Radiology
No Comments Simple Steps to Become a Radiology Technician
Learning to be a radiology technician is not as simple as many people may believe. There are educational requirements which must be met, as well as certification, and in some states licensing. A radiology technician has a choice of pursuing either a two year Associates degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree, depending on how motivated they are to pursue advancement within the field. In addition to their degree, a radiology technician needs to become certified.
Becoming Certified
Certification, according to AIMradiologymd.com, is accomplished by means of passing an exam offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, which is also known as the ARRT. Certification does not stop with just passing this exam. In order to maintain certification a radiology technician is required to complete 24 hours of continuing education each two years. Some states also require a radiology technician to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary from state to state so a radiology technician will have to consult the state in which they wish to work to find out what those requirements are.
Employment Future for a Radiology Technician
A radiology technician can expect a rosy employment future. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor, projections indicate a faster than average growth for this profession. Traditionally, hospitals have been the largest employer of radiology technicians, and while this will remain true, many job openings are going to be found in doctors offices, and especially some of the new diagnostic imaging centers.
A good way to guarantee your employability as a radiology technician is to become trained in more than one specialty. Those who are qualified for both CT scanning and MRI are going to be valued greatly by employers. Geographical location can play a part in finding employment also. Some areas already have as many radiology technicians as they can handle, while others are experiencing a shortage. For radiology technicians who are willing to relocate, and have training in multiple disciplines of diagnostic imaging, the employment future is nearly unlimited.
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