Career Opportunities and Job Requirements for Radiology Techs

If you’re interested in a career in the world of medicine, but do not want to work as a nurse or doctor, one of your options is to earn a radiology tech degree. These programs are relatively short, especially compared to the decades of education you’d need to become a doctor, but you’ll still be able to do important work with patients as part of a medical staff that helps diagnoses and treat diseases.

Job Options

With a radiology tech degree, you have a few options you can consider in terms of a career path. First, you can become a radiology technician, working with x-ray machines to help understand a patient’s medical condition. You can also work as a radiology technologist, working with other types of imagining machines that could help doctors assess a patient. As a radiology tech, you could specialize, which allows you to work with a certain type of advanced machine. For example, MRI technicians work with magnetic resonance imaging while CT technologists work with computerized tomography.

Daily Tasks as a Radiology Tech

No matter what you position in the field of radiology tech, your primary responsibility will be to maintain and use equipment, which will help patients receive the care they need. Some radiology techs work one-on-one with patients, preparing them to use the machines, positioning their bodies for the best images, and explaining to them the process if necessary. Others work with the machine controls, and still others work with doctors, helping to analyze the results. At larger facilities, you may do just one of these tasks, while at smaller facilities, you may be the only team member in radiology.

Radiology Tech Requirements

Are you interested in working as a radiology tech? If so, getting your degree can take anywhere from one to four years, depending on the program you choose. Most radiology techs join one of the nearly 400 radiology tech associate’s degree programs, though some employers look more favorably on job candidates with a bachelor’s degree in this field. Your classes in this kind of program will cover skills that you need to run the machines, analyze the images, maintain and clean the patients, communicate with patients, and more.

Top Radiology and Health Science Degrees

To become a radiology technician, one needs advanced training in handling radiological equipment. Training can be performed at a hospital or other type of healthcare clinic. But more commonly, an associates or bachelors degree in radiology, healthcare, or similar subject is required before receiving radiologist licensure. The schools listed below offer accredited online degree programs in subjects appropriate for future radiology techs.

Hodges University
AS in Health IT
Hodges University — The Hodges University AS in healthcare IT degree program is an online program focused on perparing individuals for entry-level jobs in hospitals, health clinics, and more. Medical record-keeping as well as health technology such as MRI and X-ray equipment will be learned within this two-year online degree program.
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Pima Medical Institute
AOS in Radiography
BS in Radiologic Sciences
Pima Medical Institute — Pima Medical Institute offers an AOS in radiography which can smoothly transition into the BS in radiologic sciences program. Students learn to perform diagnostic imaging examinations like X-rays, for which they need to know what to look for, as well as medical terminology, and anatomy. Students can specialize in bone densitometry, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, computed tomography, mammography, and sonography among others.
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Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
BS in Radiologic Sciences
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences — The Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences' BS in radiological science degree covers everything the professional radiologist needs to know about mammography, computed tomography, MRI, advanced patient care issues, and medical imaging. Coursework also covers issues and trends in health care and case studies, with a focus on providing the tools and insights students need to become marketable job applicants.
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Rasmussen College
AAS in Health IT
Rasmussen College — The AAS in Healthcare Information Technology degree program from Rasmussen College's online learning program is geared toward healthcare professionals seeking new career opportunities. Students of this program will be taught how to manage and handle healthcare technology and record keeping systems.
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Lincoln College
AAS in Health IT
Lincoln College — Within the Lincoln AAS in Healthcare Information Technology program, students are required to complete 17 courses that examine Pharmacology, Pathophsyiology, Health Systems and Procedures, and Healthcare Data Applications. The program also includes four internships, designed to focus on Health Record Processing, Inpatient Coding, Nontraditional sites, and Health Data Processing, and may aid in preparation for jobs in radiology.
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Strayer University
BBA in Health Services
Strayer University — Strayer University's Bachelor of Business Administration with a Concentration in Health Services is one of the best programs around for preparing students to become healthcare managers and administrators. Combining business principles with health services organization and management as well as skills in health services marketing and information systems creates a highly marketable job applicant for a variety of positions in this fast-growing industry.
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Virginia College
BS in Health Services
AS in Medical Office Admin
Virginia College — Virginia College's BS in health services and AS in medical office administration programs concentrate on building core competencies in communication and assessment, in addition to the practical everyday skills of dealing with diverse communities as well as front and back office work. Graduates should be eligible for management positions in health services.
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Carrington College California
AAS in Health IT
AAS in Health Admin
Carrington College California — Carrington College California's AAS in healthcare information technology teaches students how to keep electronic health records, and perform medical transcriptions, medical coding, and manage front offices in clinics. The AAS in health administration prepares students specifically for the front office. Students learn administrative assisting skills, medical law and ethics, medical terminology, office software, medical billing and coding, and bookkeeping.
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Keiser University
AS in Medical Assisting
AA in Health Services
Keiser University — Keiser University's AS in medical assisting and its AA in health services teaches students the fundamental skills they need to become medical assistants and help in medical offices. Students learn to prepare examination rooms, assist in surgical procedures, take x-rays, and handle front office responsibilities like billing, scheduling, and processing insurance claims.
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Baker College
BS in Health Services
BS in Nursing
Baker College — Baker College's BS in health services and BS in nursing programs are both 100% online, allowing students to attend around their schedules. The BSN program requires clinical experience to be completed in the students' communities. The BS in health services administration teaches students to plan, budget, and coordinate activities in health care settings.
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Herzing University
AS in Medical Assisting
Herzing University — Strayer University's Bachelor of Business Administration with a Concentration in Health Services is one of the best programs around for preparing students to become healthcare managers and administrators. Combining business principles with health services organization and management as well as skills in health services marketing and information systems creates a highly marketable job applicant for a variety of positions in this fast-growing industry.
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South University
AS in Allied Health
South University — South University's AS in allied health science program is for students who wish to enter into careers as radiology or ultrasound technicians. South University's programs introduce students to a broad education in general studies while emphasizing life sciences, creating well rounded graduates. Subjects covered include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and pathophysiology which gives students a strong foundation upon which to build their careers.
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Northwestern College
AAS in Health IT
Northwestern College — As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, healthcare IT is becoming more and more the focal point of healthcare expansion. The AAS in health information technology from Northwestern College meets the demand for training the next generation of health information specialists who will lead this transformation.
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