Discover some x ray technician frequently asked questions that you need to have answers to if you are looking to have a radiology tech career. x ray tech job description, top x ray tech schools, or how much money does an x ray tech make in a salary are all questions that are answered below.
In the past X Ray technicians were easy to pick out of a crowd of medical professionals. They were the ones wearing the heavy lead apron during an x ray treatment. Modern technology has changed all of that and now a days a radiology tech wears a medical uniform which most times is a nursing scrub.
No longer do these technicians just create a ray images as they have to be versatile in creating images to help health care providers diagnose and treat illnesses or injuries, and be highly skilled in the many tools that are now available.
We will try to answer some of the x ray technician frequently asked questions that people have that may be looking at going to attend an x ray technician school to start a medical career, or other people who may want to make a career change that already have some medical school experience and have a medical degree or medical school certification in the medical industry.
1. What is an X Ray Technician Job Description?
2. What X Ray Technician Schools are Available?
3. When Do I Need an X Ray Tech Degree or Technician Certification?
4. How Much is an X Ray Technician Salary?
5. Why is Radiology Tech Training Necessary?
6. What are Career X Ray Tech Requirements?
7. Where are the Best Radiology Technician Jobs
X Ray Technician Job Description
An X Ray Technician job description can mean a multitude of things all depending on they type of work or medical facility you choose to work at. Some medical facilities can include x ray machines or ultrasound. While others are more advanced with CT scans,MRI’s, and others.
An X ray tech may also perform a variety of special duties which include Diagnostic Radiography in which the machine looks through the outer tissue to examine a patients bones, body cavities, or check out any object inside the body that is not natural or not supposed to be there.
A Sonographer uses a high frequency ultrasound that is an economical solution to look inside of the patients body that is also very safe.
A Flouroscopy is a live motion x ray that can consistently monitor by imagery the digestive tract or monitor the position of a device by a doctor inside of the body itself.
Computer aided Tomography takes x rays images in a cross section which can later be pieced together for a 2D or 3D image map. This is close to an MRI or magnetic resonance imaging that builds a tissue map in 2D or 3D.
If Nuclear medicine excites you then you need to train to use radioactive tracers usually used in the heart and kidneys to examine if organs or your body is functioning properly.
Also there is Mammography that uses an x ray to look at the tissues of the breast. This is becoming a fast growing field as more and more women are discovering how important it is to get regular breast exams. Men also need to get a mammograph if any questions arise such as lumps in the breast area.
Now you can easily see why the X Ray Technology field is in need of many well trained medical professionals. Once you decide on which X Ray technician job description is right for you it is then your decision to find the best radiology tech school.
X Ray Technician Schools
A good X Ray Technician school will have the training, education, and certification necessary for you to get an x ray tech job upon graduating school. Not only do you need to operate x ray machines properly you also need to take lessons on how to keep yourself and your patient safe from radiation. Also training to use all diagnostic imaging equipment that is used in today’s clinics and hospitals. If that is not enough you also need to know the best way to direct your patient to get a clear diagnostic image result.
With an expected growth rate for Radiographers of 17% from 2008 to 2018 an x ray tech can expect to make over $50,000 per year on average with the top 10% making over $75,000. If you want to be in the top wage earners in your profession then you may want to be well trained in many areas. In the radiology field these top specialties include CT scanning and Mammography.
X Ray tech education can be done while at work or completed at an accredited school. A technologist can attend radiology courses ranging from one to four years. It all depends on the level of education necessary for the x ray technician job you are after. Education from a certification, diploma, associate, or bachelor’s degree may be needed for employment.
In 2011 a certification from the American Registry of Radiologiy Technologists will be good for a period of 10 years and needs re-certification or the validity of a previous certification meaning a period of 10 years from an initial certification.
The end result of an X Ray Technician school is to get you a certification. diploma , or degree. With graduates from a school trying to get an x ray technician job at the entry level in a clinic,hospital, or health care facility. X Ray Tech courses involve the glossary applied to students for medical training to understand the many diseases and therapies of today.
Also an introduction to psychology is needed for proper patient care when a stressful situation occurs. You will also learn about anatomy, physiology, proper care for your patients, information on radiation as applied to the field of medicine, proper medical ethics, and radio biology.
After completing general x ray technician schooling requirements you will then need to continue your education to keep up on the latest information or make a choice if you want to take additional training to go into a special medical technologist field for a higher rate of pay.
X Ray Tech Degree and Certification
Before you decide on a radiology school you need to know what x ray technician certification or degree you are looking to get and also what you can afford. Expecting to grow 18 per cent over the next five years the xray tech field will be providing many great opportunities along with a good salary.
Due your due diligence first and contact the state or local licensing authority and make sure you know what license is necessary for the x ray tech job you want. Every state has different tech job requirements for a licensed x ray technician. You may need a specialty degree or certification so make sure you find out before you make a mistake and do not get the schooling needed.
Another job tip is to call or contact any local employment facility to find out what they are looking for in a new employee. Make a good plan and in the long run you will be well ahead of everyone else.
Local community colleges or tech schools are not the only choices today to get certification for an x ray tech. Many online radiology certification or degree programs are now available that are easily worked into your schedule. Not only are the x ray tech online courses easily accessible they are usually also less expensive along with a larger choice of x ray tech schools online may help you land a better job if you study from a top rated radiology tech online school.
X Ray Technician Salary
An X Ray Technicians salary is determined by more than one factor. Experience in the medical field in the number of years and also how well trained you are in the many procedures or specialty fields are also taken into consideration.
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) states the lowest 5% in education, experience and skill levels now make a salary less than $30,000 annually. On the other end of the spectrum the top 5% can make over $90,000 salary annually. This puts the median xray tech salary around $58,000.
Chief radiology techs can expect to earn just under $42,000, senior techs just over $48,000 and a x ray program director arournd the $64,000 a year salary.
On an hourly rate this calculates to an average of $15.27- $23.23. Reported annual bonus was $200-$1,025. Annual profit sharing reported in at $992- $4,034. All in all the total annual pay calculates from $32,221-$50,489.
Where you live or your location can very easily play a huge part in your x ray technician salary. A person working as a radiology technician in Texas can expect to make a little more than a person employed as a tech in Florida. And a x ray tech in California commands an hourly rate that is higher than in Texas.
If your plans are to get an x ray tech job locally or to relocate to a different geographic location make sure you know all the salary details. Nothing of course is set in stone but to be smart in your decision making can mean the difference of many thousands of dollars over your career.
Radio Tech Training
Radio tech training comes in various lengths of duration. A certification course is the shortest time period along with associates degree, and then there is the bachelor’s degree.
Where a radio tech certification course is great for someone that wants extra training as a health worker an associates degree will get you into entry level radio technology management. If you are looking to work your career to administrative or supervisory positions then you may opt for a bachelor;s degree.
X Ray tech courses offered by community colleges or universities are reviewed by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology for approval. With eligibility requirement being in the possession of a high school diploma.
After passing the test the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists issues you a certificate. This certificate is necessary to obtain a state license with continuing education maintenance of the certificate requiring 24 credits after a period of 2 years each.
After completing the certification process you can choose a number of specialty careers other than just an x ray technician. An MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, or mammography specialist training can prove to be a very exciting and well paying career.
X Ray Tech Requirements
Since you will be dealing with patients who are suffering or have a disease your communication skills are vital to ensure that everything can be easily understood by the patient. There may be times when the stress levels are very high and you have to be under total control of the situation at all times.
You also have to be trained in medical ethics in the medical professional industry. Being respectful of patients that are irritable or aggressive will at times come into play. Knowing your employers ethics manual with patients under great stress requires you to be competent of your duties.
You can do such things as checking out x ray technician job opportunities on the Internet to get a good idea of what radiology jobs are available in the job market. They will also list job requirements or needed certifications or degrees.
The job opportunity will list the range of salary. Do not forget that there are also x ray tech jobs in teaching at a school or a hospital too if a radiology teaching job is what you want in a career.
If your xray schooling is limited then you may only perform x ray imaging jobs that other people with degrees or special certifications can get a higher yearly salary. This is nothing that more education can not remedy.
There may be times when you have a radologic job and are still working on your degree. In this case depending on your education and state requirements you may be offered a specialty x ray tech training job with supervision if you are academically qualified. On the job training on an specialized x ray machine with a certified trainer can quickly teach you the essential job training along with possibly making a higher salary while in training.
Radio Technology Jobs
An X Ray technician job can get you a very nice yearly salary and also job security. With the many options to choose from in getting the proper training from on the job training to going to an accredited school to completing online xray tech courses you can opt to go to any level that the radiology tech industry has to offer.
Whether you have an x ray tech certification, associate diploma, or a bachelor’s degree there are many job opportunities awaiting anyone that has the passion to be a medical professional with a strict ethical code.
Knowing your job on how a doctor wishes to have an x ray image exposed on a part of the patients body is vital to correct patient care and a quick recovery.
An xray technicians job is also to stay safe from radiation and explain proper procedures to the patients that may obstruct and xray from proper imaging. Correct patient placement for an x ray is vital for the x ray to penetrate into the body tissues and may involve placing lead sheets around the patient or making the proper beam adjustments.
You may want to consider your work schedule also. Does the job require a 40 hour work week, day or night shift, or even rotating shift work.
With the anticipated growth in population the outlook for an x ray technician at the entry level with opportunity to advance is good. X ray diagnostic imaging is growing as new technology is brought into the medical industry. Those who are close to retirement also need to be replaced. Baby boomers are nearing the age where they will require more medical health care in the coming years so this will greatly increase the need for new xray techs and new medical facilities to meet their needs.
Starting on the Internet to do a job search is a good starting point. It is a good idea to write down any information that is important to know or any x ray questions that you may have. Job interviewers may choose you over other people who are less informed of not only the job itself but also knowing the requirements of the medical facility in which you are looking for employment.
Job recruiters may also come to your school or contact school administrators or teachers. If you attend an x ray tech school that is top rated then many job recruiters could be knocking at your door knowing that you got the best education out there.
Since 50% of all radiology tech jobs are found in hospitals it is a good idea to contact all local hospitals and inquire about any job openings. Being aggressive shows that you really want the job and also you may get to know the HR department person a bit better if you talk to them in person.
Do not forget about the armed forces. They are always looking for someone that has skills, knowledge, or looking for schooling in the x ray technology field. Talk to a recruiter and see how you can enjoy a military career as an x ray technician.
Hope this article helps to answer some of your x ray technician frequently asked questions so an informed decision can be made on a x ray career.