x-ray techs - Healthcare Professionals Message Board

heather62187 · 12-18-2007, 09:44 PM

what do x-ray techs have to say about there job?

<edited: use complete senetences. Do not repeat the subject line.>

ellemae11 · 01-15-2008, 07:12 AM

Hello,
I have been a registered radiographer for now 40 years. Wow I can't believe it has been that long. If I had to go back and choose a profession knowing what I know now I would choose x-ray again. I have never had trouble getting a job. I have worked in Los Angeles, Santa Monica Cal, Washington DC, Fairfax VA, Petoskey Mich, Matoon IL, Rapid City South Dakota. I like to travel.
You can go to a hospital based program or a college one. You must then take the national registry. I did a college one and can see no difference in my employment/salary from others that chose a hospital program.

There are a few states such as SD that anyone off the street can do an x-ray/CT.

We are required to complete continuing education for x-ray, mammography and ultrasound. It varies between every 24 to 36 months.
Most states have state registries as well. Only California requires you to take an exam after you have passed the national registry. The others you pay your money and get your state licence. You must first have passed the national exam.
Right now the jobs are out there but not as much a shortage as there was. This comes and goes.
However people like me are retiring and the demand will go up. X-ray is wide open to choose what field you want, MRI, CT,Diagnostic, *****,Ultrasound,Nuclear Medicine (not really x-ray).
If you are in a hospital you may need to take call or work different shifts and holidays. It is usually a very fast pace. The equipment change in the last 40 years has been incredible. I remember wet processing in OR and now we have digital x-rays with no processor and film.

One more thing. My daughter is registered x-ray, registered sonographer in Wyoming. She made $92,000. in 2007.
I on the other hand working for a radiologist group doing mobile mammography in SD made $55,000.
If I can answer any questions please ask.

lancer127 · 01-21-2008, 11:30 PM

So is getting a job as a new grad hard to find? I am interested in Radiology tech. and I wanted to find out the availability of jobs when I would graduated. Would I have to get extra certifications in MRI, CT, or Sonography in order to get a good job? Do hospitals usually OTJ train for this?
Any info is appreciated thanks!

ellemae11 · 01-22-2008, 07:13 AM

If you are interested in x-ray or any modality in imaging I suggest you go for it now. I will explain my reason for saying that later.
Jobs for Rad Techs are still out there. You may have to move somewhere else to find one depending on your location. It depends on where you are. Some places would like to hire new grads as they are cheaper. Sometimes the hospital you do your rotation with will offer jobs to the best students.

As far as certifications for CT, MRI, Diagnostic x-ray, you must FIRST pass the National Certification test given by ARRT. There are exceptions:
1). If you work in a state that has no state license anyone can do a CT, MRI, Diagnostic x-ray, or ultrasound.
2). Sonography can be a separate registration. That test is by the ARDMS.
3). Texas does have a state license.

I do not think at this time it is mandatory to be certified in CT or MR. Some places may require it for their facility.

I have not been in an area with students for 15 years and things may have changed. However when you are going through your clinical rotations you will be in all modalities including NucMed.
In the past hospitals did do on the job training for CT and MRI. Some also did that for ultrasound.
Now I think most hospitals send their people off to ultrasound school and in turn that person is required to work a year or whatever time to pay the hospital back.
If you are good in math check out NucMed.

The following is why I say don't wait to get into Imaging if that is what you want.

Things are changing rapidly in imaging. As it is now we must do continuing education (24 ceu's in 24 months).
I do not know if additional ceu's are required at this time for CT or MRI.
Additional ceu's are required for Mammography and Sonography.
If you pass the National Registry in 2011 or after every 10years you will need to retake a written test to be recertified nationally and also for each modality. This is new and as of now there is no decision on what the national recertification test will be. It could be a repeat of the original test and that would suck! You will also have to maintain your ceu's in between those 10 years.
When this happens I can foresee fewer people coming into this field.
If you have your RT license before 2011 you will not need to retake the test. You only need to continue the ceu's.

If you check with schools be sure to ask what percentage of their students pass the national certification the first time. If they can't tell you do not go there.

I have probably really confused you by now. If you have any more questions please ask.

lancer127 · 01-23-2008, 11:51 PM

Hey thanks for the reply! I am going to apply to a Rad. Tech program at a local community college now and hopefully get accepted soon. Thanks for you help!