X-ray technicians operate and maintain an x-ray machine. This machine provides imagery inside the body with or without the use of a dye. The technician also assists the client in proper positioning during the procedure in order to have a good image of the desired part.
Are there any risks involved in this job?
Technicians should be aware that too much exposure to radiation can affect the health. Prolonged exposure to radiation can lead to cancer. There is so much risk involve in this job. Technicians should have limitations in terms of exposure. The actual exposure any individual worker receives is extremely variable depending on the specific circumstances of your work, including what types of x-ray equipment is used, the number of x rays you take, etc. However, every worker will be controlled so as not to exceed the safety limit established by the responsible regulatory agency. Occupational health worker agencies are responsible for establishing this set of standards. This provides safety in all x-ray technicians or other workers in the health care setting.
Training and Certification as a X-ray technician.
Training for x-ray technicians is offered in either universities or colleges, and even in hospitals. There are also vocational programs for such. The training will last for 1 to 4 years, in which the trainee will receive a certificate for vocational programs, an associative degree for 2 years training, and a bachelor’s degree for 4 years training. Basic requirement for admission is one must have finished high school or in other words, he must present a high school diploma.
If your already an x-ray technician, the education and training doesn’t stop there. X-ray techs must have 24 hours of continuing education for 2 years in order to be recertified. In order to achieve this, the most common thing X-ray techs do is attending seminars and advance trainings. Once the X-ray techs have undergone advance trainings, they have big chances to perform CT scans, angiography or becoming a Radiologic assistant.
Salaries and benefits.
Salary and benefit packages also continue to improve as employers seek to retain qualified radiographers, particularly those with specializations in mammography, computed tomography (CT scan), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Today’s median salary for x-ray technicians is more than $50,000, according to the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians. This is related to the growing age nowadays which results to high demand for diagnostic procedures.
