Schools for Radiologic Technologists Rapid City SD 57701 Archives

How to Choose a Radiology Tech College near Rapid City South Dakota

Rapid City SD x-ray tech internship program Best wishes regarding your decision to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Rapid City SD in order to become a radiology technologist. And now that you have chosen to enter the rewarding field of healthcare, how do you set about picking the ideal school and program to ensure that you will receive the proper training to become a skilled practitioner? And because the majority of states do mandate that x-ray technicians become licensed, based on where you ultimately work you may require training to pass a licensing exam. So it’s essential that you investigate each of the colleges you are considering so that you can evaluate each program. Most students begin by searching for technical schools or colleges that are within driving distance of their homes. Next, they check tuition and usually settle on the lowest cost. But while expense and location must be considered, there are other critical qualifiers also. For instance, you need to ask whether or not the radiology tech schools have earned accreditation, or if they offer internships. These questions and others you should ask the schools you are reviewing are provided later in this post. But first, let’s discuss what a radiology tech does and the degrees and training choices that are available.

Radiology Tech Job Summary

There are multiple professional designations for x-ray techs (technicians or technologists). They can also be called radiologic technologists, radiologic technicians, radiographers or radiology techs. Regardless of the name, they all have the identical principal job description, which is to use imaging machines to internally visualize patients for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. A number of radiologic technologists might also provide radiation therapy for treating cancer. Some choose to perform as generalists, while others may choose a specialty, for example mammography. They may work in Rapid City SD clinics, hospitals, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray technologist 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 also routinely assess its performance and safety. They are additionally required to keep detailed records of all of their diagnostic procedures. As Rapid City SD medical practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.

X-Ray Tech Degree Options

x-ray machine in Rapid City SD The basic requirement for enrolling in a radiology tech program is to have attained 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 typical among technicians, generally requires 18 months to two years to finish depending on the program and course load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at up to 4 years to finish and is more extensive in nature. The majority of students choose a degree major in Radiography, but there are other similar majors that are appropriate also. Something to keep in mind is that Rapid City SD radiographer schools have a clinical training or lab component as a component of their curriculum. It can frequently be fulfilled by taking part in an externship program which a large number of schools sponsor through local hospitals and clinics in their region. After you have graduated from any of the degree programs, you must abide by any licensing or certification mandates in South Dakota or the state you will be practicing in as applicable.

X-Ray Tech Certification and Licensing

After you have graduated from an x-ray technician college, based on the state where you will be working you may have to be licensed. The majority of states do require licensing, and their prerequisites vary so check with your state. Presently, all states that do require licensing will recognize The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination for the licensing application, but a number accept other alternatives for testing as well. Several states also require certification as part of the licensing procedure, if not it is voluntary. Having said that, many Rapid City SD employers would rather hire radiology techs that have earned certification so it could enhance 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 comprehensive examination. ARRT also requires re-certification every other year, which can be satisfied with 24 credits of continuing education, or by passing an exam.

Online Radiology Tech Degrees

attending x-ray tech school online in Rapid City 57701 As a component of any degree program, x-ray tech schools will have practical or lab training included in their curriculum. This is no different for online degree programs. So although you can still obtain your degree online, a large portion of the training will be satisfied either in a college lab or in an externship off-campus. Practical training is typically carried out in local family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the colleges. However the online portion of the training may be attended in the privacy of your Rapid City SD home. Students who continue working while obtaining their degree usually discover that the online approach to learning is far more practical with their active schedules. Plus online colleges are frequently less costly than on-campus alternatives. In addition to reduced tuition, expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced as well. But just make certain that the online program you choose is accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn with this less structured type of training, then online classes may be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask X Ray Tech Programs

After you have selected the kind of degree that you would like to earn, you can start the process of looking for and assessing Rapid City SD x-ray tech colleges. You will also have to decide if you want to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. If you opt for the latter, then obviously the location of the college will be relevant. The cost of tuition and supplementary expenses will be a determining variable also. But along with cost and location, what more should you look at when evaluating colleges? Well, you should check out if the schools are accredited, and if they provide internship or externship programs. To help you find out some of these important details prior to making your selection, we have assembled a list of questions that you must ask the programs you are considering.

Are the X-Ray Technician Programs Accredited? Most radiology tech colleges have obtained some form of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still crucial to confirm that the program and school are accredited. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations 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 a detailed review of their instructors and educational materials. If the school is online it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. All accrediting agencies should be acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides guaranteeing a premium education, accreditation will also assist in acquiring financial assistance and student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And many Rapid City SD employers will only hire a graduate of an accredited college for entry level openings.

Are Internships Provided? Find out if the South Dakota xray tech programs you are interested in have relationships with regional clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific way to obtain hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a means to fulfill the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they can help graduates and students form professional relationships in the Rapid City SD medical community and assist with job placement.

Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the x-ray tech programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Rapid City SD healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Rapid City SD home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the Rapid City SD colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the x-ray technician program as well.

Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the radiographer college you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in Rapid City SD, confirm that they are available. 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, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be an Xray Technician?

When getting ready to interview for an X-Ray Tech job, it's a good idea to review questions you could be asked. One of the things that interviewers typically ask radiographer prospects is "What compelled you to select radiography as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming an X-Ray tech, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to radiography, as well as a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare some approaches about how you want to respond to them. Given that there are several variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the talents you possess that make you an outstanding X-Ray tech and the ideal choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down several ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Select the Ideal Radiology Technician Program near Rapid City SD

Selecting the best x-ray technician school is a critical first step toward launching a satisfying new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiologic technologist should be in good physical condition. X-Ray techs typically stand for the greater part of the workday and move and sometimes lift the patient to get the correct image. Prospects must also demonstrate a capability to pay close attention to detail and to comply with the safety requirements designed to protect both the patient and the medical team. X-Ray technicians work very closely with patients, other technicians as well as the radiologists and other doctors. Possessing social skills is a must in order to have a good work environment and provide the best available care to patients. As we have discussed in this article, there are several questions that you should ask each college you are looking at prior to making your final selection. This is just as true whether you enroll in an online program or travel to classes on-campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can assess and compare each program so you can focus your choices and make your decision. And with the proper education and your dedication to succeed, you can achieve your goal to work as a radiology tech in Rapid City SD.

Some Background on Rapid City South Dakota

Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City (Lakota: Mni Lúzahaŋ Otȟúŋwahe;[7] "Swift Water City") is the second most populous city in South Dakota (after Sioux Falls) and the county seat of Pennington County.[8] Named after Rapid Creek, on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census.[9] Known as the "Gateway to the Black Hills" and the "City of Presidents", it is split by a low mountain ridge that divides the western and eastern parts of the city. Ellsworth Air Force Base is located on the outskirts of the city. Camp Rapid, a part of the South Dakota Army National Guard, is located in the western part of the city. The historic "Old West" town of Deadwood is nearby. In the neighboring Black Hills are the popular tourist attractions of Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and Wind Cave National Park.

The public discovery of gold in 1874 by the Black Hills Expedition brought a mass influx of settlers into the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Rapid City was founded, and originally known as "Hay Camp", in 1876 by a group of disappointed miners, who promoted their new city as the "Gateway to the Black Hills". John Richard Brennan and Samuel Scott, with a small group of men, laid out the site of the present Rapid City in February 1876, which was named for the spring-fed Rapid Creek that flows through it. A square mile was measured off and the six blocks in the center were designated as a business section. Committees were appointed to bring in prospective merchants and their families to locate in the new settlement. The city soon began selling supplies to miners and pioneers. Its location on the edge of the Plains and Hills and its large river valley made it the natural hub of railroads arriving in the late 1880s from both the south and east. By 1900, Rapid City had survived a boom and bust and was establishing itself as an important regional trade center for the upper midwest.

Although the Black Hills became a popular tourist destination in the late 1890s, it was a combination of local efforts, the popularity of the automobile, and construction of improved highways that brought tourists to the Black Hills in large numbers after World War I. Gutzon Borglum, already a famous sculptor, began work on Mount Rushmore in 1927 and his son, Lincoln Borglum, continued the carving of the presidents' faces in rock following his father's death in 1941. The work was halted due to pressures leading to the US entry into World War II and the massive sculpture was declared complete in 1941. Although tourism sustained the city throughout the Great Depression of the 1930s, the gasoline rationing of World War II had a devastating effect on the tourist industry in the town, but this was more than made up for by the war-related growth.

The city benefited greatly from the opening of Rapid City Army Air Base, later Ellsworth Air Force Base, an Army Air Corps training base. As a result, the population of the area nearly doubled between 1940 and 1948, from almost 14,000 to nearly 27,000 people. Military families and civilian personnel soon took every available living space in town, and mobile home parks proliferated. Rapid City businesses profited from the military payroll. During the Cold War, missile installations proliferated in the area: a series of Nike Air Defense sites were constructed around Ellsworth in the 1950s. In the early 60s the construction of three Titan missile launch sites containing a total of nine Titan I missiles in the general vicinity of Rapid City took place. Beginning in November 1963, the land for a hundred miles east, northeast and northwest of the city was dotted with 150 Minuteman missile silos and 15 launch command centers, all of which were deactivated in the early 1990s.[10]

In 1949, city officials envisioned the city as a retail and wholesale trade center for the region and designed a plan for growth that focused on a civic center, more downtown parking places, new schools, and paved streets. A construction boom continued into the 1950s. Growth slowed in the 1960s, but the worst natural disaster in South Dakota history, the Black Hills Flood of 1972, led to another building boom a decade later. On June 9, 1972, heavy rains caused massive flash flooding along the course of Rapid Creek through the city. More than 250 people lost their lives and more than $100 million in property was destroyed.