Radiology Technician Training

Schools by State
for Radiologic Tech:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SD TN TX VA VT WA WI WV WY

Career Highlights for
Radiologic Tech

Training generally required for this career includes: Associate degree.

Jobs and Salary
Median Salary (2008)	$52,210
Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs	Very Low
Jobs (2006)	196,000
Job Growth (2006-2016)	15.1%
Jobs (2016 forecast)	226,000

Flexibility
Working Part-Time	17%
Self-Employed	1%

Education of Current Workers
Bachelor Degree or Higher	25%
Some College	68%
High School or Less	7%

Relevant Job Titles

(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)

3D Technologist
Angiogram Special Procedures Technologist
Bone Densitometrist
CAT Scan Technologist (Computed Axial Tomography Technologist)
Cat Scanner Operator
Computed Tomography Radiologic Technologist (CT Rt)
Computed Tomography Technician (CT Technician)
Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Technologist)
CT Scan Special Procedures Technologist
CT Scan Technologist (Computed Tomography Scan Technologist)
CT/MRI Technologist (Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist)
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist
Diagnostic Radiological Technologist
EEG Technician (Electroencephalographic Technician)
EEG Technician (Electroencephalographic Technician)
EKG Tech (Electrocardiographic Technician)
Electroneurodiagnostic Technician (ENDT)
Imaging Specialist
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Special Procedures Technologist (MRI Special Procedures Technologist)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician (MRI Technician)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician (MRI Technician)
Mammographer
Mammographer
Mammography Technician
Mammography Technologist
Mammography Technologist
Medical Imaging Technician
MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist)
Nuclear Medicine Technician
Picture Archiving and Communication Systems Administrator (PACS Administrator)
Radiation Therapist
Radiographer
Radiographer
Radiographer Technologist
Radiography Technician
Radiologic Technician (RT)
Radiologic Technologist
Radiologic Technologist (RT)
Radiologic Technologist, Registered (RT(R))
Radiological Technician
Radiological Technologist
Radiological Technologist
Radiology Assistant
Radiology Technician
Radiology Technologist
Radiology Technologist
Radiology Therapist
Ray Technicians
Ray Technologist
Registered Radiographer
Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R)(M))
Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R))
Special Procedures Radiologic Technologist
Staff Radiographer
Staff Radiologist
Staff Technologist
Ultrasound Technologist
X Ray Operator
X-Ray Technician (X-Ray Tech)
X-Ray Technologist
X-ray Technologist

Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Radiologic Technician Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

When patients get x-rays at doctors' offices, dentists' offices or hospitals, radiologic technicians (also called radiologic technologists or radiographers) work with them to make sure the images are clear and accurate. They follow the orders of physicians to determine locations within patients' bodies that need to be imaged. Specific responsibilities include:

Carrying out the orders of physicians for specific radiographic images
Explaining imaging procedures to patients
Preparing patients by asking them to remove jewelry and other items that can interfere with the imaging process
Preparing and administering materials such as contrast medium by injection or other methods to help obtain accurate and detailed imaging
Helping patients get positioned properly for the best view
Preventing unnecessary exposure to radiation by setting the x-ray beam to a certain size and shielding areas surrounding the location to be imaged
Setting the x-ray beam to the right angle, height, contrast, density and detail
Placing x-ray films behind or under patients to capture images
Taking radiographic images
Removing x-ray films and developing them
Following safety standards to protect themselves and others from exposure to radiation
Documenting patient information
Maintaining and adjusting equipment

Radiologic technicians may specialize in mammography, which uses low-dose x-rays to take images of breasts. They may also specialize in computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both of which take many cross-section images for 3-D viewing.

Radiologic Technology Degrees and Radiologic Technology Schools

A career in radiologic technology often starts with a two-year associate's degree from a community college or vocational school. Radiologic technicians may pursue bachelor's degrees if they are interested in administrative, supervisory or teaching roles. Certificate programs last one year, and are usually for students who are already healthcare professionals.

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) accredits most radiologic technology programs.

Radiologic Technology Classes

Students in radiologic technology educational programs divide their time between class and supervised clinical experience. Courses typically include:

anatomy and physiology
caring for and proper positioning of patients
the physics of radiation
safety standards and protection from radiation
principles of imaging and radiobiology
pathology
medical terminology
ethics

Online Radiologic Technology Classes and Programs

There are many online degree programs that are accredited by JRCERT. These programs usually work with local healthcare facilities to provide supervised clinical experience, and may provide job placement assistance.

Any distance-learning program should also be accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Radiologic Technician Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is required by most schools for admission into a program. They may also require college entrance score exams, previous relevant work experience and prerequisite courses.

State requirements for licensure vary, but most states do require that radiologic technicians be licensed. To obtain a license, most states require graduation from an accredited program and certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Even in states that do not require that graduates pass the ARRT exam, being certified can help with landing a job and career advancement.

How to Evaluate Radiologic Technology Schools

The following questions can be helpful to ask when evaluating radiologic technology degree programs:

Accreditation - Is the program accredited and in good standing with JRCERT? Does the state in which the student plans to work recognize the program's accreditation?
Focus - Are courses and practical experience geared towards preparing students for ARRT certification?
Class structure - Is class size suitable for optimal learning? Are courses difficult to get into?
Practical experience - Does the program require substantial clinical experience? Are there plenty of good opportunities to choose from?
Tuition and financial aid - What financial aid options are available for students, including grants, scholarships, work / study and student loans?
Graduate success - Over the past several years, what percentage of graduates were successfully certified? How effective is the program in job placement?

Relevant Schools That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site

School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.

School	Campuses	Awards	Info
Angley College	Online	Diploma	Info From School
Apollo College	OR	Diploma	Info From School
Argosy University	MN	Associate	Info From School
Baker College Campus	MI	Associate, Bachelor	Info From School
Bohecker College	OH	Associate	Info From School
Career Technical College	LA	Associate	Info From School
Colorado Technical University	MO	Associate	Info From School
Kaplan College	CA	Certificate, Diploma	Info From School
Medical Careers Institute	VA	Associate	Info From School
Pioneer Pacific College	OR	Associate	Info From School
Remington College	TX	Diploma	Info From School
Sanford-Brown College	OH, MO	Associate	Info From School
Spencerian College	KY	Associate, Diploma	Info From School
Ultimate Medical Academy	FL	Certificate	Info From School
Vatterott College	IA	Associate	Info From School

Listed below are some of the careers in the US with the most job openings and/or fastest growth, according to US government statistics and BrainTrack's own analysis. BrainTrack's profiles for these careers overview responsibilities, degrees, areas of study, career requirements, online study options, and how to evaluate relevant schools. Each profile also lists relevant US schools including those in each state.

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