Radiology careers include radiologists, X-ray technologists, and X-ray technicians. The educational requirements vary, with radiologists requiring the most education and training. X-ray technicians need an associate’s degree, while X-ray technologists need an associate or bachelor’s degree. All three careers require certification or licensing through state or national exams. Experienced X-ray technicians may qualify for certification under “grandfather clauses”. Radiologists are physicians who have completed a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and a radiology residency program.
Medical radiologists, X-ray technologists and X-ray technicians are all careers involved in the radiology – or imaging – field of medicine. Despite the common subject matter of these careers and the shared work environment, the length and degree of educational preparation required for these positions can vary enormously. To qualify for certification as a radiologic technician or radiologic technologist, the minimum amount of education usually required is an associate’s degree, usually earned through a community college or professional training center. A radiologist, on the other hand, is a physician who has completed a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and three to four year residency study. Thus, the student must take many factors into consideration when choosing to become a radiologist, X-ray technician, or X-ray technician, including grades, the ability to be admitted to the required degree programs, financial resources, or availability of financial resources. . help and the time he is willing to invest in obtaining one or more degrees.
There are some experienced X-ray technicians and technologists without degrees who have received certification and are qualified to practice under state or national “grandfather clauses”, which means they do not need to meet current degree requirements as they were already practicing in the field. . New students, however, start their careers overwhelmingly after completing a field-appropriate associate degree and a certifying exam sponsored by the national organization that oversees their particular practice. In the US, all states require licensing or certification based on organizational or state-sponsored exams. Radiology technicians are the most basic of the three radiology careers and require the least amount of education, training, and specialization. These healthcare professionals position patients, protect themselves and patients from undue exposure to radiation, and operate X-ray machines to obtain the clearest possible image.
X-ray technologists earn associate or bachelor’s degrees in their field before beginning their careers. Like technicians, X-ray technologists position patients and operate imaging equipment by written order from a radiologist. Technologists, however, have more training than technicians and have experience – if not additional expertise and certification – in a much wider range of imaging equipment. An X-ray technologist not only operates general X-ray machines, but also works with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy, mammography, and other types of specialized equipment. Technologists are eligible for certification upon examination by the US National Accreditation Board, The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Of these three options, becoming a radiologist requires the greatest investment of time, money, and effort. A radiologist is a physician who has completed a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and a radiology residency program. These specialist, board-certified physicians are a well-paid group and huge growth is expected in this field. In the US, radiologists must be licensed and certified by exams specific to the state in which they practice.
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