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Earning an x-ray technician certificate is the first step
to working as an x-ray technician in a variety of clinical
settings. But did you know that an x-ray technician certificate
also opens up the door to other career possibilities? Here
are some of the jobs students who earn certificates in x-ray
technology end up doing.
Hospital or Clinic Radiographer
When most people think of x-ray technicians, they think of
hospital radiographers. An x-ray technician working in a hospital
setting will take x-rays of patients who have a wide variety
of conditions, from broken bones to undiagnosed internal pain.
They may perform other procedures as well, such as fluoroscopies.
Radiographers who work in doctors’ offices or clinics
perform similar work in that they take x-rays of patients
to help doctors with diagnoses, but the injuries they see
will be most likely be less severe. Working in a specialty
clinic means that the scope of injuries will be smaller as
well. For example, a radiographer working in a physical therapy
practice might only take x-rays of spinal injuries.
Image Diagnostic Center Technician
Instead of having in-house radiographers, many medical practices
send patients to image diagnostic centers for x-rays and other
diagnostic imaging tests.
MRI or CT Technologist
X-ray technicians who want to further their careers can go
on to get certified in other imaging techniques like computed
tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or even
ultrasound technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, job prospects should be especially good for x-ray
technicians who can perform complex procedures.
Mammographer
A student who earns an x-ray technician certificate may choose
to specialize in mammography, especially if they are interested
in women’s health. Mammograms are images created by
using low-dose x-rays to photograph the insides of women’s
breasts to help identify masses and diagnose breast cancer.
Because regular mammograms are considered important part of
check-ups for older women, this is one area of x-ray technology
that will continue to be in demand.
Instructor
Because earning an x-ray technician certificate requires
a lot of hands-on training, x-ray technicians with experience
in the field can teach students in either academic or clinical
settings. X-ray technician instructors share both their technical
knowledge and things they’ve learned from their own
experiences about patient care and medical ethics.
Medical Equipment Sales
Companies that sell medical equipment to hospitals, private
practices, nursing homes, and clinics love to hire people
who actually know how the equipment works. The best medical
equipment salespeople are the one who can credibly describe
the features and benefits of using one company’s machine
over another. Those people often have medical training and
some clinical experience in the field. An x-ray technician
certificate teaches students not only how to operate diagnostic
equipment, but also about how things like wheelchairs and
patient beds funcition in real-life settings.
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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