Radiology now is a popular career choice because most hospitals have made it clear that the need for more radiology technicians is constant. The training is an attractive aspect of this career path because you can complete your schooling in anywhere from one to four years, much less than some medical professions.
Typically, a radiology technician performs X-rays, prepares patients for this procedure, organizes patient records and maintains X-ray equipment. To succeed in radiology, it helps to be both interested in science and able to follow orders well because many doctors like to give loads of instructions. If you are interested in radiology training, you can find it at the following types of schools:
1. A medical college;
2. An online school;
3. A vocational school;
4. A four-year university offering radiology programs.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Consider only accredited radiology schools
There are plenty of schools that advertise their radiology programs online, but some are not accredited. Although you may still receive a good education from such schools, it will be difficult to find a job upon graduation if you attended a school that is not accredited.
I recommend: Guide to Healthcare Schools shows accredited schools of every kind offering radiology training. You can search for more accredited schools by entering your zip code at the
Top Colleges website.
Decide whether you want to receive online radiology training or hands-on training
One major factor to consider when choosing among the radiology technician schools is whether you want to attend an online school or go to an actual campus. Online radiology tech schools are good for those with a busy schedule and are well-disciplined. If you have a more open schedule and a good school near your home, attending such a school allows for more hands-on training, which helps some people learn faster.
I recommend: Pima Medical Institute is an accredited school that offers distance learning, while the Phoenix-based
Bryman School of Arizona features more hands-on training.
Choose a program based on how many years you can devote to radiology information training
With so many programs to choose from, you have the power to decide how many years you want this degree to take. This decision depends on current knowledge, future career goals and time that you are able to give the program right now. For example, if you are already in the health sector and want to switch fields, you typically only need to complete a one-year program. If you are attending a four-year university, you can major in radiology within those four years. Since you need to learn the same information no matter how many years you go to school, the shorter your program, the more time you will need to devote to radiology training daily.
I recommend: The
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences offers the chance to earn a degree in less than two years.
Shore Memorial Hospital requires students to complete a two-year sponsored program.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Make sure you understand the difference between a radiologist and radiology technician because the degree requirements are quite different. A radiologist must take many more years of college, including medical school, and has more extensive duties.
The official source of Careers in Radiology is the Radiology page at Business.com
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