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Radiologist technicians are doctors who use pictures, like x-rays, to figure out what’s wrong with someone’s health. If you want to work in health care, you might be able to become a radiology technician faster than with other jobs. If you know more about the job requirements, the duties, and the average salary, you might be able to decide if this is the right medical job for you. This article answers some common questions about how to become a radiology technician, like how long it takes to get started in this field.
A radiologist technician also called a radiology tech or radiologic technician works in the medical field and takes pictures of internal organs, bones, and tissues to help doctors make diagnoses. To figure out what’s wrong, they may use x-rays, computer tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Their daily jobs depend on what they specialize in, but here are some of the most common ones:
Preparing someone for an imaging test
Different places have different requirements for becoming a radiology technician, but here are some of the most common ones:
Education Radiologists have to finish a course of study before they can get their license. They must first graduate from high school or get a GED. Then, they can choose one of the following routes based on where they are and what they want:
Certificate program: People who want to become radiology technicians in some states can complete a certification program at a local college, hospital, or online. These programs can be finished in one to two years, but most of them require applicants to have had medical training or experience before. Associate degree: Most people who work as radiology technicians get an associate’s degree. The majority of these programs are two years long. Students can take science, health,
and radiology classes. Some schools offer a Bachelor of Science in Radiology Science. Students in this program can choose to learn about radiology. This isn’t usually required for this job, but it could help radiology techs get a better job or qualify for a position in management.
Certification
Many states and organizations require radiologic technologists to join the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). For the ARRT to certify a person, they must meet the following criteria:
a minimum of an associate’s degree
Think about your morals and ethics.
Do well on the ARRT test.
Those who want to work as radiology technicians must first get the ARRT general radiology certification. If they want, they can also get a special certification in something like sonography or mammography. You need to pass another test to do this.
Radiology technicians must get recertified every two years through the ARRT in order to keep their licenses. Keeping up with the latest radiological technology means taking more classes or getting more training.
Licensing
Radiology technicians need to have a license in most states. As part of the licensing process, many of these states use the results of the ARRT exam and registration. There may be a different test in some states. If you want to be a radiology technician, you should find out what the rules are in your state before you decide what to do next.
Radiologic technologists work with both patients and other people who work in health care. They need to be able to talk to patients about medical procedures and work with doctors, which means they need good communication skills. Problem-solving: Radiology techs have to figure out how to fix problems and set up the equipment so that the images are clear when they do imaging tests. Radiology techs need to be organized because they keep medical records on patients and may send images to more than one doctor or nurse. For accuracy, they have to pay close attention to the details and be good at organizing. Medical and anatomical knowledge: To do their jobs every day, radiology technicians need a lot of medical and anatomical knowledge. For accurate diagnostic images, they need to know how the body works and what common diseases look like.
To work as a radiologist, you need a license in most states. Different places have different rules about what you need to do to get a license, but in most cases, you need an associate’s degree, to have passed the ARRT exam, and to have an ARRT certificate. How to get a license is different in each state, and some states may let radiology technicians work after they finish a certification program or join the ARRT.
Depending on where you live and what you’ve done in the past, becoming a radiologist technician can take anywhere from one to four years. In some states, a radiologist tech can work after finishing a one-year certification program if they have experience working in the medical field.
Most states require radiology technicians to have an associate degree, which takes at least two years to get. Some people who want to be technicians finish part-time programs where they work during the day and go to school at night or on the weekends. Finishing one of these programs can take more than two years. Some radiologist technicians decide to get a bachelor’s degree in science instead of an associate degree. At least four years will be needed to finish this.
Most people who want to become radiology technicians also have to pass an exam and get a license, which can take a few months.
How much does a radiologist tech make?
X-ray technicians make an average of $57,546 per year across the country as type of radiology technician. Some of the benefits of this job are health insurance, savings for retirement, and paying for school so you can learn more. Salary can vary based on where you work, what kind of healthcare organization you work for, how much education you have, and what you specialize in.
Radiologic technologists can work in a variety of areas of health care. Each specialty may have different daily tasks, average salaries, and requirements. To become a specialist in radiology in most states, you need to get more certifications. Some of their specialties are:
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