How to Select an X-Ray Tech School near Elizabethville Pennsylvania

Congrats on your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Elizabethville PA in order to train to be a radiologic technologist. But now that you have chosen to go into the rewarding field of healthcare, how do you set about choosing the right school and program to ensure that you will obtain the proper training to become a qualified practitioner? And since most states do require that x-ray technicians become licensed, depending on where you subsequently practice you may need training to pass a licensing examination. So it’s essential that you investigate each of the schools you are looking at in order to evaluate each program. A number of students begin by searching for colleges or technical schools that are within commuting distance of their residences. Next, they compare tuition and frequently gravitate toward the lowest cost. But while expense and location should be taken into consideration, there are additional critical qualifiers also. For instance, you must find out if the radiology tech schools have earned accreditation, or if they sponsor internships. These questions and others you should ask the colleges you are considering are provided later in this article. But first, let’s talk about what a radiologic tech does and the credentials and training choices that are offered.

Radiology Technician Career Description

There are a number of professional titles for x-ray techs (technicians or technologists). They may also be referred to as radiologic technicians or technologists, radiographers or radiology techs. No matter what the name, each has the identical primary job description, 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 the treatment of cancer. Some elect to perform as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialization, such as mammography. They may practice in Elizabethville PA clinics, hospitals, family practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray technician might 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 frequently evaluate its functionality and safety. They are additionally expected to retain detailed records of each of their diagnostic procedures. As Elizabethville PA medical practitioners, they must adhere to a code of conduct and a high professional standard.

X-Ray Technician Degrees Available

The basic requirement for attending an x-ray tech program is to have received a high school diploma or equivalent. Radiologic technologist pupils have the opportunity to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most typical among techs, normally takes 18 months to two years to complete depending on the program and course load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take more time at as much as four years to finish and is more comprehensive in scope. The majority of students select a degree major in Radiography, but there are additional related majors that are appropriate as well. Something to consider is that Elizabethville PA radiographer colleges have a clinical training or lab component as a component of their course of study. It can often be fulfilled by participating in an internship or externship program which many colleges sponsor through local clinics and hospitals in their area. Once you have graduated from one of the degree programs, you will need to comply with any certification or licensing mandates in Pennsylvania or the state you will be working as applicable.

X-Ray Tech Certification and Licensing

After you have graduated from an Radiologist program, depending on the state where you will be practicing you might have to be licensed. Most states do mandate licensing, and their requirements vary so get in touch with your state. Presently, all states that do require licensing will accept The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam for the licensing application, but many approve additional options for testing also. Some states also require certification as a component of the licensing process, if not it is voluntary. However, numerous Elizabethville PA employers favor hiring radiology techs that are certified so it might improve your career options to become certified. ARRT’s certification program requires graduation from an approved program in addition to a passing score on their comprehensive examination. ARRT also demands re-certification every other year, which can be fulfilled with 24 credits of continuing ed, or by passing an examination.

Online X-Ray Technologist Colleges

As a part of every degree program, x-ray tech colleges will have clinical or lab training included in their course of study. This is no different for online degree programs. So even though you can still earn your online degree, a large amount of the training will be completed either in a school lab or in an internship off-campus. Clinical training is typically performed in regional family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the colleges. But the online segment of the training may be accessed in the comfort of your Elizabethville PA home. Students who keep working while obtaining their degree typically discover that the online style of learning is far more convenient with their active schedules. Plus online programs are generally more affordable than on-campus options. In addition to lower tuition, costs for commuting and study materials may be decreased as well. But just confirm that the online program you pick is accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn with this less structured type of training, then an online degree may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask X Ray Tech Colleges

As soon as you have chosen the kind of degree that you want to earn, you can begin the process of looking for and evaluating Elizabethville PA x-ray tech colleges. You will also have to decide 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 ancillary expenditures will be a material factor also. But in addition to cost and location, what else should you factor in when comparing 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 crucial details prior to making your selection, we have assembled a list of questions that you need to ask the schools you are looking at.

Are the X-Ray Tech Programs Accredited? Most xray technician colleges have earned some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. However, it’s still crucial to make sure that the program and school are accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting agencies in the field of radiology is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Programs 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 focuses on distance or online learning. All accrediting agencies should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides ensuring a quality education, accreditation will also assist in obtaining financial aid and student loans, which are many times not offered for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And a number of Elizabethville PA health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry-level positions.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the Pennsylvania xray tech schools you are evaluating have associations with regional clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a great manner to receive practical experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a way to satisfy the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As an ancillary benefit, they may help students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Elizabethville PA healthcare community and help with job placement.

Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the x-ray tech schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Elizabethville PA healthcare employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Elizabethville PA home. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the Elizabethville PA schools you are researching 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 ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the x-ray tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the radiographer  college you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in Elizabethville PA, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Radiology Technician?

When prepping to interview for an X-Ray Tech position, it's important to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the things that hiring managers often ask radiographer candidates is "What drove you to choose radiography as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming an Xray technician, but additionally what attributes and skills you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating exclusively to radiography, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Because there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional X-Ray tech and the ideal choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but write down several ideas and topics that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to develop your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Best X-Ray Tech School near Elizabethville PA

Selecting the appropriate radiology technician school is a crucial first step toward initiating a rewarding new career furnishing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiographer should be in good physical condition. Radiology techs regularly stand for the greater part of the day and position and at times lift the patient to obtain the proper image. Candidates must also show a capability to pay close attention to detail and to adhere to the safety guidelines developed to protect both the patient and the medical team. X-Ray technicians work very closely with patients, other techs as well as the doctors and radiologists. Having social skills is a necessity in order to have a pleasant work environment and deliver the best possible care to patients. As we have addressed in this report, there are several questions that you need to ask each college you are assessing before making your ultimate decision. This is equally true whether you decide on an online school or travel to classes on campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can evaluate and compare each school so you can narrow down your choices and make your decision. And with the proper education and your motivation to succeed, you can achieve your goal to work as a radiographer in Elizabethville PA.

Some Background on Elizabethville Pennsylvania

 

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