2-year Radiologic Technology Degree? Here’s What You’ll Love Doing

When thinking about careers that focus on caring for people, you’ll definitely want to consider earning a 2-year radiologic technology degree. Why is that? Because those who become radiologic technologists (often referred to as rad techs) are healthcare professionals responsible for performing the diagnostic medical imaging procedures patients need for their best long-term health.

Sounds like an important job, yes? It is. The use of imaging technologies–X-rays, CT scans, fluoroscopy, C-arm, and many others, are making “exploratory surgery all but obsolete,” says the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA).

What You’ll Do With a Radiologic Technology Degree

One of the best ways to know if a career path fits you is to understand what they do. In general, a rad tech’s typical responsibilities for an imaging session include:

• Setting up the examination room, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready for the diagnostic scan requested
• Reviewing the patient’s medical history
• Positioning imaging equipment and adjusting controls, setting exposure time and distance according to the specifics of the physician’s request
• Ensuring proper positioning on the examining table and providing assistance if needed
• Explaining procedures and observing patients, ensuring they are safe and comfortable during the scan
• Producing images of the body, checking that results match the physician’s request.

What Rad Techs Say Their Job Involves

In interviews with rad techs working in the field, one career-advising website noted the wide variety of duties. In addition to imaging sessions, rad techs like:

• Being in an office-style work environment
• Having discussions about care/procedures with other healthcare personnel
• Knowing they’re making significant contributions to the patient’s health and well-being
• Interacting with patients and helping them understand procedures
• Making decisions based on their unique knowledge and expertise.

 Imagining Yourself in the Rad Tech World

People who are naturals for this occupation say they like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions, often with tools, techniques, and equipment. In addition, they like having contact with people and love the idea they are providing a service to others.

Abigail Loudon, who earned her 2-year radiologic technology degree in 2020, says the diagnostic imaging career is attractive because of the variety of patient situations she encounters. That means she’s constantly elevating her skill set, which adds to her employability.

You can read about Abigail’s journey to a rad tech degree in this blog.

What to Know About the Radiologic Technology Degree

The Associate of Applied Science (A.S.S.) degree in Radiologic Technology is one that most rad techs complete in two years. The “applied” part of the degree name tells employers that you’ve received all the skills, knowledge, and clinical experiences to immediately enter the workforce as a radiologic technologist.

More than 63% of rad techs chose the A.A.S. degree because their focus was to begin helping people as soon as possible. Within the two-year, year-round coursework, students master

• The scientific principles of diagnostic imaging
• Guidelines for patient care and positioning
• Anatomy and physiology of the human body
• Essential soft skills, such as speaking and writing effectively, active listening, demonstrating leadership, and managing responsibilities
• Medical and health science terminology
• Equipment protocols

The CUKC 2-year Radiologic Technology Degree

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) — a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university — offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Radiologic Technology.

Our program meets the educational requirements set by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Our goal is to prepare students for the national certifying exam as radiographers. (Check out the success rate of our graduates here.)

Classroom knowledge is combined with hands-on training in the University’s own radiologic equipment rooms and two demonstration suites. CUKC has a growing network of partner clinics where qualified rad tech students get clinical experience while in school. All CUKC instructors have experience working as radiologic technologists.

Let our academic advisors be your guide to learn about the rad tech degree. You’ll also enjoy this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to a Career as a Radiologic Technologist.