Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Why You Should Become a Radiology Tech

By Dawn Teo

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.

For a start in the radiology field, most individuals will need to have a certain level of education or certification. But once you begin to take a look at the different courses of study that are commonly found today, you will realise that you need to decide upon the type of radiology which you might be considering. This will affect your career, as there are different qualifications needed for specific roles such as being a radiology technologist or even a radiology technician.

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.

Upon attaining a certain level of certification or academic qualification, you should feel assured that you will be able to get a job as a radiology technician in a medical institution. Apart from that, you might even be offered jobs in research facilities that use specialized radiology equipment.

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.

Regarding pay scales of radiology technicians, you should expect to get about $30,000 a year when you begin your career, and within a few years of working in the field, get about $100,000 a year.

These are just some of the things you should expect, should you decide to seriously consider a career as a radiology tech. No matter your decision, you should always find out more from people who are currently in the field, before you make any sort of decision. This should help you gain a clearer understanding of what to expect. - 15343

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