Schools for Radiologic Technologists Lexington IL 61753 Archives

How to Select a Radiology Tech School near Lexington Illinois

Lexington IL x-ray tech internship program Congrats regarding your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Lexington IL so you can train to be a radiologic technologist. And now that you have chosen to go into the rewarding field of healthcare, how do you tackle picking the right school and program to ensure that you will receive the proper training to become a skilled practitioner? And considering that most states do mandate that x-ray techs become licensed, based on where you subsequently practice you may require preparation to pass a licensing test. So it’s imperative that you investigate each of the colleges you are looking at in order to evaluate each program. A number of potential students start by searching for technical schools or colleges that are within driving distance of their residences. Next, they check tuition and often gravitate toward the most affordable cost. But while cost and location should be taken into account, there are additional critical qualifiers also. For example, you must find out whether or not the radiology tech schools are accredited, or if they offer internship programs. These inquiries and others you must ask the schools you are considering are presented later in this article. But first, let’s talk about what a radiology tech does and the degrees and training choices that are offered.

[campusexplorer header_text=”Find X-Ray and Radiology Tech Schools!” aos=”75346615″ concentration=”8671ABD2″ tracking=”XRAY-CW”]

X-Ray Tech Occupation Description

There are several professional titles for x-ray techs (technologists or technicians). They can also be referred to as radiologic technologists, radiologic technicians, radiographers or radiology techs. No matter what the name, each has the identical primary job function, which is to employ imaging machines to internally view patients for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. Some radiologic technologists may also administer radiation therapy for treating cancer. Many opt to work as generalists, while others may choose a specialty, for example mammography. They may practice in Lexington IL clinics, hospitals, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray technologist might utilize include:

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

Radiographers must care for their equipment plus routinely evaluate its functionality and safety. They are also expected to keep complete records of each of their diagnostic procedures. As Lexington IL health practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.

Radiology Tech Degrees

x-ray machine in Lexington IL The standard prerequisite for attending an x-ray tech college is to have received a high school diploma or GED. Radiologic technologist pupils have the opportunity to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most prevalent among techs, normally takes 18 months to two years to complete depending on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take more time at up to four years to complete and is more comprehensive in scope. Most students select a degree major in Radiography, but there are other related majors that may be appropriate also. One thing to keep in mind is that Lexington IL radiographer programs have a clinical training or lab component as part of their curriculum. It may frequently be fulfilled by participating in an externship program which many colleges offer through local hospitals and clinics in their region. After you have graduated from any of the degree programs, you must comply with any certification or licensing requirements in Illinois or the state you will be practicing in as applicable.

Radiologic Technologist Certification and Licensing

Once you have graduated from an x-ray technician college, depending 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 require licensure will recognize The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam for the purpose of licensing, but a number approve additional options for testing also. A number of states also call for certification as a component of the licensing procedure, if not it is voluntary. However, numerous Lexington IL employers will only hire radiology techs that are certified so it may improve your career options to become certified. ARRT’s certification program calls for graduation from an accepted program as well as a passing score on their rigorous examination. ARRT also calls for re-certification every two years, which can be satisfied with 24 credits of continuing ed, or by passing an exam.

Online Radiology Technician Colleges

attending x-ray tech school online in Lexington 61753 As a component 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 colleges. So even though you can still obtain your degree online, a substantial amount of the training will be satisfied either in a college lab or in an internship off-campus. Practical training is often conducted in regional family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the colleges. However the online section of the training can be accessed in the comfort of your Lexington IL home. Students who continue working while obtaining their degree typically find that the online approach to education is much more convenient with their active schedules. Plus online schools are often less costly than traditional alternatives. In addition to reduced tuition, expenditures for commuting and study materials can be decreased also. But just confirm that the online program you pick is accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to learn with this less formalized type of training, then an online school may be the ideal choice for you.

Topics to Ask Radiographer Schools

When you have chosen the kind of degree that you would like to earn, you can start the process of locating and evaluating Lexington IL x-ray technician colleges. You will also need to decide if you prefer to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. If you choose the latter, then naturally the location of the school will be relevant. The cost of tuition and secondary expenses will be a determining factor also. But in addition to location and cost, what else should you consider when evaluating colleges? Well, you need to ask if the schools are accredited, and if they sponsor internship or externship programs. To help you find out some of these essential details before you make your selection, we have compiled a list of questions that you need to ask the schools you are assessing.

Are the X-Ray Technician Programs Accredited? The majority of radiology technician schools have received some type of accreditation, whether regional or national. Even so, it’s still imperative to make sure that the program and school are accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies in the field of radiology is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Programs receiving accreditation from the JRCERT have undergone a rigorous review of their instructors and course materials. If the college is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Along with ensuring a superior education, accreditation will also assist in getting financial aid and student loans, which are many times not available for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And many Lexington IL employers will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry level jobs.

Are Internship Programs Offered? Inquire if the Illinois xray tech schools you are reviewing have partnerships with regional clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific manner to receive hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a way to fulfill the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they may assist students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Lexington IL health care community and help with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the radiographer programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Lexington IL healthcare employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Lexington IL residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the Lexington IL schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the x-ray tech program as well.

Does the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the radiographer college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in Lexington IL, make certain 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 need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Radiology Technician?

When prepping to interview for an X-Ray Tech position, it's helpful to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the questions that recruiters often ask radiographer applicants is "What drove you to choose radiography as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being a radiology technician, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to radiography, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to organize several strategies about how you would like to answer them. Since there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding X-Ray tech and the leading candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Enroll in the Best X-Ray Tech School near Lexington IL

Choosing the ideal x-ray tech degree program is an important first step toward launching a rewarding new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The suitable radiographer should be in good physical shape. X-Ray techs frequently stand for the greater part of the working day and move and sometimes lift the patient to obtain the proper image. Prospects must also show an ability to pay strict attention to detail and to observe the safety requirements designed to protect both the medical team and the patient. Radiology technicians work very closely with patients, other technicians as well as the doctors and radiologists. Possessing interpersonal skills is a must in order to have a good work environment and furnish the best possible patient care. As we have discussed in this post, there are a number of questions that you need to ask each college you are considering before making your final decision. This is just as true whether you participate in an online program or commute to classes on campus. By asking the right questions you can examine and compare each school so you can focus your options and make your decision. And with the right education and your dedication to succeed, you can reach your goal to practice as a x-ray tech in Lexington IL.

Some Background on Lexington Illinois

Lexington, Illinois

Lexington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,060 at the 2010 census. There are two theories regarding the etymology of the city name. One says it was named for the Battle of Lexington, where General Gridley's father fought.[3] and the other that it was named for the home town of James Brown, the town's co-founder.[4]

Lexington was laid out on 4 January 1836 by Asahel Gridley (1810–1881) and James Brown (c. 1802- ?). Gridley was a lawyer and banker from Bloomington who would eventually become the richest man in McLean County; Brown was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and Lexington, Illinois, seems to have been his only attempt at founding a town.[5] Its founding was part of a great real estate boom that swept across the nation. Within a few months of the founding of the town seven other new towns were laid out in McLean County: Concord (now Danvers), Hudson, Le Roy, Livingston, Lytleville, Mt. Hope and Wilksborough. In common with other towns founded during the 1836 boom, and unlike many later towns, Lexington was designed around a central public square with streets running true north-south and east-west.[6] In the case of Lexington, the original town consisted of 36 blocks, each containing six lots. Like most of the towns of the 1836 era the town was built along the line that divided woodland from prairie; the southeast corner of the town was just within the limits of timber.[7] Like most Mackinaw River towns, Lexington was laid out on higher ground some distance from the river itself.

Gridley and Brown first offered lots in the town for sale at a public auction on 30 April 1836 at 10:00 in the morning. They began their printed advertisement for the sale by telling readers that the town was on the main road from Springfield, via Bloomington, to Chicago and that their new town was a mile from the Mackinaw River. They wrote that Lexington "is located on the margin of a fine rolling prairie, near a large and inexhaustible body of the best timber the country affords, sufficient to justify the immense settlement already being made." They told potential buyers that there were two saw mills and a fulling mill nearby. Moreover, they added, building had already begun. For those with good security, one twelve months credit was available.[8]

Between 1837 and 1854 the survival of Lexington was in doubt. The great land rush that peaked in 1836 gave way to a severe lengthy national depression. True to their word, Gridley and Brown had begun some construction. Their first structure was used as a store, but in less than a year the business had failed and the building was hauled away to Bloomington. The first house was briefly occupied, but it was soon moved to the rival town of Clarksville, which was located a few miles downstream. No one was certain exactly what route the Springfield-to-Chicago road would take. Clarksville tried to attract the road by building a bridge across the Mackinaw River and the 1840 town of Pleasant Hill, which had been established just upstream from Lexington, was doing its best to attract traffic.[9] The county began to demand taxes on the large number of unsold lots in the town; by the early 1850s over 300 Lexington lots were offered for sale to satisfy unpaid taxes.[10] The town square was used for grazing cattle. Yet some continued to believe in the new town. Jacob Spawr (1802–1902) had moved into Lexington a year after the store had departed. He built a house of a type known as a double log pen, a dog trot, or sometimes two-pens-and-a-passage: essentially it was nothing more than two log cabins facing each other with a common roof. This building served as dwelling, post office and tavern. Because Lexington was halfway between the county seats of Pontiac and Bloomington, Spawr's house provided a convenient stopping place: Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were frequent guests. In the 1850 United States Census Spawr's occupation is listed as "landlord". By 1854 it was estimated that there were only about a dozen families in Lexington.[11]

On 4 July 1854 the railroad, which would soon be known as the Chicago and Alton, reached Lexington. Suddenly everything changed. A grain warehouse which had been built by Thomas Kincaid was hauled across the tracks, given a passenger platform, and put to use as a railroad station. Dawson and McCurdy built a grain elevator. Three denominations erected churches.[12] The town formed its own government; their first act was to buy up the stock of the two local whiskey sellers and pour the contents of the bottles into the mud of Main Street.[13] The Mahan brothers built a downtown windmill.[14] A new hotel was built. Lexington boomed. By 1865 the first brick block had been erected.[15] On 21 November 1860, the train brought Abraham Lincoln to Lexington, where he spoke a few words of goodbye to his old friends; on 2 May 1865, just before noon, another train passed through Lexington, this one holding Lincoln's body.