How to Select an Xray Tech College near Beulah Michigan
Congrats on your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Beulah MI in order to become a radiologic technologist. But now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare, exactly how do you undertake picking the right college and program to ensure that you will obtain the proper training to become a qualified professional? And since the majority of states do require that x-ray technicians become licensed, depending on where you ultimately practice you might require training to pass a licensing examination. So it’s essential that you research each of the schools you are considering so that you can evaluate each program. A number of prospective students start by looking for technical schools or colleges that are within driving distance of their homes. Next, they check tuition and often settle on the most affordable cost. But while expense and location must be taken into consideration, there are additional significant qualifiers as well. For example, you need to ask whether or not the radiology tech schools have earned accreditation, or if they sponsor internships. These questions and others you must ask the schools you are examining are provided later in this post. But first, let’s explore what a radiologic technician does and the credentials and education choices that are available.
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Radiology Technician Occupation Description
There are a number of professional titles for x-ray techs (technologists or technicians). They may also be referred to as radiologic technologists, radiologic technicians, radiology technicians or radiographers. Irrespective of the name, each has the same primary job function, which is to use imaging machines to internally view patients for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. Some radiologic technologists might also provide radiation therapy for treating cancer. Many elect to work as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialty, such as mammography. They may work in Beulah MI hospitals, clinics, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray tech may utilize include:
- Traditional and specialized X-Rays
- Computerized tomography (CT) or “CAT” scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Sonography or ultrasound
- Fluoroscopy
Radiographers must maintain their equipment plus regularly analyze its functionality and safety. They are additionally expected to keep in-depth records of all of their diagnostic procedures. As Beulah MI health practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.
Radiology Tech Degrees Offered
The primary prerequisite for enrolling in an x-ray tech school is to have earned a high school diploma or GED. Radiologic technologist pupils have the choice to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most prevalent among technicians, normally requires 18 months to two years to complete based upon the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as much as four years to finish and is more expansive in nature. The majority of students select a degree major in Radiography, but there are other similar majors that are appropriate as well. Something to keep in mind is that Beulah MI radiographer colleges have a clinical training or lab component as part of their course of study. It can frequently be satisfied by taking part in an internship or externship program which a large number of colleges sponsor through local clinics and hospitals in their region. Once you have graduated from one of the degree programs, you will need to abide by any certification or licensing requirements in Michigan or the state you will be working as applicable.
X-ray Technician Certification and Licensing
Once you have graduated from an x-ray technician program, based on the state where you will be practicing you might need to become licensed. Most states do require licensing, and their requirements vary so check with your state. Presently, all states that do mandate licensing will accept The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination for the licensing application, but a number accept other options for testing as well. Some states also call for certification as part of the licensing process, if not it is optional. Having said that, many Beulah MI employers would rather hire radiology techs that have earned certification so it may increase your career options to become certified. ARRT’s certification program calls for graduation from an approved program in addition to a passing score on their rigorous exam. ARRT also demands re-certification every 2 years, which can be fulfilled with 24 credits of continuing ed, or by passing an examination.
Online X-Ray Technician Degrees
As a component of any degree program, x-ray tech schools will have practical or lab training included in their course of study. This is the same for online degree schools. So even though you can still earn your online degree, a significant portion of the training will be satisfied either in a college lab or in an externship off campus. Clinical training is usually performed in area family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the colleges. However the online section of the training can be accessed in the privacy of your Beulah MI home. Students who keep working while earning their degree typically discover that the online approach to learning is much more practical with their active schedules. Plus online schools are often more affordable than conventional options. Along with lower tuition, expenses for study materials and commuting may be decreased also. But just be sure that the online school you select 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.
Questions to Ask Radiologic Tech Schools
When you have chosen the type of degree that you want to earn, you can initiate the process of locating and assessing Beulah MI x-ray tech colleges. You will also have to determine if you want to attend online classes or travel to a nearby campus. If you opt for the latter, then of course the location of the college will be relevant. The cost of tuition and supplementary expenditures will be a determining factor as well. But in addition to location and cost, what more should you consider when evaluating schools? Well, you need to check out if the colleges are accredited, and if they provide internship or externship programs. To help you learn some of these important details prior to making your selection, we have assembled a list of questions that you need to ask the programs you are looking at.
Are the X-Ray Tech Schools Accredited? A large number of xray tech schools have acquired some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. Even so, it’s still crucial to confirm that the school and program are accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting agencies in the field of radiology is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Schools earning accreditation from the JRCERT have gone through an extensive review of their teachers and educational materials. If the college is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to guaranteeing a superior education, accreditation will also help in getting financial assistance and student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And numerous Beulah MI employers will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry-level openings.
Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out if the Michigan xray technician schools you are interested in have relationships with area hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific way to get hands on training in a clinical setting, they are additionally a means to fulfill the practical training requirement for most programs. As a supplemental benefit, they can help students and graduates develop professional connections in the Beulah MI healthcare community and help with job placement.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the x-ray tech schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Beulah MI healthcare employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Beulah MI residence. Students who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the Beulah MI colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the radiology technician program as well.
Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the radiographer school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in Beulah MI, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Why Did You Desire to Be an X-Ray Tech?
When getting ready to interview for an X-Ray Tech job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the things that interviewers often ask radiographer prospects is "What drove you to decide on radiography as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the personal reasons you might have for being a radiology technician, but also what characteristics and talents you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining specifically to radiography, as well as a certain number of general interview questions, so you must prepare a number of approaches about how you want to respond to them. Since there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding X-Ray tech and the leading candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but jot down a few concepts and topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.Pick the Best X-Ray Technician College near Beulah MI
Picking the ideal x-ray tech school is an important first step toward launching a fulfilling new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The suitable radiologic technologist must be in good physical condition. X-Ray techs regularly stand for the majority of the working day and move and sometimes lift the patient to get the correct image. Candidates must also show a capability to pay strict attention to detail and to observe the safety guidelines developed to protect both the medical team and the patient. X-Ray technicians work very closely with patients, other techs as well as the doctors and radiologists. Possessing social skills is a necessity in order to have a productive work environment and deliver the best possible care to patients. As we have discussed in this post, there are a number of questions that you should ask each college you are considering before making your ultimate decision. This is just as true whether you enroll in an online school or drive to classes on-campus. By asking the right questions you can examine and compare each program so you can focus your choices before making your decision. And with the right training and your motivation to succeed, you can achieve your goal to work as a radiographer in Beulah MI.
Some Background on Beulah Michigan
Hurricane Beulah
Hurricane Beulah was the second tropical storm, second hurricane, and only major hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. It tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly gaining Category 5 intensity. It was the strongest hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. The hurricane made landfall just north of the mouth of the Rio Grande River as a Category 3. It spawned 115 tornadoes across Texas, which established a new record for the highest amount of tornadoes produced by a tropical cyclone. Due to its slow movement over Texas, Beulah led to significant flooding. Throughout its path, at least 59 people were killed and total damage reached $234.6 million (1967 USD), of which $200 million occurred in the United States, $26.9 million occurred in Mexico, and $7.65 million occurred in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
On August 22, 1967, an ESSA-5 satellite image depicted an area of enhanced convection—shower and thunderstorm activity—east of the Western High Plateau in Cameroon over central Africa. Reaching the western slopes of the mountains two days later, the tropical wave became more coherent with clouds condensing along its axis. As it moved over west Africa, cyclonic rotation became apparent about 2,000 ft (610 m) above the surface. A research paper published in 1969 refers to the disturbance as a depression as it neared the west coast of Africa;[1] however, this significantly differs from the official Atlantic hurricane database which does not mention the system at that time,[2] as a surface circulation likely did not exist. Regardless, the system emerged over the Atlantic Ocean around 12°N on August 28, as represented by barometric pressure falls in Dakar, Senegal.[1] Once over water, the system interacted with the Intertropical Convergence Zone and continued westward along an undulating path with no further organization. It was not until a United States Navy weather reconnaissance plane flew into the disturbance on September 4, while it was located east of the Lesser Antilles, that signs of development were apparent. Corresponding observations from ships in the region on September 5 confirmed the existence of a 1010 mbar (hPa; 28.23 inHg) low-pressure area.[3] In light of this, the disturbance was classified as a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC that day, with its center situated roughly 175 mi (285 km) east-northeast of Barbados.[2]
A slow-moving system, the depression steadily organized as it approached the Lesser Antilles. Observations from aircraft reconnaissance indicated that the system attained gale-force winds by 12:00 UTC on September 7, resulting in its upgrade to a tropical storm. It was also assigned the name Beulah, making it the second named storm of the 1967 season. Shortly after being named, Beulah clipped the southern coast of Martinique and entered the eastern Caribbean Sea. Feeding off the warm waters of the Caribbean, the cyclone quickly strengthened and reached hurricane intensity by 18:00 UTC on September 8. Rapid deepening ensued thereafter with the storm's central pressure falling to 940 mbar (hPa; 27.75 inHg) the following day as it passed 100 mi (160 km) south of Puerto Rico.[3] At this time winds were estimated to be at least 140 mph (225 km/h), ranking Beulah as a Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.[2] Upon reaching this strength, weather radar imagery from San Juan, Puerto Rico showed that Beulah featured a 15 mi (24 km) wide eye surrounded by an intense eyewall about 8 mi (13 km) thick.[4]
During the evening of September 9 Beulah turned westward as weak ridge developed over the Bahamas, between it and the newly formed Tropical Storm Doria.[3] The powerful storm weakened somewhat as an eyewall replacement cycle began to take shape. During this phase, the inner-eye of Beulah contracted to roughly 3–4 mi (5–6 km) in diameter while a second eyewall spanned an area 28 mi (45 km) across. The smaller eye soon dissipated and the larger one became the single, dominant feature by the morning of September 10. The completion of this marked the first time that an eyewall replacement cycle was observed in its entirety.[4] The aforementioned westward turn placed the Dominican Republic in the line of danger, an area still reeling from the devastating effects of Hurricane Inez just one year prior. Fortunately, the storm unexpectedly collapsed as it approached the Barahona Peninsula and struck the area as a greatly weakened, though still significant, hurricane with estimated winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) around 18:00 UTC on September 11.[3][2]
Skirting the southern coast of Haiti's Tiburon Peninsula, Beulah further degraded to a tropical storm by the morning of September 12. Unseasonably strong wind shear associated with the jet stream, resulting from an upper-level trough to the north, and the cyclone's interaction with land were responsible for the dramatic degradation. By the time it had cleared Haiti, Beulah was no more than a minimal tropical storm with winds near 40 mph (65 km/h).[3] Its pressure had also risen by roughly 60 mbar (hPa; 1.77 inHg) to 1000 mbar (hPa; 29.53 inHg).[2] Originally seen as a threat to Jamaica, northeasterly flow induced a southerly component to the track and pushed the cyclone south of the island on September 13. The shear previously impeding organization abated on September 14 and a ridge re-established itself to Beulah's north, allowing the storm to resume a west-northwest to northwest track. The upper-level changes led to a favorable environment for intensification and Beulah regained hurricane strength by 12:00 UTC on September 14 while located about 425 mi (685 km) south-southeast of Havana, Cuba.[3][2][5]
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