Radiography uses radioactive waves to create film recordings of internal structures. Jobs are available in various industries, with the main market being in the medical field. Entry-level positions require certification and training, while advanced positions require a degree and specialized knowledge. Radiography jobs are in high demand, with some countries actively seeking foreign-trained radiographers.
Radiography is the process of making film recordings of internal structures through the use of radioactive waves. The radiology technician shoots x-rays, gamma rays or neutrons through an object, where the beam is absorbed unevenly depending on the density of the tissue it passes through. The emerging rays record an image, called a radiograph, on photographic film. Radiography jobs are available in a variety of industries, although the main job market is in the medical field. Jobs range from X-ray technicians, who require one to two years of training, to physicians with a variety of specialties.
Industrial radiography uses x-rays and gamma rays to inspect internal areas of structures for voids, cracks, distortions or other imperfections. Radiography jobs are available in all forms of transportation production such as automobiles, marine vessels, airplanes and spacecraft. Nuclear facilities provide radiography positions to technicians trained in non-destructive testing methods such as magnetic particle (MT), dye penetrant (PT), ultrasonic thickness (UTf) and radiographic (RT) testing. Oil production sites also use radiographers to test welds on oil extraction equipment.
Entry-level radiography jobs are usually x-ray technician positions, which often require certification and at least two years of college training. Technicians prepare patients to film and operate x-ray equipment. Knowledge of anatomy and imaging technology is required to obtain the best images. Additional training is required to operate specialized equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, nuclear medicine, angiography, and fluoroscopy.
Therapeutic positions of radiography are available in almost all aspects of cancer treatment. These technicians, also called radiation therapists, use advanced technology to direct beams of radiation at tumors. This job usually requires at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree, since a knowledge of physics, biology, anatomy, and physiology is required.
Radiographers with good mechanical skills may want to become Medical Imaging Technical Services Technologists. The technologist performs quality control tests on radiography equipment, evaluates imaging protocols, and works with imaging systems and databases. These radiography positions require familiarity with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements to ensure equipment is calibrated in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
A radiologist is a doctor who specializes in radiography and reads and interprets X-rays and other tests administered by technicians. Radiography jobs are available to physicians in many disciplines, ranging from cardiology to neurology and vascular interventional radiology.
Advances in medical diagnosis, nuclear medicine, and therapeutic treatments have created an abundance of radiography jobs. Some countries, such as the UK, actively advertise foreign-trained radiographers to help fill the shortage. If a person is interested in healthcare work in a cross-cultural environment, radiology training can provide that opportunity.
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