If you are wondering how to become a Radiology Technician you will need to be prepared to study as the minimum amount of radiology technician training to gain cerficate level qualification is 18 month with most certificate courses taking 24 months. Most people will complete at least four years to graduate with their Bachelor of Science degree.
How popular are radiologist jobs and courses?
With more people interested in working in this field, the courses at Radiology Technician schools can be very popular depending on what University or College you select. There is often an arduous application process to overcome before you start studying your radiology training. When you start looking at colleges check to see if they are accredited by the ARRT and also how their qualifications are received i.e. the success rate of their graduates in finding employment. Some courses are so well recognized that you are almost guaranteed a job if you graduate.
How can you be successful applying to radiology technician schools?
In order to shine at the interview stage for your selected radiology technician schools, you should find out what the selection requirements are. These are usually outlined on the website for each tech school. If a course is very popular there will be additional requirements on top of the educational ones. Most colleges would require you to have good SAT scores in Math, English and Natural Science. If you have not scored at least 18 then it might be worth re-sitting before you apply for a place.
One of the non educational requirements for radiology training is often an up to date CPR certification so you may want to have that completed prior to applying. Another element of most applications is full security clearance so if you have a clean criminal record keep it that way!
If you really want to be a radiologist and the competition to get into the course you want is very high, think about doing volunteer work at your local hospital. While you may not be able to work in the Radiology unit, hospital experience is still very relevant and shows the interviewer that you are serious about your quest to become a radiology technician. If you are a mature student i.e. you have completed some related medical education this should go in your favor.
Your fitness levels will also be taken into account as you will spend most of your time on your feet, moving heavy patients and/or equipment so you need to be in peak condition. If you are overweight and unfit you may want to work on this prior to attending your interview.
What will you study at Radiologist school?
When you start your radiology training you will initially learn how to use all sorts of x-ray equipment and how to correctly position patients who require different type of procedures. For example the process to x-ray a child’s broken leg is a lot different than that required in a head trauma case following a road traffic accident. Most of the better courses will provide you with clinical experience so when you graduate you don’t just know the theory behind what you have studied. The course will also cover patient care, ethics and may include radiation biology, ultrasound and scanning techniques depending on what level you study at.
Should you register with the ARRT?
If you are serious about your career you will register with the ARRT. To verify your qualifications you must register with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. You can get a job without having this accreditation but your chances of success are much higher with it. This is a two stage process. The first stage is to gain certification with the ARRT. This is a onetime process and you have to fulfill certain criteria based on qualifications, pass a certification exam and pay a one off fee.
The second step is the registration process. You must register and then renew this on an annual basis to prove that you continue to meet the criteria required to be a professional radiology technician. You will have to meet the minimum recorded number of continuing education requirements in order to remain registered and will also have to pay an annual fee. The ARRT keep an up to date list of all Radiologists registered with them but your employer may not require you to be on this register. It really depends on the State you work in as every State has different requirements.
How much is the average radiology technician salary?
The level of a radiology technician’s income depends on where he works the level of qualifications he has, whether he is accredited by the ARRT and his experience. A new graduate working in a hospital should expect to earn in the region of $30,000 rising to in excess of $75,000 with experience and specialization. The studies show that those who work in radiography will earn the least amount of money with those specializing in oncology or similar fields commanding higher salaries. Location also plays a part but then the higher salaries usually coincided with a higher cost of living.
Radiology technician training while difficult at times will lead to a rewarding career with plenty of diversification to suit all.