How to Become a Certified X-Ray Technician:
The Definitive Guide

What is a Certified X-Ray Technician?

A certified x-ray technician, also called a radiologic technologist, is someone who uses special equipment to take images of the inside of your body.

Though, that’s the majority of the job, there are many things that an x-ray technician needs to know and do.

Understanding the dangers of x-rays is one of those things.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will likely have to work nights and weekends, because emergencies don’t wait.

X-ray technicians are an important job, you’ll help people in their deepest time of need.

Duties

Salary

As of 2019, the average salary for a certified x-ray technician in the United States is $55,101.

The range falls between $50,000 and $61,000.

Salary ranges depend on education, certification, skills, the number of years spent in the profession, as well as where you work.

Those that work in hospitals may make more than people who work for independent businesses.

Depending on the type of x-rays you do, can also have an influence on how much money you make yearly.

The more certifications and skills you have, the likelier it is that you will get a higher paying position.

• Annually
• Monthly
• Hourly

How to Become a Certified X-Ray Technician

Step 1Complete Post Secondary Education

There are a few different options for you to take when deciding to become a certified x-ray technician.

You can begin a certificate program, which will take you around a year to complete.

Most employers won’t hire those who only have a certificate, and would rather higher people with an Associate’s degree or higher.

It is possible to get certification in specific areas, along with obtaining that Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.

If you want to advance in your career, you are going to want to get a Bachelor’s or even a Master’s degree.

It is possible to work and gain your degree at the same time, which is what a lot of certified x-ray technicians do.

Step 2Get Certified

There are many different areas that an x-ray technician can become certified.

Some of these include:

Nuclear Medicine Technology

Mammography

Computed Tomography (CT scans)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Cardiovascular-Interventional Technologies

These specific certifications may take longer to achieve, depending on which ones you want to do, but the more certifications that you have, the better you look to employers.

It’s important to also make sure that you have an internship or externship, training is very important in this field.

Experience will get you a better career, and quicker.

It may even be possible to get a full time job at the employer where you did your internship.

Step 3Obtain a License

There are only a certain number of states that require you to have a license to become a certified x-ray technician.

These states are:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Michigan
• Nevada

Depending on which state you plan to work, licensure can take between 1 and 4 years.

As of 2012, all states that require licensure accept ARRT exams for licensure purposes.

Even if you live in a state that requires licensure, you will be able to find a job in another state that doesn’t.

If you live in a state that doesn’t require licensure, you will want to make sure you get a license before working in a state that requires them.

It’s important to know what each state requires, and how and when to get your license.

The ARRT offers exams in:

• Radiology
• Nuclear Medicine Technology
• Radiation Therapy
• Post Primary Disciplines
• Limited Scope of Practice in Radiology
• Bone Densitometry
• Fluoroscopy

Go to the ARRT website to find out more about licensing.

Step 4Find a Job

As a certified x-ray technician, you can work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, imaging centers, and rehab centers.

It is also possible to be a traveling x-ray technician, where you go to a different facility every day/week.

Most technicians work around 40 hours a week.

This is one of those careers that will allow you to work overtime, especially when working in hospitals or doctor’s offices.

X-ray technicians are needed greatly in hospitals, in emergency rooms, as well as in other areas of the hospital.

If you are looking to find a job as an x-ray technician, check your local hospitals.

Education

Typically, in order to become a certified x-ray technician, you will need to obtain an Associate’s degree.

Sometimes you can acquire a certificate, or even get your Bachelor’s degree.

It is possible to complete your degree and training in as little as 24 months.

No matter what, you are going to want to make sure that the program you begin is accredited through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

In order to become qualified for certification, you need to make sure that your school is accredited with the ARRT as well.

Coursework will usually contain in class lectures as well as lab instruction.

Some of the courses you will want to take are anatomy, medical terminology, patient positioning, radiation protection, infection control, and radiation pathology.

You will want to get some hands-on experience while going to school.

Most programs allow for externships, which will get you the training that you need while getting your education.

Along with the courses mentioned above, you’ll want to make sure that you are taking classes that explore traditional x-ray machines, computerized axial tomography, fluoroscopy, MRI’s, and mammography.

Video About The Career

Certification and Licensing

The necessity of a license varies from state to state, so check out the laws for the state in which you want to work.

Some licensure programs take one year, while it can be as long as four years to obtain a license.

Even if your state doesn’t require you to be certified or licensed, most employers still expect it.

Skipping certification can make it hard to find a job.

Certifications can take around one year, but there are many types of certifications that an x-ray technician can obtain.

Acquiring specific certifications can further your career, especially with training and experience.

Some of the things that you’ll want learn in order to gain your certification:

Radiologic physics- This is when you learn what radiation is, how it’s produced and controlled.

Basic radiography techniques- This is where you will learn about image protocols, and how to take care of patients while you are giving them x-rays.

Radiographic image critique- This is where you will look at x-ray images and decipher what is normal and abnormal.

Special procedures in radiology- This is where you will learn about advanced imaging processes.

Knowing all of this is a good step on your way toward getting your certification to become an X-ray Technician!

There are some extra certifications you can acquire in order to stand out from the crowd.

These include:

In order to gain these certifications, you must first make sure that you are a certified X-Ray Technician.

Certification Example:

Average Training Program Duration: 1-2 Years

Training can take around one year, and up to four years.

It depends on the route you want to take.

Do you want to get a certificate?

That will take you around a year.

Do you want an Associate’s degree?

That can take you two years.

Other certifications can take longer, but the most important information to gain from this is to get experience and training.

Popular Programs

Job Outlook

The job outlook for certified x-ray technicians looks positive.

In the next 10 years, the career will grow 14%.

This is faster than most other occupations.

In the medical field, there are going to be many fields that are growing exponentially.

The baby-boomer population is getting older, which means there will be an increase of medication interventions.

These medical issues will most likely require x-rays, issues like Alzheimer’s, Cancer, and many other disease.

There are also more screening tests done for cancers today, more so than years ago.

X-Ray Technicians look at all types of x-rays, from fetal, to mammograms and broken bones.

Employment Growth Projection: 9%

That's a higher than average projected growth of 18,200 jobs.

X-Ray Technician: Interest Over Time

Should You Become an X-Ray Technician?

Overall Satisfaction: Medium

Most x-ray technicians have a more stressful than average job.

Those that work in hospitals tend to have the most stressful jobs.

It is also stressful working with pregnant women, as there are sometimes when there are abnormal screenings.

It can also be stressful if you have to work nights and weekends.

Being around people who are in pain or nervous can make the job more difficult.

The average flexibility of the job makes it a decent career.

The opportunities for advancement and pay raises is average as well.

Though it is possible to get certifications in order to advance in your career.

Average Salary: High

The average salary for a certified x-ray technician is $54,000.

It is possible to start out making less than that, around $50,000.

With experience and training, an x-ray technician can make around $60,000.

Education, training, and certifications are key to getting pay raises.

When you gain experience and certifications, you’ll be able to work in more places.

Also, you’ll make more money as you have more education.

It’s important to keep up with new techniques so that you can make the most out of your career.

Job Growth Outlook: High

The growth of this job looks great, it is higher than average.

It will be higher than most other jobs in the next ten years.

As the baby-boomer generation gets older, more x-ray technician jobs are needed.

It’s become more custom to do pre-screening as well, which means there are people who need x-rays done for various reasons.

With children’s sports becoming more popular, the amount of x-rays done on youth is rising as well.

There will always be a need for X-Ray Technicians, it just depends on where you want to work.

Education Duration: 1-2 Years

It can take between 1 year and 4 years to obtain a degree.

Most people tend to stick to getting their Associate’s degree, which takes roughly two years.

Those that want to advance even more in their career may opt to get a Bachelor’s degree, which can take around 4 years.

It’s up to you what you would like to do, the most important thing is to get certified.

Without certification, it will be near impossible to find a job.

No employer wants to hire someone that is not certified in the field of X-Rays.

Make sure you pay attention to what the licensure laws are for your state.

Personal Skills Needed

Being an X-ray Technician is not just about science and looking at a grainy computer screen.

That’s part of it, but you also need to have people skills, understand empathy, and physical strength for the job at hand.

It’s also important to pace yourself and make sure that you are getting the proper breaks needed, as this can be a hard job on the body.

• Ability to communicate
• Math and science skills
• Understanding of medical software and patient database software
• Understanding of machinery
• Physically able to stand for long periods of time
• Physical strength to help patients move into positions

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