Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Certification For Radiology Technician

By Pete Sjogren

If you are one of the many individuals who are very interested in a career in the medical profession, especially in the field of radiology technician and related imaging jobs, you will be glad to know that you have discovered a career that is both exciting and fulfilling.

If you are seriously considering a career as a radiology technician, it is vital that you do as much research as you can on the medical industry, before determining if you will indeed be interested in becoming a radiology technician. There are a wide variety of roles that a radiology technician can play, and each of these roles has its own requirements that you need to meet. Another important thing to consider is the amount you will get paid, as a radiology technician.

To get started in the area of radiology, it will be common for most medical institutions to require that you at least have some form of certification. However, if you start to look at the different courses available in radiology related fields, it will become imperative that you decide exactly which area of radiology you want to be a part of. This is because it is important to take the right steps when starting your career in radiology, as it will help you move forward in your career faster than others.

If you intend to be a radiologist, normally, you will first need to start as a radiology tech. One way to bypass this and become a radiologist immediately, is to go through at least 8 years of studying and training, which is something not many people will choose to do. Apart from this, to be a radiology technician, all you need is a one-year certificate program, which should easily get you a job as a qualified radiology technician. Another option you have is to complete a bachelor's degree, which might give you more access to different types of radiology related jobs.

With some form of academic achievement, or even certification, it will be no problem for you to find a job in the field of radiology. Starting as a radiology technician will prove to be easy, as there is a strong demand for radiology technicians. Apart from medical institutions such as hospitals and clinics, you might also want to consider working in a research facility, as there is demand for radiology technicians there as well.

After gaining some job experience as a radiology technician, you should be able to move up your career path and become a radiologist. This normally means that you will be expected to both handle the radiology equipment, as well as perform diagnosis of scans.

If you want to know what to expect as your salary, you should understand that this is largely dependent on the job position you are offered, as well as the qualifications you carry. Pay scales can range from $30,000 a year, to more than $100,000 a year.

If you are still keen on getting involved in the field of radiology, you should do the adequate amount of research necessary, before making the final decision. Also, it would help if you could get some feedback from individuals who are working in this field. - 16650

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