Radiology is one of the fastest growing professions in the medical field with demand for these professionals in hospitals, clinics, private doctors’ offices and diagnostic imaging centers is constantly growing.
Persons interested in a career in radiology can train as a radiology technician, a radiologic technologist, a radiation therapist or a radiologist.
The difference between a technician and a technologist is that a technician’s training is usually limited in scope while a technologist’s training is very rigorous and includes both didactic and clinical training.
Both technicians and technologists are responsible for preparing radiation equipment and ensuring that they function properly, correctly positioning patients before taking the X-ray.
However technologist is the more popular career path in the field of radiology. Radiologists are licensed physicians with a medical degree.
Getting Into The Right Radiology Schools
The career path you chose will determine the duration of your training but typically radiology schools offer two to four year training programs that lead to a certificate, associate degree or a bachelor’s degree.
Requirements for entry into the schools differ from one school to another but most require that students are at least 18 years of age with a high school or equivalent.
Applicants to radiology schools need to have taken science and math courses preferably biology, anatomy and algebra in high school.
Admission to schools with limited slots may be based on high grade point averages and placement tests.
Some radiology schools may also require that potential students to get firsthand knowledge of what a career in radiology entails by spending some time observing in a hospital radiology department.
Radiology training will include courses in anatomy and physiology, radiologic theory and science, medical terminology, radiologic procedures and safety.
These programs also include practical training through clinical rotations where students learn how to operate the equipment in addition to patient care.
It is important to choose a good radiology school as the type of school you graduate from determines what your radiologist salary will be.
Make Sure Your Radiology Schools Are Accredited
For instance, it is generally required that a radiology professional who wants to hold a supervisory position, teach or work in hospital administration, must have a degree from an accredited radiology school.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that the school you want to enroll in is accredited or certified by the Joint Review Committee on Education for Radiologic Technologists (JRCERT).
Other factors to consider when selecting a school include nature and scope of their training programs, average rate of students who pass the American Registry of radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam, facilities available and amount of research done.
Most importantly ensure that your radiology schools of choice are in line with your career goals.
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