Things You Ought to Know about Radiology Technician Certification and Certificate Program

When most of the radiology technicians and radiographers earn their radiologic technology associate degree, there are now available certificate programs for those students who want to focus on radiology training. When the certificate program is completed, aspiring radiology technicians can now earn a professional certification to help them enter a good career and advance in it.

Radiology Technician Certificate Program

The radiology technicians practice their profession in the hospitals where they carry out diagnostic imaging, like CT or computed tomography, x-rays as well as MRI or magnetic resonance imaging scans. Students who are under a certificate program on radiology learn the skills that they need in preparing and positioning patients, handling diagnostic machinery as well as processing the radiologic images. Within two years, these programs can already be finished and after it, the graduates will already be qualified to take the certification exam to become a radiology technician.

Educational Fundamentals

Before being admitted to the certificate program for radiology technician, students must be able to complete a class on computer information technology and several other basic courses in science like physiology and anatomy, medical terminology and biology. Background checks are usually needed before the students can partake in clinical practices.

Program Coursework

Students who want to be radiology technicians in general must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or even higher for them to get their completion certificate. Through hands-on externship and lab participations, students will be able to learn and study topics on radiology like:

• Patient care
• Safety procedures for radiology technicians and patients
• Health care personnel ethics
• Biology of radiation
• Radiographic pathology
• Radiologic medical methods
• Operations of scanning equipment

Information on Salary and Employment Outlook

From 2008 to 2018, it is predicted that employment of radiology technologists and technicians will increase by 17.2%, based from the studies of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). This agency also noted that in the year 2008, the technicians grossed a mean yearly wage of $53,230. Also, during that year, some of the field’s highest earners worked in the states of Maryland, Nevada, Massachusetts, New Jersey and California, with an average of $61,780 to $67,240 per annum.

Information on Continuing Education and Professional Certification

Majority of radiology technicians must get their licensure from the states where they live for them to practice legally. Requirements usually vary per state but in general, it includes completion of the program on radiology technician and passing the exam that follows. Radiology technicians can also choose to have a voluntary professional certification which is usually preferred by most employers. American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (www.arrt.org) also offers certification to those individuals who passed organizational assessment and were able to meet the minimum educational requisites. Continuing education is needed biannually for maintaining the certification on radiology technology.