By Dana Prince

Those who are thinking about embarking on a career as an x ray tech would definitely benefit from knowing what’s ahead in terms of their x-ray technician training choices. This is an important part of planning for a career change. 

You’ll want to understand what types of training you’ll receive at xray tech school, what topics will be covered, as well as how you can go about learning the material. Today’s student isn’t always straight out of high school and doesn’t always have an open schedule to dedicate to their education. There are now distance learning courses, online courses, part-time night school options, and other options that make continuing education and expanding career horizons more possible than ever.  

Learning all about your options is good. This will help you choose the right x ray technician training program and plan and arrange your life so that you can get great marks, get through your course as quickly as possible, and prepare to become a skilled and qualified x ray tech. 

An x ray technician can be trained and earning money as an x ray tech in a pretty short amount of time — but the training is in-depth and extensive, whether you choose a quick certification course or a degree program. Be sure your x ray tech school is accredited and be sure you understand any licensing and final exam requirements that will enable you to have the credentials that are necessary for getting a job where you live. Not all countries have the same regulations and even in the US, there are certain regulations that only apply to specific states.  As an example in the U.S, there’s a requirement for accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiographic Technology and in thirty-eight states there is a licensing requirement. Knowing vital info about the field in your area will help you prepare for lucrative and fulfilling job opportunities. It’s recommended that all x ray techs seek AART certification.  AART.org recommends that RT’s (Radiologic Technologists) become very knowledgeable about the field and provides a lot of helpful information to support those who are learning (or who want to learn about) this exciting medical field. 

Some programs offer a one year training course and others offer up to four year degree programs. It’s wise to look into your options and most x ray technician schools are happy to send information packages out to those that are interested in learning more. By reviewing various course plans you can decide which x ray technician training option best suits your short term and long term career goals. 

X Ray Tech Schools Course Info: 

If you’re becoming a basic x ray tech, your certificate program will likely consist of: 

• Intro to radiology
• Diagnostics
• Anatomy
• Medical Terminology
• And possibly other areas such as administration in imaging offices, too 

Intro to radiology is going to teach you about the important field of radiology and how it works to help diagnose medical problems as well as bone fractures. It is a vast field of study which has made diagnostics much more advanced. 

How do radiologists use medical imaging to diagnose medical problems? Diagnostics will cover various areas of anatomy and help x ray tech students learn about diagnostics. 

Anatomy is a vital aspect of learning, as is medical terminology. X ray tech students will learn how to get the best image possible. They’re also going to need to understand standards, guidelines, and laws about handling patients’ medical records. In many cases, skilled technicians are able to provide a lot of information to a doctor to help diagnose, even if they’re not a radiologist. Experience and expertise along the way allow those in this position to continually upgrade their skills and knowledge. 

Course Costs 

Some people are really apprehensive about furthering their education because they’re worried about the cost of getting an education. Many courses have payment plans and tuition assistance programs. You may even qualify for help getting a discount or getting your certification without cost. Don’t let costs today prevent you from a lucrative career tomorrow. The ROI (return on investment) in a new career can be immeasurable when you look at job satisfaction, career opportunities, and the ability to make a positive difference in the world — such as with medical imaging careers. 

In terms of career opportunities, there is room for growth and specialties such as in: ultrasound technology, CT and MRI technology, radiology, and more. Many of the fundamental skills learned in this course can help in any career in the medical field.

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By Dana Prince

If you’re thinking about becoming a trained x ray technician, you might want to learn more about various aspects of the life and job of an x ray tech, such as: the job, the pay, the opportunities, and getting trained. Continue reading to help you learn more about these individual topics so you can decide whether or not you want to become an x ray technician as well as to help you learn more about x ray technician training opportunities. 

The job

The job of an x-ray technician is one that requires formal training. What will you be doing? In essence, an x ray tech takes pictures of the human body. There are many specialties within the field of x ray technology so there quite a few job opportunities. 

Pictures are taken for various reasons in terms of diagnosing medical issues, broken bones and fractures, and diseases and of course the xrays are taken of various body parts. The technician is trained on medical terminology, taking the photos, as well as working with the patient. 

Various xrays can be taken, such as: dental, limbs, chest xrays, head xrays, etc.  The x ray technician who is specialized in sonography may also take photos of pregnant bellies to determine measurements of a growing baby and may even be required to take internal xrays, such as a vaginal ultrasound.  The job requires medical equipment operation skills, training, people skills, and a love for medicine is definitely helpful, too. 

The pay 

How much do x ray techs get paid? X ray tech salary will vary, depending on many factors such as: the city, the job location, their experience level, and / or their specialty.  Most x ray techs in the USA earn salaries that start in the mid $30 k range. Some areas may pay slightly lower but some technicians earn up to $90 k or more as well. The median salary is typically in the mid $50,000.00 range. This depends, of course, on your job but it is a field that often has opportunity for overtime pay, specifically if you work in a hospital and medical benefits tend to be good to very good in this field as well. 

The Opportunities 

Because the field of medical imaging is a vast one, there are many different opportunities.  Trained x ray technicians can consider this to be a ‘portable’ career. Move to any city just about anywhere in the world and you should be able to find career opportunities. Because of the aging population and the technological advances, this is a field that is expected to continue to grow. 

You don’t have to learn the skills and do the same job indefinitely, either. The field of x ray technology also includes, MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging – which requires separate training and mammography, which covers mammograms. Some x ray technicians work in general departments whereas others take training for a specialty area such as: CT (cat scan), MRI, sonography, or Flouroscopy (for digestive systems), and other areas as well. 

Where can you find work? You can work in a diagnostic imaging laboratory, in a doctor’s office, in a hospital, in a dental office, to name a few options. In terms of career paths there are many opportunities for career growth due to emerging technology and the need for management in this field as well. It’s also a career choice that has a good degree of job security. 

Getting Trained 

How do you become trained to be an x ray tech? You’ll find many different x ray technician schools throughout the USA, Canada, and elsewhere of course. X ray technician schools have varied programs and you can learn in a traditional bricks and mortar classroom as well as through distance education which could help you do your x ray technician training both through online classes as well as in-person training.  

How long does x ray technician training take? Depending on the x ray tech school’s program, it could take on average of one to two years and if in a specialty, could take as long as four years. You may choose to get a certificate in x ray technology or a degree.   

Finding accredited x ray technician schools isn’t difficult. Use the internet to help you browse through websites for x ray tech schools and discover information about class options, curriculum, tuition, and even tuition payment assistance. If you find medical imaging fascinating and enjoy working with people, an x ray tech job could be perfect for you.

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