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In order to become a radiology technician, there are a number of educational requirements. Admission to any program is going to first require a high school diploma or equivalent, and The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology is the source of most accreditations in this Field. The initial requiring factors are having an associate or bachelor’s degree or other certification from a vocational technical institute. To achieve licensing, there is a wide variety of options in training, such as taking courses at colleges, universities or other vocational technical institutes. Other educational options for radiology technicians may include internships, or on the job training from diagnostic centers and hospitals.

Radiology technicians will usually be trained in a variety of areas. These areas include but may not be limited to, plain radiology, ultrasounds, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. In order to become a licensed radiology technician, most programs will last roughly four years, leading up to certification. While most radiology technicians will go through an entire two year course, some who opt for an internship or on the job style training may be able to complete the courses needed within one year. Those, however, typically have some other form of medical education or background already completed, such as a nursing degree.

Required coursework to become a licensed radiology technician typically consists of Cardiovascular-Interventional Radiology, Mammography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiotherapy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Nuclear Medicine. As well, most schools or radiologic science and other medical programs require medical insurance prior to beginning coursework due to much of the coursework being held in clinical settings. Initial certification, however, is generally a one time process and needs not be repeated again throughout the course of the radiology technician’s career. However, there is an annual registration required through the ARRT, or American Registry of Radiological Technicians. This is not as thorough as the initial certification and usually involves being able to meet the three criteria set about by the ARRT. These criteria are: meeting the Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal of Registration, agreeing to comply with the ARRT Rules and Regulations, and continuing to comply with the ARRT Standards of Ethics.

Being able to satisfy the continuing education requirements to be a radiology technician involves three options, either pass one of the post-primary examinations not previously passed and that the radiologist is eligible to take, earn twenty four continuing education credits that adhere to the criteria put forth by the ARRT, or pass a primary examination in a discipline not already passed and for which the radiology technician is eligible. As 35 exams affiliated with becoming a licensed radiology technician are AART administered, this is the standard, but may not be the case in all states, so making sure to see what the individual state requirements of the student’s location or location at time of licensing is important. Also bear in mind, that only forty states in the US currently require licensure for practicing radiologic technologists and technicians.