Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Should You Consider Becoming a Radiology Tech?

By Alan Tam

For those of you who might be considering a career as a radiology tech, you should feel encouraged to pursue your interests, as it can be very rewarding. Today, more and more people find a career in radiology to be extreme fun and exciting, which is why it is becoming a career of choice.

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.

All radiology techs need some sort of formal education, in order to be properly trained and equipped to do the job of a radiology tech. However, there are many different courses available today, and as a result, before you decide on the specific course of study to undertake, you will need to consider and decide on the specific area of radiology which you might be interested in. These job scopes often vary from being a radiology technician, radiology technologists to just being a radiologist in a medical institution.

To be a radiologist, you normally require at least several years of training. However, there are different paths you can choose to take in order to reach this target. Currently, there are many different associate degrees offering training in radiology. Apart from this, you should also be able to find certificate programs that give you one year of training, before becoming a qualified radiology technician. You might also want to consider a bachelor's degree program, which should also get you a job in a field related to radiology.

Once you have some form of qualification or certification, it should be no problem for you to find a job in a hospital or a medical clinic. At times, you might even be offered a job in specialized radiology laboratories, where most research is mainly conducted.

Once you have gained some experience as a radiology tech, and move on to become a radiologist, you will not only be expected to operate the equipment, but also participate in the final diagnosis and reading of the radiology 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.

Just like any other job, it will take determination and hard work to do well in the radiology industry. But, before you decide to get into this field of work, you should remember to speak with experience individuals who will be able to give you advise on your career of choice. - 15437

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