How to Select a Radiologic Technician College near Severna Park Maryland

Congratulations on your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Severna Park MD so you can train to be a radiology technician. And now that you have chosen to go into the gratifying field of healthcare, exactly how do you tackle selecting the ideal school and program to ensure that you will obtain the appropriate training to become a skilled professional? And since most states do require that radiology techs become licensed, depending on where you ultimately practice you might need training to pass a licensing exam. So it’s imperative that you assess each of the schools you are considering so that you can compare each program. Most prospective students begin by looking for technical schools or colleges that are within commuting distance of their residences. Next, they check tuition and typically gravitate toward the lowest cost. But while cost and location should be taken into consideration, there are additional critical qualifications also. For instance, you must find out whether or not the radiology tech schools are accredited, or if they sponsor internships. These inquiries and others you must ask the colleges you are evaluating are presented later in this post. But first, let’s talk about what a x-ray tech does and the credentials and education choices that are offered.

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X-Ray Tech Career Summary

There are several professional titles for x-ray techs (technologists or technicians). They may also be called radiologic technicians or technologists, radiographers or radiology techs. Regardless of the name, each has the same major job description, which is to utilize imaging machines to internally view patients for the objective of diagnosis and treatment. A number of radiologic technologists may also provide radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. Many opt to work as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialty, such as mammography. They may practice in Severna Park MD hospitals, clinics, family practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray tech may work with include:

• Traditional and specialized X-Rays
• Computerized tomography (CT) or “CAT” scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Sonography or ultrasound
• Fluoroscopy

Radiographers have to take care of their equipment and regularly analyze its performance and safety. They are also required to keep detailed records of each of their diagnostic procedures. As Severna Park MD health practitioners, they must adhere to a code of conduct and a high professional standard.

Radiology Technician Degrees Available

The basic requirement for enrolling in an x-ray tech college is to have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Radiologic technologist pupils have the option to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most common among techs, usually requires 18 months to two years to complete depending on the program and course load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as much as four years to finish and is more comprehensive in scope. Most students choose a degree major in Radiography, but there are additional similar majors that are appropriate also. One thing to consider is that Severna Park MD radiographer colleges have a practical training or lab component as part of their curriculum. It may frequently be fulfilled by taking part in an internship or externship program which many colleges sponsor through local hospitals and clinics in their area. After you have graduated from any of the degree programs, you will need to abide by any certification or licensing mandates in Maryland or the state you will be practicing in as applicable.

Radiologic Technologist Licensing and Certification

When you have graduated from an Radiologist college, based on the state where you will be working you might need to be licensed. The majority of states do require licensing, and their prerequisites differ so check with your state. At present, all states that do mandate licensure will accept The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam for the purpose of licensing, but several accept other alternatives for testing as well. A number of states also require certification as a component of the licensing process, if not it is voluntary. However, numerous Severna Park MD employers favor hiring radiology techs that have earned certification so it could increase your career options to earn certification. ARRT’s certification program requires graduation from an approved program in addition to a passing score on their comprehensive exam. ARRT also demands re-certification every two years, which may be fulfilled with 24 credits of continuing education, or by passing an exam.

Online X-Ray Technologist Classes

As a part of any degree program, x-ray tech colleges will have practical or lab training included in their curriculum. This is the same for online degree colleges. So although you can still obtain your online degree, a significant portion of the training will be fulfilled either in a college lab or in an externship off-campus. Clinical training is often conducted in area hospitals, outpatient clinics or private practices in sponsorship with the schools. But the online section of the training may be attended in the privacy of your Severna Park MD home. Students who keep working while earning their degree typically discover that the online style of learning is far more practical with their active schedules. Plus online colleges are generally cheaper than conventional alternatives. Along with lower tuition, expenditures for commuting and study materials can be reduced as well. But just make sure that the online school you pick is accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). So if you are motivated enough to learn with this less formalized type of training, then an online degree may be the best option for you.

Topics to Ask Radiology Tech Colleges

As soon as you have chosen the type of degree that you want to earn, you can initiate the process of searching for and evaluating Severna Park MD x-ray technician colleges. You will also have to determine if you prefer to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. If you choose the latter, then obviously the location of the college will be critical. The cost of tuition and supplementary expenditures will be a material factor as well. But in addition to location and cost, what else should you factor in when comparing schools? Well, you should find out if the schools are accredited, and if they sponsor internship or externship programs. To help you find out some of these important details before you make your selection, we have put together a list of questions that you should ask the programs you are looking at.

Are the X-Ray Tech Colleges Accredited? The majority of radiology tech colleges have earned some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. Even so, it’s still important to verify that the school and program are accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations in the field of radiology is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Schools receiving accreditation from the JRCERT have gone through an extensive assessment of their instructors and educational materials. If the college is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides guaranteeing a quality education, accreditation will also help in acquiring financial assistance and student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited programs. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And a number of Severna Park MD employers will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry level positions.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask if the Maryland radiology tech schools you are assessing have partnerships with local clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent means to receive practical experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a way to fulfill the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they may help graduates and students form professional connections in the Severna Park MD health care community and help with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the x-ray tech programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Severna Park MD healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will have to be within commuting distance of their Severna Park MD home. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the Severna Park MD colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the x-ray tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the radiographer  school you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in Severna Park MD, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Radiologic Technologist?

When prepping to interview for an X-Ray Tech position, it's important to consider questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers often ask radiographer candidates is "What drove you to select radiography as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not just the personal reasons you might have for being an Xray technician, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to radiography, in addition to a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should organize a number of approaches about how you would like to answer them. Given that there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an exceptional X-Ray tech and the leading candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down several ideas and talking points that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Select the Best X-Ray Technician School near Severna Park MD

Picking the appropriate x-ray tech degree program is a critical first step toward launching a satisfying new career furnishing diagnostic medical services to patients. The suitable radiographer should be in good physical shape. Radiology techs frequently stand for the majority of the day and position and sometimes lift the patient to obtain the proper image. Candidates must also show an ability to pay strict attention to detail and to follow the safety requirements developed to protect both the medical team and the patient. Radiology techs work very closely with patients, other technicians as well as the doctors and radiologists. Having interpersonal skills is a must in order to have a good work environment and furnish the best available care to patients. As has been discussed in this post, there are several questions that you need to ask each program you are looking at prior to making your final selection. This is similarly true whether you opt for an online program or travel to classes on-campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can examine and compare each college so you can focus your choices and make your decision. And with the right education and your dedication to succeed, you can achieve your goal to work as a x-ray tech in Severna Park MD.

Some Background on Severna Park Maryland

 

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