How to become a Radiologic Technologists and Technician 2024

Radiologic Technologists and Technician Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

Radiologic Technologists and Technician is Also Know as

In different settings, Radiologic Technologists and Technician is titled as

Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Tech)
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT)
Imaging Technologist (Imaging Tech)
Mammographer
Radiographer
Radiologic Technologist (RT)
Radiology Technician (Radiology Tech)
Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R))
X-Ray Technician (X-Ray Tech)
X-Ray Technologist (X-Ray Tech)

Education and Training of Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Radiologic Technologists and Technician is categorized in Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience Required for Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education Required for Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Degrees Related to Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Training Required for Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Related Ocuupations

Some Ocuupations related to Radiologic Technologists and Technician in different industries are

What Do Radiologic Technologists and Technician do?

Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill, injured, or disabled patients.
Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists and technicians.
Perform supervisory duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules.
Provide students or other technicians and technologists with suggestions of additional views, alternate positioning, or improved techniques to ensure the images produced are of the highest quality.

Qualities of Good Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Tools Used by Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Automated defibrillators
Automatic x ray film processors
Collimators
Compression bands
Computed tomography CT audio and visual intercommunication systems
Computed tomography CT scanners
Cones
Cushions
Cylinders
Desktop computers
Diagnostic ultrasound equipment
Diaphragms
Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM imaging equipment
Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM system equipment
Digital transmission densitometers
Electrocardiography EKG units
Electronic blood pressure units
Enema equipment
Film cassettes
Film processing equipment
Filters
Fluoroscopes
Grids
High-speed multislice computed tomography CT scanners
Hypodermic needles
Image capturing and transmission systems
Image intensifiers
Image storage systems
Intensifying screens
Intramuscular needles
Intravenous IV locks
Intravenous IV syringes
Intravenous IV tubing
Lead shields/shielding equipment
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI audio and visual intercommunication systems
Magnetic tape recorders
Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI equipment
Mercury blood pressure units
Mobile image amplifier C-arms
Notebook computers
Over-the-needle intravenous IV catheters
Oxygen equipment
Patient immobilization devices
Patient immobilizing devices
Personal computers
Picture archiving and communication systems PACS
Portable densitometers
Portable film processors
Portable ultrasound scanners
Portable x ray machines
Positron emission tomography/computed tomography PET/CT scanners
Power injectors
Radiation measurement badges
Radiation protection devices
Rapid film changers
Sandbags
Scan converters
Self-contained film processors
Stationary x ray equipment
Straps
Subcutaneous hypodermic needles
Syringes
Tablet computers
Tabletop film processors
Tourniquets
Venipuncture needles
X ray beam restriction devices
X ray bone densitometers
X ray calipers
X ray film processors
X ray filters
X ray image intensifier television systems
X ray imaging charge-coupled device CCD cameras
X ray machines

Technology Skills required for Radiologic Technologists and Technician

Diagnostic and procedural coding software
Diagnostic image review software
Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM software/modality management software
eClinicalWorks EHR software
Electronic medical record EMR software
Film processor tracking and management software
GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
GE Healthcare ViewPoint Solutions
Information management subsystem software
Information systems integration software
Internet or intranet image distribution software
Medical condition coding software
Medical procedure coding software
Medical software
MEDITECH software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Word
Practice management software PMS
Structured data entry software
Virtual reality computed tomography CT imaging software

US Universities

How to become Radiologic Technologists and Technician in 2024