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Radiographers

Work abroad as a radiographer: UK, Ireland, EU and US (2026)

Radiography is regulated in every country MedicSail covers, but each one asks a different question: the UK and Ireland assess your training on paper, Germany checks equivalence and German, and the USA wants an ARRT-verified programme and an exam.

Overview

To work as a radiographer abroad you need HCPC registration in the UK, CORU registration in Ireland, state recognition in Germany, BIG registration in the Netherlands, and in the USA ARRT certification plus a state licence where required.

Only the US route has a mandatory exam; elsewhere the regulator compares your training with its standards. Radiographers produce the images that diagnosis depends on, using X-ray, CT, MRI and other modalities, and therapeutic radiographers (radiation therapists) plan and deliver radiotherapy for people with cancer. Because the work involves ionising radiation, radiography is a regulated profession in all five countries MedicSail covers, and each regulator checks your training before you can practise or use the title.

This page is for radiographers and radiologic technologists who qualified in one country and want to work in another: the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands or the USA. It sets out who regulates the profession in each country, what each one asks for, the English or local language level, the exams you may face, realistic timelines and official pay figures.

The routes fall into three groups. The UK (HCPC) and Ireland (CORU) assess your qualification and experience on paper against their standards of proficiency, and may ask for a compensation measure or a test of competence if they find gaps. Germany and the Netherlands run state recognition procedures that compare your training with the national qualification and add a language requirement in German or Dutch. The USA is different again: ARRT certification depends on completing an ARRT-verified educational programme and passing the ARRT exam, and most states add their own licence.

The single most important fact for an applicant is whether your training was diagnostic or therapeutic. The HCPC standards have separate sections for each, CORU's register covers radiographers and radiation therapists, Germany's MTR qualification is in radiology, the Dutch article 34 list names radiodiagnostisch and radiotherapeutisch laborant separately, and ARRT issues radiography and radiation therapy as separate credentials.

Language is the other big filter. Ireland sets a higher English standard for radiographers than for most other CORU professions (IELTS 7.0 with no band below 7.0), the UK asks for IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5, Germany asks for German at B2, and the Netherlands asks for Dutch through the NT2 State Exam plus English reading skills. Plan your language test around the strictest country on your list.

Qualifications

Minimum

A qualification in radiography (diagnostic or therapeutic) that gave you the right to practise in the country where you trained. CORU says you must be eligible to practise in at least one country; if radiography is not regulated where you qualified, it asks for one year of professional practice within the last ten years. For ARRT, an associate degree or higher plus an ARRT-verified educational programme.

Preferred

A bachelor's degree in diagnostic radiography or radiotherapy with documented clinical placement hours by modality, which makes the HCPC course information form, CORU's standards mapping and the German and Dutch equivalence checks easier. UK BSc and MSc graduates can use CORU's fast-track pathway.

Experience

No regulator sets a fixed number of years for qualified radiographers, but experience counts as evidence. The HCPC and CORU consider professional experience when deciding whether your training meets their standards, and the German and Dutch authorities take it into account in the equivalence assessment. ARRT does not accept work experience in place of its educational requirements.

Country by country

United Kingdom: HCPC

Radiographer, diagnostic radiographer, therapeutic radiographer (protected titles)

Requirements
An online international application with a course information form completed by your university, a radiographer standards of proficiency mapping document, professional references and the non-refundable £678.38 scrutiny fee. Two radiographer assessors decide on paper.
Exams
No written exam. Assessors may offer a test of competence, a structured professional discussion, usually held online on Microsoft Teams, which must be completed within 12 months.
English
IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5, TOEFL iBT at the HCPC's scores, or OET Radiography 1400 with no element below 300. Certificates must be no more than two years old. Exempt if your qualification was gained where English is the predominant language.
Timeline
The HCPC says about 3 months from a complete application to a first decision, then about 3 months of verification before you are invited to pay the registration fee.
Good to know
After acceptance you pay £370.02 to register. Radiographers are SOC 2020 code 2254, eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa with an NHS or NHS-supplier sponsor.
Radiographers in the United Kingdom: full guide
About the HCPCWorking in the United Kingdom

Ireland: CORU

Radiographer and radiation therapist (protected since 31 October 2015)

Requirements
Recognition of your international qualification by the Radiographers Registration Board against the CORU standards of proficiency, then a separate registration application with Garda vetting, a statutory declaration and police clearance. CORU's guidance and leaflet state a €510 application fee.
Exams
None as standard. If CORU finds substantial differences you complete a compensation measure: a supervised period of adaptation in Ireland of up to 3 years, or an aptitude test (€500, offered within six months).
English
IELTS Academic 7.0 with no element below 7.0, OET Radiography grade B (350) in all components, or Cambridge C1 Advanced grade C (minimum 185). IELTS must be a physical test; One Skill Retake is not accepted.
Timeline
CORU says recognition can take up to 4 months from the file being deemed complete. Incomplete applications are closed after six months.
Good to know
UK diagnostic radiography and radiotherapy graduates can use the Commonly Aligned Standards fast-track pathway with fewer documents.
Radiographers in Ireland: full guide
About CORUWorking in Ireland

Germany: State health authority (Land)

Medizinische Technologin / Medizinischer Technologe für Radiologie (MTR)

Requirements
Authorisation to use the professional title from the competent authority of the federal state where you will work. You need equivalence of your qualification, personal aptitude (certificate of good conduct), medical fitness and German. Documents must be in German, translated by sworn translators.
Exams
If your training is not equivalent, you can complete a compensation measure. For qualifications from outside the EU this is an adaptation period or a knowledge test; for EU qualifications, an adaptation period or an aptitude test.
Language
German at CEFR level B2. The Recognition Finder says you can provide the language certificate later in the procedure.
Timeline
The authority confirms receipt within one month. In Berlin, the Recognition Finder says you receive a decision within 3 months of a complete file, which can be extended in specific cases.
Good to know
In Berlin the Recognition Finder lists a procedure cost of €25 to €430, plus translations and any compensation measure. Costs and authorities differ by state.
Radiographers in Germany: full guide
Working in Germany

Netherlands: BIG

Radiodiagnostisch laborant / radiotherapeutisch laborant (article 34 protected training titles, not BIG-registered)

Requirements
Recognition of your foreign diploma by the CIBG. Diplomas from outside the EU go through the certificate of competence (verklaring van vakbekwaamheid); EU diplomas through recognition of professional qualifications. The Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates (CBGV) advises.
Exams
No BI test for this profession (the BI test is for doctors, dentists and nurses). The commission may require an adaptation internship or a practical skills test, or additional training of 3 months to 2 years.
Language
Dutch through the NT2 State Exam (or CNaVT from abroad) at the level the CIBG sets for your education level, plus an English reading certificate. The CIBG lists B2 Dutch and B1 English reading for hbo-level professions.
Timeline
The CIBG says the certificate of competence takes 6 to 18 months on average from a complete application. EU recognition takes a maximum of about three months once complete, extendable by one month.
Good to know
The CIBG says the certificate of competence application is currently free. Article 34 professionals may work from the moment they receive recognition, without BIG registration.
About the BIG registerWorking in the Netherlands

United States: ARRT

Registered Technologist in Radiography, R.T.(R)(ARRT)

Requirements
An associate degree or higher from an institution accredited by an ARRT-recognised agency, foreign transcripts evaluated by a member of AICE, CED or NACES, and completion of an ARRT-verified educational programme, plus the ethics requirement. ARRT makes no exceptions and does not accept work experience instead.
Exams
The ARRT radiography exam, computer-based at Pearson VUE test centres, mostly multiple-choice. Scaled score of 75 (on a 1 to 99 scale) to pass; three attempts within three years. Application fee $225.
English
ARRT's international page sets no separate English test; the exam is in English. Check your state board and visa requirements.
Timeline
ARRT says official results are available in about 10 business days after the exam. The main delay is completing an ARRT-verified programme if your foreign training does not qualify.
Good to know
New didactic and clinical competency requirements and exam content specifications take effect on 1 March 2027.
Working in the United States

United States: State licensing board

State licence in radiologic technology (title varies by state)

Requirements
ARRT says more than 75% of states have licensing laws for radiologic technology, and you apply directly to the state. Some, but not all, states require ARRT certification and registration first.
Exams
Many states use ARRT exam scores or credentials; ARRT also administers state licensing exams such as Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography.
English
Set by each state.
Timeline
Set by each state; apply after or alongside ARRT certification.
Good to know
ARRT certification does not by itself make you eligible to work in a particular state.
Working in the United States

The route, step by step

  1. Decide which side of radiography you are applying for

    Confirm whether your qualification is diagnostic radiography or radiotherapy (radiation therapy). Every regulator treats them separately, and applying for the wrong one wastes the fee. If your degree mixed both, gather module descriptions that show the balance.

  2. Check the regulator and route for your target country

    Use the HCPC international route for the UK, CORU recognition for Ireland, the Recognition Finder for Germany, the CIBG advice wizard for the Netherlands and ARRT's international page for the USA. Confirm that your exact programme qualifies before paying anything, especially for ARRT, which makes no exceptions.

  3. Pass the language test the strictest country needs

    For the UK and Ireland, IELTS Academic 7.0 in every band meets both HCPC and CORU radiographer rules; OET Radiography also works if you reach grade B in every part. For Germany you need B2 German, and for the Netherlands the NT2 State Exam plus an English reading certificate. Check that the certificate will still be within two years of your application date.

  4. Collect evidence from your university

    You will need transcripts, module content and clinical placement hours, ideally by modality. The HCPC needs a course information form completed by your university, CORU needs verified forms from your university and employer, and the German and Dutch authorities need evidence of the content and duration of your training. University paperwork is usually the slowest part.

  5. Get good standing and verification from every regulator

    Ask each regulator or licensing body you have been registered with for a certificate of good standing or verification. Germany asks for good conduct and medical certificates no more than three months old at application, so time those last.

  6. Arrange certified copies and sworn translations

    Ireland accepts certified copies only, signed by a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, Peace Commissioner or Notary Public. Germany requires documents in German by sworn or authorised translators. Do not post originals unless the regulator asks for them.

  7. Submit, respond quickly and complete any compensation measure

    Answer requests for information quickly: CORU closes incomplete files after six months and the HCPC withdraws applications after six months. If the regulator identifies gaps, you may be offered a test of competence (UK), an adaptation period or aptitude test (Ireland, EU applicants elsewhere) or a knowledge test (Germany, non-EU qualifications).

  8. Register, then secure the job and visa

    Recognition is not always registration: in Ireland you apply to register after CORU recognises your qualification, and in the USA most states require a licence on top of ARRT. In the UK, pay the HCPC registration fee and then apply for the Health and Care Worker visa with your sponsor.

Exam preparation

Most international radiographers do not sit a written exam in the UK, Ireland, Germany or the Netherlands: the regulators assess your training on paper and use a professional discussion, aptitude test, knowledge test or adaptation period only where they find gaps. The USA is the exception. The ARRT radiography exam is a computer-based exam at Pearson VUE, mostly multiple-choice with one best answer, scored on a 1 to 99 scale with 75 needed to pass, and you have three attempts within three years.

Tips

  • Download the ARRT radiography examination content specifications for the date you will test: a new version takes effect on 1 March 2027.
  • Practise with flagging: ARRT requires you to answer each question before moving on, so guess, flag and return to difficult items.
  • For an HCPC test of competence, prepare to explain your decisions, especially justification of examinations, radiation protection and image evaluation, against the HCPC radiographer standards.
  • For a CORU aptitude test, focus on the substantial differences listed in your decision letter; the test only assesses those areas.
  • For Germany's knowledge test, revise in German, because the test and the clinical vocabulary are in German.
  • Write a short evidence log of your experience in each modality (CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, theatres, radiotherapy planning) before you start any application; every regulator uses it.
  • Take the language test early and aim above the minimum, since a single low band can delay the whole application.

Topics that come up

  • Radiation protection and dose optimisation
  • Justification and authorisation of examinations
  • Patient care, consent and safeguarding
  • Image production and image evaluation
  • Radiographic positioning and procedures
  • Equipment operation and quality control
  • CT and MRI principles and safety
  • Contrast media and adverse reactions
  • Radiotherapy planning and treatment delivery (therapeutic applicants)
  • Professional ethics, scope of practice and record keeping

Pay by country

Pay figures come from official scales where they exist and are not directly comparable because of tax, hours and cost of living. The UK figures are NHS Agenda for Change pay points in England from 1 April 2026. The Irish figures are HSE consolidated salary scales from 1 June 2026. Germany and the Netherlands have no single national figure we could confirm, and the US figure is the BLS median, not a scale.

  • UK£32,073 to £39,043 (Band 5); £39,959 to £48,117 (Band 6), NHS 2026/27NHS Health Careers says radiographers typically start on Band 5. Band 7 is £49,387 to £56,515. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can differ.
  • Ireland€44,956 to €64,235 (Radiographer, HSE scale from 1 June 2026)Senior radiographer €59,046 to €68,374; radiation therapist €44,957 to €68,372. The top points include long service increments.
  • GermanySet by employer or the collective agreement that appliesNo single national rate. Ask each employer which collective agreement and pay group applies to the post.
  • NetherlandsSet by the collective labour agreement (CAO) that applies to the employerWe could not confirm a current figure from an official scale. Ask the employer which CAO and salary scale apply.
  • USA$80,110 median annual wage, radiologic technologists and technicians (BLS, May 2025)BLS gives $95,480 for MRI technologists. Pay varies widely by state and employer.

See your NHS band and annual pay

Career growth

Every country has a structured path from newly registered radiographer to specialist and advanced practice, and modality skills such as CT and MRI are the most common first step.

  1. Modality specialist (CT, MRI, mammography)

    In the UK, NHS Health Careers notes many diagnostic radiographers move into CT or MRI, often at Band 6. In the USA, ARRT offers postprimary credentials in computed tomography, MRI, mammography and other areas once you hold a primary credential.

  2. Senior and clinical specialist radiographer

    The HSE scale has separate grades for senior radiographer and clinical specialist radiographer, and the NHS uses Bands 6 and 7 for senior and advanced practitioner roles.

  3. Advanced practice and reporting

    The HSE has a candidate advanced practice radiographer grade, and NHS Band 7 and 8a posts include advanced and consultant-level roles. Banding for senior NHS roles is set locally by job evaluation.

  4. Radiologist assistant (USA)

    ARRT certifies the Registered Radiologist Assistant (R.R.A.) as an advanced-level credential for experienced radiographers.

  5. Service management

    The HSE scale has radiography service manager grades 1 to 3, and NHS service manager roles sit at Band 8a and above.

  6. Sonography

    NHS Health Careers notes some radiographers go on to become sonographers, and ARRT issues sonography credentials in the USA.

Common mistakes

  1. 1

    Applying as a diagnostic radiographer when your training was mostly radiotherapy, or the reverse; the standards and assessors differ.

  2. 2

    Booking IELTS for the UK minimum (6.5 in a band) and then finding that CORU needs 7.0 in every band for radiographers.

  3. 3

    Using an IELTS One Skill Retake for Ireland: CORU does not accept it, although the HCPC does within six months.

  4. 4

    Assuming ARRT will count your work experience: it will not accept experience in place of an ARRT-verified educational programme.

  5. 5

    Treating ARRT certification as a licence; many US states require a separate state licence.

  6. 6

    Letting a language certificate pass two years old before you submit; the HCPC and CORU both reject older certificates.

  7. 7

    Sending German good conduct or medical certificates too early; they must be no more than three months old when you apply.

  8. 8

    Expecting BIG registration in the Netherlands: radiographers are article 34 professions, so you need CIBG recognition, not a BIG number.

How we help radiographers

  • Review of your qualifications, transcripts, experience and current registration

  • Check against the published requirements of the regulators you choose

  • Check of how recent your practice is and whether any gap in practice affects your route

  • English or other language requirement for each route, with any exemption you may qualify for

  • Comparison of routes and countries, with the trade-offs explained

  • List of the exams, aptitude tests or adaptation periods each route is likely to involve

  • Written roadmap: exams, English test, documents, fees and timeline

  • Budget built from the official regulator, exam and verification fees, kept separate from our own fee

  • Flags for slow steps to start first, such as primary source verification and language learning

  • A call to walk you through the plan and answer your questions

What our eligibility assessment includesPackages and fees

Questions

Yes, once you are on the HCPC Register. Radiographer, diagnostic radiographer and therapeutic radiographer are protected titles. You apply through the HCPC international route, and two radiographer assessors decide on your training and experience; there is no written licensing exam.

The HCPC asks for IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5. CORU asks radiographers for more: IELTS Academic 7.0 with no element below 7.0, because of the risks of ionising radiation. If you plan to apply to both, aim for 7.0 in every band.

Yes, in both the UK and Ireland, but the scores differ. The HCPC accepts OET Radiography with 1400 overall and no element below 300. CORU asks for OET Radiography at grade B (350) in all four components.

CORU's guidance notes (revised 2026) and its applicant leaflet both state an application fee of €510, while its international qualifications FAQ page still shows €410. Check the figure in the CORU online portal before you pay. An aptitude test, if required, costs €500.

Yes. CORU's Commonly Aligned Standards fast-track pathway covers UK BSc and MSc qualifications in diagnostic radiography, radiotherapy and related programmes, with fewer documents and a shorter timeline. Check the CORU list to confirm your programme title is included.

The regulated title is Medizinische Technologin or Medizinischer Technologe für Radiologie (MTR), governed by the MT-Berufe-Gesetz (MTBG). You need authorisation to use the title from the competent authority in the federal state where you want to work, and German at level B2.

No. The BIG register lists radiodiagnostisch laborant and radiotherapeutisch laborant as article 34 professions with a protected training title, not BIG-registered professions. With a foreign diploma, you need recognition from the CIBG, and you may then work from the moment you receive it.

Only if you meet ARRT's educational requirements exactly: an associate degree or higher from an institution accredited by an agency ARRT recognises, foreign transcripts evaluated by a member of AICE, CED or NACES, and completion of an ARRT-verified educational programme. ARRT says it cannot make exceptions or accept work experience instead.

ARRT uses a scaled score from 1 to 99 and you need a total scaled score of 75 to pass. It is not a percentage. You are allowed three attempts within three years.

In many states, yes. ARRT says more than 75% of states have licensing laws covering radiologic technology, and you apply to the state separately. ARRT certification does not by itself make you eligible to work in a particular state.

The figures are not directly comparable because of tax, hours and cost of living. As published: NHS Band 5 starts at £32,073 in England (2026/27), the HSE radiographer scale starts at €44,956 (June 2026), and the BLS median for US radiologic technologists was $80,110 in May 2025.

Yes. The HCPC standards have separate sections for diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, CORU registers radiographers and radiation therapists, and ARRT treats radiography and radiation therapy as separate credentials. Apply for the side that matches your training.

Sources

  1. 1HCPC: International applications
  2. 2HCPC: Certificate of English language proficiency
  3. 3HCPC: Registration fees for applicants
  4. 4HCPC: What to expect when you make an international application
  5. 5HCPC: Test of competence
  6. 6HCPC: Standards of proficiency for radiographers
Show all 34 sources
  1. 7NHS Employers: Pay scales for 2026/27
  2. 8NHS Health Careers: Diagnostic radiographer
  3. 9CORU: About the Radiographers Registration Board
  4. 10CORU: How to apply (international applicants)
  5. 11CORU: Guidance notes for international qualification applicants (revised 2026)
  6. 12CORU: International applicant leaflet
  7. 13CORU: International qualifications FAQs
  8. 14CORU: Compensation measures
  9. 15CORU: Fast Track Pathway (Commonly Aligned Standards)
  10. 16CORU: Language requirements
  11. 17HSE: Consolidated salary scales from 1 June 2026
  12. 18Anerkennung in Deutschland: Recognition Finder, Medical technologist in radiology (Berlin)
  13. 19Gesetz über die Berufe in der medizinischen Technologie (MTBG)
  14. 20BIG-register: Overige beroepen (artikel 34 beroepen)
  15. 21BIG-register: Employee with a foreign diploma
  16. 22BIG-register: Certificate of competence
  17. 23BIG-register: Dutch language skills and English reading skills
  18. 24BIG-register: Processing time and costs
  19. 25BIG-register: Recognition of professional qualifications (EU)
  20. 26ARRT: International inquiries
  21. 27ARRT: Application fees
  22. 28ARRT: Radiography credential
  23. 29ARRT: Exam day
  24. 30ARRT: Exam scoring
  25. 31ARRT: After the exam (three attempts in three years)
  26. 32ARRT: State licensing
  27. 33BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Radiologic and MRI technologists
  28. 34NHS Employers: Recruitment of overseas allied health professionals

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