Performing diagnostic medical imaging is one of the most needed duties in healthcare today. Choose a high-quality radiology technology program and you’re only two years away from an in-demand career as a certified and registered radiologic technologist – a rad tech. You’ll be part of a healthcare team providing excellent patient care through your knowledge of today’s innovative imaging technologies.
Radiology Technology = a Radiologic Technologist
Never heard of a radiologic technologist? You may know these healthcare professionals by other names – rad tech, X-ray technologists, or diagnostic imaging technologists, for example. However, the most accurate term is radiologic technologist, someone whose education leads to certification and registration according to standards set by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Most likely, one of your family members or someone else you know benefited from the expertise of radiologic technologists – they just happen to work behind the scenes.
Many who’ve discovered the rad tech life knew a healthcare career was right for them but didn’t want to earn a four-year degree. They were looking for a two-year college degree; something that would take advantage of their talent for working with people and their natural attraction to working hands-on with technology.
In examining radiology technology programs, they found their calling. Radiologic technologists get to experience the best of a high-touch, tech-savvy profession.
What Do Radiologic Technologists Do?
Working in a medical imaging environment offers new challenges daily because each patient situation demands different combinations of their skills.
In an emergency room scenario, for example, a rad tech may be the first healthcare professional a patient encounters. Patients with traumatic injuries are often in pain and facing their injury situation alone. It’s up to the rad tech to show empathy and help them be as comfortable as possible before explaining the diagnostic imaging that’s about to take place.
At the same time, radiologic technologists are tech experts: they must set up the equipment, make adjustments, help the patient get into the right imaging position, and perform the imaging tests requested by physicians.
As you’ll discover when investigating radiology technology programs, not all rad techs work in hospitals. Because imaging is non-invasive and highly accurate, you’ll find radiologic technologists on staff in
Choosing a Radiology Technology Program
More than half of radiologic technologists choose to enter a two-year radiology technology program according to a 2019 survey by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). A typical degree is an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in radiologic technology.
The two-year degree program will first include prerequisite (preliminary) courses required for a college degree, and then offer professional coursework covering diagnostic imaging principles, methods, and equipment use.
Academic coursework examples:
Lab sessions and guided demonstrations give students hands-on instruction in patient positioning techniques and all forms of digital imaging, including portable imaging and C-arm technologies.
What to Look for in a Radiologic Technology Program
A degree program that takes into account what employers want will also teach their students how to be valuable contributors in situations that require problem-solving, critical thinking, and communicating clearly and positively with patients of ages and from different cultural backgrounds.
It’s also essential to choose a radiology technology program from a University specializing in the health sciences – a rad tech program must have dedicated funding. Students need to train on equipment that’s equivalent to that in use by today’s hospitals and imaging centers. Students must have teaching that’s current with industry best practices and expectations.
The Radiologic Technology Program at CUKC
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university that offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Radiologic Technology degree. Ours is an accelerated degree program that students can complete in as little as two years.
Imaging center professionals guided the program design. Instructors have real-life experience doing the imaging work they’re teaching. As you move through the program and gain competencies, you’ll get clinical experience in various healthcare facilities within Kansas City and the surrounding region.
Other advantages of earning your radiology technology education at CUKC:
Request more details here about our radiologic technology program, or download this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to a Career as a Radiologic Technologist.
