How Much Does X-Ray Technician School Cost?

$ Certificate in Radiography: $6,000-$20,000

$ $ Associate's Degree in Radiography: $4,000-$30,000

$ $ $ Bachelor's Degree in Radiography: $15,000-$43,000+ Per Year

X-Ray technologists and technicians are trained to operate the X-Ray equipment and other diagnostic tests to take images inside the body.

It is not their task to diagnose patients, yet X-Ray technicians work alongside radiologists who can put a diagnose based on the X-Ray images.

The X-Ray technician education can be an associate’s degree or a certificate program in radiography, also known as radiologic technology, where students are trained in the necessary skills required to operate X-ray equipment.

The X-Ray technologists can get more extensive training in the form of a bachelor’s degree, and can often work in supervisory roles and interpret data associated with X-Rays.

Typical Costs

The typical cost for a certificate in radiography or radiologic technology varies between $6,000-$20,000 and requires 18-24 months to complete.

Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, IA, for example, offers a two-year certificate program in radiologic technology for the total sum of $7,600 covering tuition, books and fees.

This program covers fall, spring and summer terms for two years in a row, where students can spend up to 40 hours per week in the classroom and clinic.

At the same time, the University of Nevada Las Vegas provides a two-year certificate program in radiography for $12,700 for tuition, which is not including additional fees.

Despite the fact that some colleges offer a certificate program, this one is most commonly provided by hospitals and medical centres.

An associate’s degree in radiography takes approx. two years to complete and costs $4,000-$30,000.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, N.C., for example, costs $4,500 for tuition for four semesters plus $3,000 for additional sums such as books, uniforms and certifications, for a total program cost of $7,500 spanning two years.

Kaiser Permanente in Richmond, CA, charges $10,000 for the radiography associate’s degree, which is not including additional fees.

At the same time, Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, IN, provides and an option for an Imaging Sciences associate’s degree for $7,000 tuition plus an estimated $1,000 for books and fees.

The most common among the three types of accredited programs is the associate’s degree programs in radiography, and thus they are prevalent at community colleges and state university.

At the same time, a bachelor’s degree in radiography comes at the annual price between $15,000-$43,000 and usually takes two to four years to complete.

SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. offers a two-year bachelor’s degree in Medical Imaging for the sum of $15,800 for in-state tuition and $43,000 for non-resident tuition.

Another example is The University of Hartford in Connecticut, which offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology for the sum of $118,000.

The additional fees such as room, board and books are estimated to be $17,000 per year.

In general, there are about 30 accredited bachelor’s programs in radiology in the U.S.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists provides voluntary certification for radiologic technologists for the sum of $200 for the initial certification and an additional $20 per year.

The licensure for X-Ray techs is arranged differently by each state’s health board.

Some states use the AART exams for state licensing, and the AART has a full list of contact information for each state’s health department.

Illinois, for example, charges $120 for accreditation in radiation technology and requires applicants to submit an AART certification card to seek accreditation.

What Is Included

X-Ray technologists and technicians training include classroom and clinical experience, covering topics such as anatomy and basic patient care, examination techniques and equipment safety, according to information by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Additional Costs

The required accommodation, board, books, and uniforms for a program in radiography could be at the additional annual sum of $10,000-$20,000.

For example, the room and board are approximately $11,600 per year at the University of Iowa, while books and uniforms cost $1,150 over the two-year program.

At the same time, the books, uniforms and materials at the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in San Mateo, CA, is priced at $1,700 per year, while the uniforms cost an extra $60 per year.

Discounts

Scholarships of $2,500-$5,000 are offered by ASRT Education and Research Foundation for radiologic technology students.

Shopping for X-Ray Technician School

• The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology gives information on the accredited radiography education programs.
• The American Society of Radiologic Technologists provides student resources and career information for X-Ray technicians and technologists.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics presents additional information on the X-Ray tech career path.

Learn more here: How to Become an X-Ray Technician