If you are considering a career in the medical field, the position of x ray technician would be an excellent choice. An x ray technician (also known as a radiographer) takes x ray images of various parts of a patients body. In order to become an x ray technician, you need to complete a course in radiography at an accredited school. You may also need to get a license in order to work as a radiographer, depending on which state you live in. The x ray tech classes you need to take in order to become certified range from 2 to 4 years in length. If you already have training as a nurse or an EMT you may be able to get by with just one year of additional education.
You can do as little as an associates degree, or as much as a masters degree. How far you take the education depends on how high of a position you would like to be eligible for. If you want to be eligible for a supervisor position, you may need to have at least a bachelors degree in many areas. Some areas will allow you to become a supervisor on experience alone, it largely depends on the company you are working for. After you have completed your x ray tech classes you will be allowed to start work immediately, providing you have all licenses and other requirements are met.
The average salary for an x-ray technician is $50,000 to $60,000 per year, some places may pay a little more or a little less than that. X ray technicians are compensated well and there is almost always a generous benefit package available from your employer. The course work you are required to take is not quite as difficult as other medical fields tend to be, and there are many schools all over the nation that have radiography courses. If you already work for a hospital doing something else, many hospitals will offer tuition reimbursement if you successfully finish the course.
The demand for x ray technicians is high in some areas, and lower in others. As long as you are willing to relocate you should not have any problems getting a job in this field. The job market for radiographers is still growing despite the recession so it is still a smart career choice. As long as you are determined and stick to your plan, you should do well if you choose to become an x ray technician.
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