How To Become A Radiology Technician
X-ray technicians are increasingly in high demand in hospitals, dental and medical practices, and diagnostic imaging centers. And they are an important member of the overall patient diagnostic team and they work along with radiologist, nurses, and doctors to take the x-rays which are utilized to help perform a diagnosis of the patient’s health issues. Most of us have had an x-ray at some point in our lives, or at least have taken a friend or family to the dreaded x-ray machine to see if a bone has been broken.
X Ray Technician Schools In California
X Ray Technician Salary
X Ray Technician Certification
The people who are operating those x-ray machines are technicians who have received the skills and training to be able to operate those machines effectively and to provide a diagnosis of any potential problems. There are now 33 X Ray technician schools in California.
So before you can stand in front of those huge x-ray machines and push the buttons there is a significant amount of work and education that has to take place first. Here is a basic overview of how to become a Radiology Technician and receive your certification, by completing the requirements that you will need to follow if you are considering a career as an x-ray tech:
- You will need to have successfully completed a high school education including taking courses such as mathematics, anatomy, biology, and other sciences.
- Following high school, you will need to take, at minimum, a two year associate degree program.
- This program will include certain components including classroom studies of applied sciences and other courses such as physiology, anatomy, psychology, functions of the body, physics, medical terminology, writing and other liberal sciences.
- There will also be professional course work and clinical instruction.
- You will need to re-qualify by taking the re-certification exam every two years.
- Of course, when it comes to finding a job, if you have any experience that will tend to put you closer to the top of the list. So internships or volunteering are good ways to start out.
Once you have completed all the requirements on how to become a radiology technician, you will be able to look forward to a very exciting job in a variety of places. You will be working closely with the patients helping them to understand the procedure and ensuring that they are at ease with the process.
You will need to be prepared to answer a lot of questions and also preparing the patient for the actual x-ray procedure. You will need to remove jewelry or other items as well, ensuring that the patient is positioned correctly in order for the x-ray to be effective.
There are of course other precautions that need to be taken for the patient and yourself when dealing with x-ray machines, so knowing all the safety requirements is also important. No unnecessary exposure to radiation is warranted, so all procedures must be handled correctly.
A job as an x-ray technician can be very rewarding and lead into other opportunities in the medical field. So why not look more into the x-ray technician certification requirements and decide if this is the right move for you?
Proper Steps On How To Become A Radiologic Technologist
As a student takes all of the steps on how to become a radiologic technologist, you will play a crucial role in the overall health and treatment of countless patients who rely on proper diagnosis and who trust in the health care system to help them regain their health. There are a lot of duties that come with being a successful x-ray technician no matter which area you end up working in and under what conditions.
Some of the radiologic technologist job description duties that will be expected of an x-ray technician include:
- Loading, developing and fixing the actual x-ray films that have been taken of the patients
- Taking care of and maintaining all the costly x-ray machinery to ensure they are operating effectively at all times
- Scheduling the patients to use the x-ray machines
- Keeping proper records of everyone who has used the x-ray machines
- Transporting patients within the medical facility if required
- Explaining the procedure to the patient to ensure they are relaxed and understand the whole process
- Positioning the patient in the exact way so as to optimize the filming of the x-ray for proper diagnosis
- Working with the radiologist to determine the diagnosis and interpret the film
- Keeping the x-ray room clean and tidy and ensuring that all materials and supplies are kept stocked at all times.
In order to really succeed as a radiologic technologist, you should have good observation skills, have good attention to detail, good communication and interpersonal skills, and be able to lift large objects and have the physical stamina to work on your feet for long periods of time and to be able to handle possible working in shifts.
Depending on where you find employment, the radiologic technologist job description can vary slightly. The working conditions can also change depending on the environment. You may find full time employment right away, or you may be required to work part time or on call. Day time opportunities are available, but also changing shifts if the hospital is open 24 hours a day is also a possibility.
Of course, the salary you end up making will also depend on where you find employment. Larger hospitals in larger cities tend to pay a higher wage and the more experience you gain; the higher you can climb the pay scale. Many times, x-ray technicians are paid on an hourly scale which can range significantly from state to state and from institution to institution.
Regardless of all the minor changes within a specific radiologic technologist job description, when you do end up finding that perfect job you have been looking for you can be guaranteed that it will be exciting, fast paced and rewarding. If you like working with people and contributing to a worthwhile industry, then researching how to become a radiologic technologist might be the best decision you will ever make!