Becoming a Radiology Technician: Requirements, Certification & Specializations

Certified radiologist technician programs are offered at the certificate, associate's degree, and bachelor's degree levels. Associate's degree programs are the most common for this position and begin with classroom study exclusively. Courses may cover the following topics:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Human anatomy and physiology
• Imaging and patient care procedures
• Medical terminology
• Radiologic physics

Once students complete their core requirements, they may gradually advance into clinical practice, working with doctors and patients within a healthcare facility. Most associate's degree programs take around two years to complete, while bachelor's degree programs usually take four years. Certificates are offered over a range of time periods, but most can be completed in a year or less.

Radiologist technicians begin working with new patients by explaining the X-ray procedure and asking them to remove any metallic items (jewelry and watches) that can block X-rays, as well as obtaining medical consent and providing any other important information. They then position patients for optimal imaging and drape them with lead blankets to protect against needless exposure to radiation. After adjusting the X-ray machine's control for proper detail and contrast, they take the images.

Radiologist technicians also keep records and perform light maintenance. Depending on their experience and seniority, radiology technicians may even prepare work schedules or evaluate equipment purchases. They often work alongside doctors or nurses, especially in a hospital setting.

Most states mandate that radiologist technicians be licensed. Requirements vary but generally include completing an accredited radiography program and passing a state board licensing exam. States may accept the results of a voluntary certification exam offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in place of the state exam; however, applicants may wish to contact their respective state boards to find out for sure (www.arrt.org). Further specialization may require another certification exam by the ARRT.

Certification from ARRT requires completing an ethics assessment and passing a qualifying exam. The exam is computer-based and must be taken at an approved testing center. Those who pass are required to complete 24 continuing education credits every two years or successfully complete an additional ARRT-approved examination in order to keep their licenses current.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that job opportunities for health technicians are expected to grow by 7% for the years 2019-2029, which is faster than the national average for all occupations. The BLS reported in May 2019 that radiologic technologists and technicians earned $60,510 as a median annual wage.

Remember, radiologist technicians complete an accredited associate's degree, bachelor's degree or certificate program in a related field of study. They are required to be licensed by most states, which usually includes completing the radiologic technologist education requirements education requirements and passing an exam. The job growth in this field is faster than the job market as a whole, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Radiology technicians must have the following competencies and proficiencies:

• Excellent mathematics skills - the ability to adjust images proportionally and take measurements is very important for patient safety.
• Ability to take initiative - understanding your job and making accurate and sensible decisions will keep your patients safe and help you advance both your skills and career.
• Interpersonal skills and excellent bedside manner - working with patients in need of X-rays or other scans requires working with people who may be afraid, injured, or traumatized; part of your job is making sure that your patients are calm, fully consenting, and well-informed.
• Attention to detail - all medical professionals need to be especially careful and have good attention to detail in order to keep patients and themselves safe.
• Ability to follow complex directions - radiologists have to accurately operate complex machinery in order to help doctors and other medical professionals diagnose patient conditions.
• Communication skills - communicating with doctors, nurses, patients, and patients' families is all part of a radiology technician's job.

It's possible to remain relatively unspecialized, in which case you'll most likely be conducting standard X-rays. That said, when becoming a radiology technician, you'll have the opportunity to choose a specialization that allows you to work with particular kinds of equipment or patients. For instance, you might specialize in:

• Brain imaging
• Cellular imaging
• Computerized tomography (CT)
• Dental x-rays
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiology
• Mammography
• Medical imaging
• Sonography

Any one of these specializations will potentially require specialized training and, in some cases, further certification. Consider which areas of radiology interest you the most when choosing your area of specialization.