What does a Radiology Technician do?
A radiology technician takes X-rays of patients to help doctors diagnose the patient’s issue. They prep patients for an X-ray, operate the X-ray equipment, and maintaining patient records. When you conduct career or educational program research, bear in mind that radiology technicians are also called radiographers or X-ray techs.
Radiology technicians are often responsible for explaining the X-ray procedure to patients, positioning the patient in the right spot, and controlling the equipment so that the radiographs are of the correct contrast, detail, and density.
These technicians work under the supervision of a physician, usually in hospitals or diagnostic imaging centers. They also generally work 40-hours per week, though schedules may fluctuate according to your employer. For example, some radiographers work for multiple employers or travel to patients with their equipment.
This job can be quite physical and requires you to be on your feet most of the day. You may also need to help lift disabled patients or heavy machinery, so it is important that you are capable of these kinds of tasks if you’re considering this career path.
How to Become a Radiology Technician
You will need some education and training to take advantage of this career. The most common way is by earning a 2-year associate degree in radiography accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Bachelor degrees are also available, but take longer and are much less common.
Certification may or may not be required depending on state law but many employers ask for certification regardless, and being certified can certainly help give you a competitive edge. You can get your certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) if you meet their educational and ethics requirements and pass a certification exam. You will need to have at least an associate degree in radiography from an accredited educational program, and be free of any felony or misdemeanor convictions.
Continued Career Research
You can also learn more about this career field directly from the ASRT website (American Society of Radiologic Technologist).
Radiologic Technology Scholarship from ASRT.org
You can also check out scholarship opportunities available for those entering a radiologic technology program directly from the ASRT Foundation.