How many years to become a Radiologist Technician?
A Radiologist technician is an essential member of the healthcare team. Become a Radiologist Technician! (also called Radiologic Technologists, Rad Techs or Xray Techs) make up the third-largest group of health care professionals in the United States. In this post, we will tell you how you can become a Rad Tech and how many years it will take you to obtain your degree and certification.
The radiologist technician’s primary role is to operate X-ray imaging equipment and perform technical procedures to create images of internal organs, bones, and tissues.
Their work is very important because they help physicians diagnose a wide range of injuries, like fractures resulting from trauma, accidents, as well as other diseases, so that the physician can find an appropriate treatment.
Radiologist technicians can perform a variety of exams, and work with different equipment like portable X-rays machines, fluoroscopy equipment, or C-arm equipment and work in the operating room (OR) alongside surgeons.
As a Rad tech you will be able to work at different healthcare facilities. That will depend on your availability, your personality, interests, and aptitudes. You could work at hospitals (Trauma hospitals, Children’s Hospitals, Cancer Centers), outpatient clinics, orthopedic clinics, or free-standing ERs.
How much do Radiologist Technicians make?
According to the latest data from the Percentile wage estimates for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of 2021:
A Radiologist technician’s average salary ranges from $ 46,850 – $ 94,880, depending on the state, the medical facility, and how many years of experience they have.
The hourly rate can be as low as $22.53 p/hr., and it can go as high as $ 45.62 per hour.
Become a Radiologist Technician in the United States!
How to become a radiologist technician in the United States
To become a Rad Tech, you will need to obtain an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in a Radiography program.
There are a lot of colleges and universities in the United States that offer programs to study a degree in radiologic technology.
For example, in Florida there are 29 colleges and universities with radiologic technology degree programs, you can find schools here.
What are the prerequisites for admission?
It will depend on the college or university, but you will usually need to complete some general education requirements in communications, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, and science.
Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists national credentialing examination
How many years does it take to become a Radiologist Technician?
The Radiography Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is a two-year program that prepares you to go directly into a specialized career as a Radiologist Technician.
Career outlook
Radiography is a challenging and growing profession with wide range of career advancement opportunities.
The average job placement after graduation is particularly good, but it will depend on the student. You can get hired right away, or it might take you 3, 6 months. In 2022, there is high demand for radiologist technicians all over the United States.
Some radiologist technicians may choose to specialize in additional diagnostic imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine/positron emission tomography (PET/CT), mammography, angiography, and quality assurance.
If you want to know how you can start earning up to $4000 a week, we recommend you read the related article How to Become a CT tech
With professional experience and additional education, management and education are additional career options. You can also pursue a career as a radiologist assistant.
What is a Radiologist Assistant?
A radiologist assistant (RA) is an advanced practice radiologic technologist who works under the supervision of a Radiologist. A Radiologist is a physician that reviews and interpret x-rays, CTs, and other medical images to diagnose injuries or diseases, recommending treatment or additional testing.
The role of an RA is to enhance patient care by assisting the radiologist with patient assessment, patient management, and radiological procedures.
In this role, you’ll ultimately learn to perform many procedures that a Radiologist would otherwise do. The RA also makes initial observations of diagnostic images but does not provide an official interpretation in the form of a written report (Advanced Practice Advisory Panel, 2002).
How can I become a Radiologist Assistant?
You can become a Radiologist Assistant with a master’s degree in Radiologic Science.
The RA program is only 24 months in length.
In the United States, you can find RADIOLOGIST ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS in California, Texas, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah.
For additional information regarding this new and exciting healthcare career, see the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
Conclusion:
As you can see, you can Become a Radiologist technician is a fulfilling career choice with a huge potential for professional development and growth that offers job security and above-average pay. There are several career paths that you can pursue, and you can also become a traveler Rad tech and earn up to $3500 per week.
