Research says the world’s knowledge is doubling every 13 months, so it isn’t surprising that no single person can be an expert in everything. That’s why nearly every profession depends on highly skilled specialists. In the healthcare sector, one specialist physicians need on their team is a radiologic technologist – an expert in digital diagnostic imaging. Here’s more about why and how to become a radiologic technologist.
Discovering why you should become a radiologic technologist means learning why diagnostic medical imaging is vital to responsive healthcare. Through technology, noninvasive medical imaging results in astonishingly detailed views of what’s happening inside the human body. These views give physicians the data they need for more accurate and safer patient care.
The radiologic technologist’s role now ranks as a top-25 healthcare support profession, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The radiologic technologist – commonly known as a rad tech – helps identify conditions such as
Those who decide become radiologic technologists have a combination of extraordinary talents. They naturally interact well with people and demonstrate empathy and understanding to patients who might be in severe pain. They might have to be good at establishing trust with a young child who is afraid or be inventive about communicating with someone who speaks a different language.
It’s the rad tech’s job to
Those who have already become radiologic technologists say it’s like having the best of two worlds: you’re highly involved with people and working daily with innovative technology.
Bonus Info: When you’re interested in becoming a rad tech specialist, check out this special blog: 9 Reasons to Become a Radiologic Technologist.
You can become a radiologic technologist in as few as two years. That’s the advantage of earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in rad tech – more than 75% of courses help you master the rad tech skills used in the workplace, and you’re in the workforce in half the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Imagine the pride you’ll feel starting in a career where new rad techs typically earn a salary of $45,000 and up. According to the data site Salary.com, experienced rad techs have a median salary of from $49,368 to $59,586.
Career outlook also is good. From 2021 to 2032, growth is estimated to be at 6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, chiropractic and health sciences university located in Overland Park, Kansas offering an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S. degree) in Radiologic Technology.
In the CUKC degree program, you’ll first complete eight general education prerequisite courses and then move on to 16 months of specialized class and lab instruction. As you gain skills, you’ll get clinical experiences in affiliated healthcare facilities within the greater Kansas City region.
The A.A.S. in Radiologic Technology degree at CUKC is recognized as an approved educational provider for Radiography. More than 75% of U.S. states require a state license before working as a radiologic technologist. Most states use results from national exam scores and credentials for licensing decisions.
Other advantages of the CUKC degree program:
Learn more about our 2-year degree program here, and all about the life of a rad tech in this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to a Career as a Radiologic Technologist.