Radiology is one of the most in demand specialized careers in the medical field since radiology technicians are required in all health settings such as hospitals, clinics, medical laboratories or private physician offices.
Radiology technicians are medical professionals trained in the use of medical imaging such as x-rays, ultrasound, MRI and CT Scans, for diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
To become a radiology technician there are several paths you can take so you must decide what level of education you want to undertake. Radiology schools offer training that lead to certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree.
Radiology Tech Education
The most popular degree is the two year associate degree but whichever path you take you must successfully complete the training.
The training prepares you to pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam for licensing purposes.
The ARRT exam is not mandatory but to get the title of Radiologic Technologist (RT) you must pass it. Most employers prefer to have certified radiology technicians.
There are many radiology schools in many states but ensure that the school you choose is ARRT accredited.
You must undertake continuing education of at a minimum 24 hours every two years to maintain the ARRT certification.
Advancing your education further to a bachelor’s degree or higher in addition to experience can make you eligible for supervisory positions.
Radiology Tech Salary Range
A career in radiology is highly lucrative. The ARRT puts the range of the radiology tech salary between $30,000 and $90,000 per year for the lowest and highest 5% of radiologists respectively. However several factors will determine what your radiology tech salary will be.
The level of education is very important for all medical jobs with income increasing the higher your education. However amount experience is possibly the most important factor that will determine your annual income.
The Factors That Determine Radiology Tech Salary
The more experience you have as a radiology technician the higher you salary will be. The radiology tech salary will also be dependent on the geographical location of the job. Salary ranges differ from state to state.
California is said to have the highest paid radiology technicians.
Your area of specialization is also a major determinant of how much you will earn for example those who can work with MRI typically earn more than those who work with CT scan.
However radiology technicians with knowledge of more than one medical imaging procedure have better job prospects. Type of employer is another factor that will determine your salary as a radiologist.
The government tends to pay the lowest radiology tech salary as compared to private medical diagnostic laboratory.
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