With the current shortage of professionals in the field of radiology and imaging, there’s a great chance for you to land an excellent career in this field. If you are interested in a medical career, radiology and imaging would be a great choice especially because there are many different available positions for you to choose from.
You can be a radiology technician, a radiology technologist, a radiologist, and of course, an X-Ray technician. The amount of training and educational background needed varies from one position to another, but the basic underlying rules are all the same.
Training and Qualifications
To get started, you have to acquire at least one to four years training in the field of radiology and imaging. While you have to be a certifief MD in order for you to become an actual radiologist, proper training is adequate for those who are only looking to pursue a career in x-ray technology.The training period for x-ray technicians usually lasts for two to four years in a hospital-based x-ray technology program or any accredited college. Here, prospective candidates will learn all about radiographic physics and anatomy, proper patient positioning and technique, quality control, dark room skills, and radiation safety.
Students will experience hands-on training in a medical establishment where days are split between classroom discussions and actual performance of the future tasks that will be assigned to them if they ever become professionals.One great thing about being in the x-ray technology industry is that employment prospects will tend to remain strong because of a constantly aging population. Eventhough most x-ray technicians can be found in hospitals, the number of stand-alone clinics and x-ray centers are fast rising.
Still, some may even land jobs in private physician offices like orthopedic practices, mobile x-ray services, and in sales support.There is a certain level of specialization that is demanded by the x-ray technology industry, but it is not something that can’t be acquired through proper training and additional college educational programs.