you want to work in diagnostic or therapeutic radiography. Diagnostic radiographers use imaging to look inside the body and help diagnose conditions. Health Careers describes using a CT scanner to make a 3D image for a surgeon or preparing a patient for an MRI scan. The degree you pick sets which path you're trained for, so decide before you apply.
The routes in
| Route | What it involves | Typical entry requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | HCPC-approved radiography degree, 3 or 4 years full time or up to 6 years part time | 3 A levels or equivalent, including at least 1 science |
| Postgraduate route | Fast-track qualification over 2 years for health professionals or graduates of a relevant degree | A degree in a relevant subject |
| Degree apprenticeship | Diagnostic or Therapeutic Radiographer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship | 4 or 5 GCSEs and A levels or equivalent |
| Work your way up | Start as a radiography assistant, then assistant practitioner, then study part time with employer support | Varies by employer |
How to become a radiographer, step by step
- Decide between diagnostic and therapeutic. It shapes which course you apply for.
- Get relevant experience. Health Careers suggests spending time with a radiography team to see what the role is like before you apply.
- Apply for an approved course or apprenticeship. Each university sets its own entry requirements and usually interviews applicants. You'll be asked how the NHS values apply in your everyday life.
- Complete your training. A degree takes three or four years full time, a postgraduate course about two.
- Register with the HCPC. You must be registered before you can start practising as a radiographer.
The funding detail people miss
Here's the part that makes a degree far more affordable. Health Careers says eligible students could receive £6,000 a year to help fund their studies while at university, and you never have to pay it back. Depending on your circumstances, you could get more. If you'd rather earn as you learn, the degree apprenticeship route means your employer and the government pay for your training while you work.
What radiographers earn in the NHS
Health Careers says diagnostic radiographers are paid on Agenda for Change and typically start on band 5. Here are the rates from April 2026:
| Band | Pay point | Annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Less than 2 years' experience | £32,073 |
| Band 5 | 2 to 4 years | £34,592 |
| Band 5 | 4 years or more | £39,043 |
| Band 6 | Less than 2 years' experience | £39,959 |
| Band 6 | 5 years or more | £48,117 |
Those figures are as of October 2026. Staff in London also receive a high cost area supplement on top of basic pay.
Hours and career progression
Health Careers says a standard week is around 37.5 hours, with the need to work flexibly over seven days, so expect some evening and weekend work.
As your career progresses, Health Careers says you could specialise in a type of imaging such as CT scanning, train further to become a sonographer, specialise in working with children, move into research or teaching, or head a radiography team with responsibility for budgets, staff and equipment. If you're also weighing medicine, compare this route with how to become a radiologist, the doctors who interpret many of the images radiographers take.
Skills you'll need
- Interest in science and technology
- Calm, reassuring communication with anxious patients
- Accuracy and attention to detail with positioning and safety
- Teamwork with doctors, nurses and other health professionals
- The ability to work flexibly across shifts
If nursing is also on your list, our guide on how to become a nurse compares a route with a different focus on hands-on care.
What a working day looks like
Health Careers says diagnostic radiographers are usually hospital based, working with patients and colleagues and supporting patients until their treatment ends. You'll explain each scan, position people carefully and make sure the images are good enough for doctors to use. Some days you'll be in a busy emergency department, other days in a planned clinic. It's a job where you'll use complex equipment, but it's still people who make or break your day, so warmth matters as much as technical skill.
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If you're not sure radiography is for you, it's worth asking a local hospital imaging department whether you can visit. Universities like to see that you've done this, and you'll find out quickly whether you're happy in a clinical setting.
My verdict
Radiography is a strong choice if you like science, technology and patients in equal measure. Pick diagnostic or therapeutic early, get some time with a radiography team and apply for an HCPC-approved degree or apprenticeship. With up to £6,000 a year in non-repayable support for eligible students and a band 5 start, it's one of the better-funded routes into an NHS career.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications do you need to be a radiographer?
A degree or postgraduate qualification in radiography approved by the HCPC, or a Level 6 degree apprenticeship. Degree entry is typically 3 A levels including at least 1 science.
How long does it take to become a radiographer?
A degree takes three or four years full time or up to six years part time. Some postgraduate courses take two years.
Do radiographers need to register?
Yes. You need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council before you can start practising.
How much do radiographers earn in the NHS?
Diagnostic radiographers typically start on band 5, which runs from £32,073 to £39,043 from April 2026.
Is there funding to study radiography?
Health Careers says eligible students could receive £6,000 a year that never has to be paid back.
Can you become a radiographer through an apprenticeship?
Yes. There's a Diagnostic or Therapeutic Radiographer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
Can a radiographer become a sonographer?
Yes. Health Careers says that as your career progresses you could undertake further training to become a sonographer.
