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Most states require x-ray technicians to be certified before
working in a clinical setting. X-ray technician training programs
offered by career colleges prepares students to take the licensing
exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
(ARRT). Even in states that don’t require a professional
license, job opportunities will be better for people who graduate
from an x-ray technician training program.
Certification
Depending on the college, students may earn a certificate
in x-ray technology, an associate’s degree, or even
a bachelor’s degree. The more training a student receives,
the more diagnostic tests she will be able to perform. Students
who at least hold x-ray technician certificates will be more
successful job applicants than those who don’t. According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, applicants holding
certification in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed
tomography (CT), and mammography are considered very desirable
in this quickly growing field.
X-Ray Technician Courses
While receiving x-ray technician training, students learn
how to operate standard x-ray equipment and develop film.
They learn about human anatomy and physiology and about all
aspects of patient care in hospitals and clinics. Courses
in positioning and radiation safety are followed by clinical
practice, in which x-ray technician students are placed in
real hospitals and work with real patients under close supervision.
One of the great things about x-ray technician training is
that the courses are career-specific, build on each other,
and teach students how to be professionals in their chosen
field. When students graduate from an x-ray technician school,
the can walk into any hospital or clinical practice and know
exactly what to do.
Life after School
While most graduates of x-ray technician training programs
go on to work in hospitals, private practices, nursing homes,
and community health clinics as radiographers, some find work
in other related fields. After graduating from an x-ray technician
program, some students go back to school for additional certifications
in diagnostic imaging techniques. Some work in labs that develop
x-ray film for practices that don’t have their own developing
equipment. Others go on to work as health care equipment sales
people because they are already familiar with how the equipment
operates. After years of experience, some x-ray technicians
find they have a gift for teaching others and go on to train
the next generation of x-ray technicians.
Drawbacks
Life after graduating from an x-ray technician training program
isn’t all peaches, though. X-ray technicians have physically
demanding jobs and have to be able to stand for most of the
day while lifting and maneuvering patients. Because hospitals
are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, x-ray technicians
may be asked to work overnights, swing shifts, and holidays.
They may also be placed on call.
X-ray technicians who receive proper training find that their
work can be incredibly rewarding, because they can minimize
patient pain on the x-ray table and provide some comfort during
emergencies. For those who stick with it for a number of years,
there are opportunities in the field for advancement.
If this sounds interesting, find out more about how you can
become a certified x-ray technician. Check out the X-Ray
Technician Schools directory today!
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