Saturday, July 27, 2013

X-Ray Technician Schools: Are They All The Same?

By Lois Picerno


There are plenty of reasons why pursuing an xray technician career is such a rewarding experience whether it is in the emotional or financial aspect. It is pretty much evident that the demand for this career is going up with each passing year and employment opportunities are virtually abundant. The only thing that's required is formal education if you want to take part in this wonderful career.

The focus of the xray technician career is capturing radiologic images of the human anatomy so that it can be analyzed by doctors and medical specialists to formulate a correct medical diagnosis. Due to the technical nature of this job, formal training is a necessity to ensure proper operation of equipment (i.e. xray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and to promote safety against the dangers of radiation.

Besides working with equipment, an xray technician will also have to communicate with patients since part of their responsibility is guiding them throughout the diagnostic imaging process. They need to make sure that patients are comfortable at all times. Xray techs also do a lot of interaction with doctors as they discuss the imaging results with them.

Xray technician training programs are offered in different universities, colleges, and hospitals. The most common degree earned for this career is an associate's degree and this one takes two years to complete. One-year certificate programs and four-year bachelor's degree programs are also available as well. Typical subjects usually include medical terminologies, medical ethics, radiation protection, radiobiology, and radiation physics.

As you are going through the different xray technician schools in your area, it would be wise to verify the institution's accreditation with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). By enrolling in an accredited institution, you can have peace of mind knowing that what you're getting is no less than quality education and it will make finding jobs easier as well.

Majority of the States in America require that xray technicians are licensed and this is because the government wants to make sure that the general public is protected from the hazards of radiologic equipment. It is also possible to acquire voluntary certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in order to upgrade your credentials as an xray technician.




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