A career as a radiologist technician can be one of the most rewarding and potentially high income earning in the health care field.
Radiologist technicians also referred to as radiographers are allied healthcare professionals trained in the taking of x-rays, administering radioactive dyes into patient’s blood streams for purpose of disease diagnosis and injury detection.
The radiologist technician is responsible for producing clear x-ray images to aid the physician’s diagnosis.
He must also ensure staff and patient safety by minimizing their exposure to radiation and ensure that radiology equipment is functioning correctly.
Radiologist Technician Specialties
With further education and experience a radiologist technician may specialize in other imaging technologies such as Computed Tomography (CT) scanning, fluoroscopic imaging, mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to become a radiologic technologist.
Both these professionals may also be required to keep patient records, ensure proper maintenance of radiology equipment, organizing work schedules or even managing an entire radiology department to keep it running efficiently.
Accredited radiologist technician training programs are offered at universities, colleges, vocational schools and hospitals depending on the path a student wants to take into radiology.
Students can enroll in two year certificate programs at hospitals, two-year associate degree programs at community or technical colleges or four-year bachelor’s degree programs at several universities and colleges.
The most common path for this career is the associate degree. Training is both theoretical and practical and will include courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, imaging technology and principles, patient care and medical ethics.
After completion of approved and accredited training program radiology professionals may opt to take the certification exams administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
For certification you must take and pass a qualifying exam in addition to an ethics assessment. You must take at a minimum 24 continuing education credits every two years to maintain your certification.
Majority of employers prefer certified technicians and technologists and certification increases your earning potential significantly.
Radiologist Technician – Employment
Employment opportunities for both technicians and technologists are available primarily in hospitals but are also found in private doctors’ clinics, mobile x-ray units and diagnostic imaging laboratories.
Certification, experience, specialization and advanced education makes them more marketable to a wider variety of employers.
The salary range for both technicians and technologists vary greatly depending on several factors such as education level, experience, geographic location and type of employer but generally a radiologic technologist salary will be higher than a radiologist technician salary due to specialization.
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