With the demand for X-ray technicians estimated to grow, interested people would like to know about the specific courses they can take to become a certified operator. The good new is, there are a lot of options you can choose from.
X-ray technicians, in most cases, work in a hospital alongside a radiologist. Both he and the radiologist help in taking the report of the patient, which in turn helps specialized doctors figure out what exact ailment a patient is suffering from. A couple of factors which include people suffering from ailments and doctors relying heavily on X-ray results have led to this job becoming pretty popular, and US Labor estimates increased need in the near future.
Getting the Certification
The first step starts with the subjects you pick for your high school diploma. Ideally, you would want to get a firm footing in subjects like chemistry, biology, and algebra, which will come handy when you are on the job. The second step is to fill out an application for the X-ray technician program in a community or a vocational college. Make sure that the college you are applying to is accredited by the Joint Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, as a lot of employing hospitals can be pretty sticky by demanding that your course be accredited this way. Once you’ve narrowed down on the institutions that do clear this basic criteria, you then have to submit your applications to these colleges.
The program will include 2 years of classroom training, and also will take place in a clinical setting. During the course, you will learn the basics of human anatomy, operation of X-ray machines, patient safety, and pathology. The course ensures that you possess the basic knowledge that an X-ray technician ideally ought to have.
But just theoretical knowledge is never enough, and you also need practical exposure to the job. So, before getting your certification, you also need to work as an intern with a radiologist or a hospital. Internships are a crucial part of any medical assistant, as it gives one a hands-on experience on how to go about the regular duties, and you learn a lot on-the-job.
The last step in graduating from the program is to give the exam. Most hospitals all over require that their X-ray specialists get their certification in NY right to the same in California. The exam is pretty inevitable. Whether doing it online is better, one cannot say. This exam is conducted by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, which test you on all that you have learned over the duration of your course, before deeming you fit to perform the duties.
X-ray Technician Duties
Once you receive your certificate, you will most probably be employed by a hospital which needs X-ray technicians all the time. What you will need to do is set up all the equipment for the X-ray, make sure that the patient is lying in a position which is ideal for taking the best pictures for the X-ray, study the images, and help the radiologist identify the problems.