Schooling questions

Sarge · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 6

Hello,

I'm in the St Louis, MO area. Currently unemployed and considering a move back into the health field. In the past I've been a nurses aide, medication aide and daily living aide for developmental disabled.

Personal info: high school grad with some college (IT field), Marine for 13 years, lots of hands on jobs covering the gamut. 47 year old male. Supposedly fairly smart. Embarassed

Looking thru everything I can find it appears that to be a radiographer (x-ray tech) in MO no schooling or certification is actually required?

As for choices I can attend a couple different schools with the extra classes such as humanities, English, and such or I can go to some place like Sanford-Brown which teaches just the radiographer portions. Is there is difference to the hospitals and such that hire?

What would be recommended?

Sarge

Sidney · Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 73

Sarge · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 6

I did a search on the ARRT site and found that Sanford-Brown is listed there so that's OK. Think I finally found something on the license or certification deal in MO. It is required but is apparently covered by a board under the Governor. Not much info on-line about it.

Sarge

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject:

I was also unable to find anything on the MO state gov't website regarding radiologic technology.

However, I went to websites for a handful of Missouri hospital that had employment listings for radiographers - all required ARRT or eligible.

People haven't been grandfathered in since Moses was a pup, but it isn't yet necessary to have a 2-year degree to be eligible to take the national certfication exam. (This requirement will change in 2015)

Programs are either college-based and result in a 2- or 4-year degree in addition to eligibility to sit for the exam, or they're not college-based (frequently called 'hospital-based' or 'certificate' programs), which result only in eligibility to sit for the exam.

Hospital-based or certificate programs do not include classes other than radiography. Both types include large blocks of time spent in a clinical environment for hands-on training.

And 2-year degree programs and hospital/certificate both take about 24 months.

Good luck
hjh, RT

Sarge · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 6

Thanks. Appears the Sanford-Brown is the second type. Nothing except the radiography classes and the eligibility to sit for the exam. Works for me as it's all of 10-15 minutes from my place. *grin*

Sarge

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

Hey Sarge

Before you jump right into SB, take a look at this website -

https://www.abii.org/ABII/faces/abii_eligibility.jsp The ABII

The ABII and PARCA (pacsadmin.org) are two agencies which provide national certification for PACS Administrators. The ABII site in particular outlines the educational requirements necessary to become a certified PACS Admin.

Imaging IT is a satisfying, never boring enviroment - while it lacks the adrenaline of working a trauma on a Saturday night, implementing a new system has a rush all it's own.

Good luck,
hjh, RT

wvaio · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 85

Sarge,

I graduated from Sanford-Brown in Fenton, MO. They are a fully accredited school. I sat for the registry and am an RT(R). No worries there. It is no cake walk, but it is not too bad. The thing that I urge you to consider is the current job market in this area, investigate the market in St. Louis and make sure that you fully understand the commitment you are making. Times are tough.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding Sanford-Brown.

Wvaio

Sarge · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 6

Are you trying to tell me there aren't a lot of jobs? I can search and find a decent amount BUT they do all ask for 1-3 years experience at least. Plus if school takes 24 months do we really have a way to determine if the jobs will be there? I'm not against moving as long as it's somewhere warm. *grin*

Gotta find something. I was a plumber because I figured we would always need plumbers and sewer guys. Well you would be surprised what folks are willing to live with. The last company I worked for paid you per job and we were getting maybe one job a day. Usually didn't even cover the days gas cost. Started to learn to be a machinist but man, there are a lot of those guys unemployed.

My IT training wasn't very much so any attempt to get back into that field will take a while. Especially a specialized section of it. Spent a few hours with a rad tech and thought the job was interesting.

Sarge

wvaio · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 85

You are quite correct, who knows what the job market will be like after you graduate, but it is something to consider. I do not know of any full time positions in the St. Louis area, I've been looking! Since you are willing to move that expands your possibilities greatly.

The Sanford-Brown course is shorter than you think. 18 months. Good luck, it is a very interesting field.

Wvaio
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