To become a radiologist assistant, one must first become a certified radiology technician or radiation technician, then complete a two-year educational program resulting in a bachelor’s degree or higher. Certification and state licensure are also required.
The path to becoming a radiologist assistant starts with a strong desire to work in the medical industry and interact with radiologists and patients. The first step is to become a certified radiology technician or radiation technician. This is a prerequisite for most accredited radiologist assistant programs. After that, you must obtain certification and pass the exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists to obtain your state license.
Radiologist assistants and radiology technologists should not be confused. There are many cases where the two task descriptions overlap or can be interchanged. The main difference is that an assistant spends more time working closely with the radiologist. He will assist with advanced radiology procedures, review diagnostic information, and provide instructions to patients. As a result, in order to become a radiologist assistant, a candidate must become a radiologist technologist first.
Most accredited radiologist assistant programs require the candidate to be a certified radiology technician or radiographer. A radiographer applies high doses of radioactive materials to cancer patients, performs x-rays on patients, and manages radiology equipment. Skills learned as a certified radiology technician will be useful for the work done as a radiologist assistant. These programs usually last about two years and result in an associate degree.
The next step in becoming a radiologist assistant is to complete an educational program, which typically lasts about two years. The course will include courses in pharmacology, radiological safety and radiation physics. There will also be hands-on experience working in a clinical setting. Radiologist assistant programs result in a bachelor’s degree in radiological science, a master’s in radiological science, or a post-baccalaureate certificate. It all depends on the level of prior education and the nature of the current program in progress.
Before starting work, a radiologist assistant must also be certified. Almost all clinics or hospitals that employ radiologist assistants need a certification to ensure the quality of work. Certification requires a minimum amount of training hours in a clinical setting and a currently held status as a Registered Radiologic Technologist. Candidate must also be a graduate of an accredited radiologist assistant training program and have at least a bachelor’s degree. To maintain certification, the continuing education class must be completed each year.
At this point, all that’s left to do to become a radiologist assistant is to obtain individual state licensure. Each state has its own licensing requirements and procedures. If a radiologist assistant moves from one state to another, he or she will also need to be licensed in that state. It should be noted that some states do not require any licensing, but this may change as state laws evolve.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
