x-ray tech program

Education Checklist: 6 Questions to Ask Before Enrolling in an X-Ray Tech Program

Why do you want to be an x-ray tech? Is it because you want to work with cutting-edge technology that allows you to see super-cool images? Or maybe it's because you like helping people.

Working as an x-ray tech is certainly pretty cool. You'll often get to see things most members of the general public hope they never see, including broken bones, images of the inside of the human body, and the first signs of disease. You'll likely get to be part of a healthcare team that is the front line on the fight to keep people healthy. 

Being an x-ray tech (or radiologic technologists, as they are commonly referred to) can be pretty cool and exciting. And it's even better if you enroll in the right x-ray tech program. Here's a look at six questions to ask yourself before you enroll in an x-ray tech program:

Is being an x-ray tech rigorous?

Being an x-ray tech is important, hard work. You're going to be responsible for obtaining the images that help physicians diagnose illnesses and broken bones. There is very little doubt that people's comfort will depend on your abilities. There is also a possibility that your images could mean the difference between life and death. 

This is why you want to make sure to enroll in an x-ray tech program that includes classroom instruction that is rigorous enough to prepare you for your job duties. You want to know everything you possibly can—from your instructors as well as your textbooks—about what to expect when you get your first job, because people will be depending on you. 

Does it provide practical wisdom?

Textbooks and lectures are important. They can teach you a lot about theory and noteworthy cases, but they can't teach you everything. 

That's why it's also important to choose an x-ray tech program that provides ample opportunities for hands-on learning. Make sure the program you choose allows you to practice on industry standard technology. Make sure you will have opportunities to make mistakes before you are dealing with real patients. And make sure they align what they're teaching you in the classroom with what they're teaching you in practice. In other words, you want to walk out of your x-ray tech program with practical wisdom. 

Will it prepare you for the national registry?

Not everyone can be an x-ray tech—even if they earn their degree from a quality x-ray tech program. But everyone who is an x-ray tech has to pass a three-hour, 240-question national registry x-ray tech exam. Before you enroll in an x-ray tech program, make sure they have a strong history of properly preparing students to do well on the exam. 

Does it care about communication?

Communication is one of the most important (and often overlooked) aspects of an x-ray tech's job. The patients you'll be working with are often ill, injured or otherwise incoherent. It is incredibly important for you to have the ability to effectively communicate with them. You need to be able to empathize with them, but at the same time get your job done. 

This can involve listening to their needs, expressing your needs and effectively providing physical assistance to ensure you get the best image possible. At the end of the day, you can't help them get better if you can't communicate with them. 

Is the curriculum robust?

You're going to need to learn and know an awful lot of information and skills. That's why it's incredibly important to make sure your x-ray tech program offers a robust curriculum. Make sure it covers medical terminology, radiographic positioning and technique, labs and clinics, radiological pharmacology and drug administration, research, pathology, biology and protection, and more. 

Do not settle for an x-ray tech program that doesn't have a robust curriculum. 

Will it deliver an associate's degree from an accredited institution? 

In the past, a person could begin a career as an x-ray tech after only six months of schooling. Today, however, x-ray technicians must hold an associate degree from an accredited institution. If you are just graduating and don't have this from an accredited college or university, you can't work as an x-ray tech.  

Ready? Enroll in an x-ray tech program today!

If you are ready to explore a field that is exciting, important and rewarding, contact ECPI University today and ask about how you can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Radiography in as few as 1.5 years and get started today! It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's College of Health Science TODAY!

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