Looking into Radiology

cyberjason · Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Hello,

Let me introduce myself. I'm currently 32 and I work as a web designer / account manager and I currently get about 42K/yr. I consider myself an expert in this field with over 12 years experience and I am very knowledgable in what the common business needs in a website...but I am not here to talk about web design. My wife constantly refers to web design as a 'kids' job and my mother who is a Registered RN in Oncology always trys to talk me into going into the medical world. So I am contemplating the move into radiology as it combines technology and medicine...something I feel I can find a passion in. But of course like everyone I have lots of questions.

1. I see lots of x-ray tech schools offering classes. Is this an entry point into the radiology field or is x-ray tech as far as it goes? If thats the case I do not want to pursue x-ray techs. But if it does would this be a good start to work and go to school at the same time?

2. I did a lot of searching for radiology schools in the los angeles area on google and found very few schools. I find that hard to believe as los angeles is home to more than 16 million people. I didn't include Universities as I just don't have that kind of money right now.

I found:
- ELAOC - government and hospital funded
- Rio Hondo
- LACC

3. Does anyone experienced have any advice as to what steps one should take that knows relatively little about the medical industry? What things we can do to prepare ourselves?...what we should look out for?...what we should expect? I've heard from a few radiologists to stay away from 'privately funded' programs. I don't find that surprising as you should always go with a school that is interested in the students and not in their own pockets. Is this true?

Thank You,

-Jason

papa · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:26 am Post subject:

1. welcome to the field Very Happy

2. x-ray is jus the tip of the ice berg
-- there's CAT scan, MRI, Specials, OR, out patient, etc. etc. etc.

3. try not looking for specific schools for x-ray. check your local community college. i live in virginia, and i took classes at Northern Virginia Community College. In State rates were something like $35 / credit (now granted that was about 10 - 12 years ago, but you get the idea)

4. some web sites:
www.arrt.org
www.asrt.org
www.rtstudents.com
find some google groups or yahoo groups, sign up, and start asking questions.

hope you find everything you need!

and i'm sure we'll cross paths at some time. one thing you'll learn is that the radiology field is a very small world.
_________________
Mr. Green

papa RT(R)(CT) Mr. Green

http://sites.google.com/site/delusionalradiology

never meddle in the affairs of a dragon, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup

ton1179 · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 2

try maric college in north hollywood, ca

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

People talk about 'x-ray schools'. That's misleading.

Here's the deal. Diagnostic Imaging includes:

1. Radiography - 2+ yrs education, national certification exam
2. CT - most commonly learned OJT by Radiographers, additional exam
2. Nuclear Medicine - separate education/training/certification
3. Ultrasonography - separate education/training/certification
4. Radiation Therapy - separate education/training/certification
5. MRI - separate education/training/certification, although many start OJT
6. Interventional Radiography - Radiographer 1st, OJT, certification not yet required
7. Cardiac Cath Lab - separate education/training/certification, but many RT's move to Cath

The path to education for these is varied.

For a list of nationally accredited programs in your area, look here on the ARRT website (American Registry of Radiolgic Technologists - our national certifying agency):

http://www.arrt.org/index.html?content=http://www.arrt.org/nd/listOfSchools.ndm/listSchools&iframe=yes

There are many programs in California. CA has more complicated state licensing laws in addition to national certification. For information on California's regs, see here:

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/rhb/

3 kinds of educational programs 1) certificate only. No college credt. Successful completion makes you eligible to take the national certification exam. 2) 2-year college program. Successful completion earns you an associate degree and makes you eligible to take the national certifying exam. 3) 4-year college program. Successful completion earns you a bachelor's degree and makes you eligible to take the national board exam.

Everyone has an opinion, here's mine. I always recommend that folks get as much education as possible. If you can afford it, do the 4-year. If you can't, then go to a community college. Most CC's have a Radiography program. Having a 4-year degree will make it possible for you, later in your career, to move into management or education should you desire that. The more education you have, the broader your possiblities.

On a personal note, please don't call me an 'x-ray tech'. It's insulting. That isn't who I am or what I do. I am a professional in medical imaging - a radiographer and I have been for 30 years. I worked in direct patient care for 18 years. I've supervised others, I've taught student radiographers to do what I do. I've worked in emergency rooms and operating rooms. I ran a mobile TB clinic for the State of Florida, I've worked as a consultant for vendors. I've worked in general radiography, ultrasound, CT, and interventional. I currently work in imaging IT, which is that arm of imaging which implements, supports, maintains and trains personnel to use systems in imaging. (The systems that order exams, create images, store and manipulate those images, create reports, bill patients, etc).

Being an 'x-ray tech' it isn't a easy job and it is frequently NOT the stepping stone to something else. It is a proud profession, one that takes skill and dedication to lifelong learning - and it takes a special kind of individual to excel here.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.
hjh