Radiology X-Ray Technician Schools near Livermore CA 94550

How to Choose an X-Ray Tech School near Livermore California

Livermore CA x-ray tech internship programCongratulations on your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Livermore CA so you can become a radiology technician. And now that you have made a decision to go into the gratifying field of healthcare, just how do you tackle choosing the right school and program to ensure that you will get the proper training to become a skilled practitioner? And considering that most states do require that radiology techs become licensed, depending on where you subsequently practice you may need preparation to pass a licensing exam. So it’s important that you research each of the colleges you are considering in order to evaluate each program. Most potential students start by looking for colleges or technical schools that are within driving distance of their residences. Next, they compare tuition and frequently settle on the most affordable cost. But while cost and location need to be considered, there are other significant qualifiers as well. For example, you need to find out if the radiology tech schools have earned accreditation, or if they offer internships. These questions and others you must ask the colleges you are considering are presented later in this article. But first, let’s explore what a radiology technician does and the credentials and training options that are offered.

X-Ray Tech Work Description

There are several professional designations for x-ray techs (technologists or technicians). They may also be called radiologic technologists, radiologic technicians, radiology technicians or radiographers. Irrespective of the name, they all have the same primary job description, which is to employ imaging machines to internally view patients for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. Some radiologic technologists may also provide radiation therapy for treating cancer. Many opt to perform as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialization, such as mammography. They may work in Livermore CA hospitals, clinics, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray technician 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 plus regularly evaluate its functionality and safety. They are also expected to retain in-depth records of each of their diagnostic procedures. As Livermore CA medical practitioners, they must adhere to a code of conduct and a high professional standard.

Radiology Tech Degree Options

x-ray machine in Livermore CAThe standard prerequisite for enrolling in a radiology tech program is to have attained a high school diploma or equivalent. Radiologic technologist students have the opportunity to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most common among technicians, usually requires 18 months to two years to complete based upon the program and course load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take more time at up to 4 years to finish and is more expansive in scope. The majority of students choose a degree major in Radiography, but there are other related majors that are appropriate as well. One thing to bear in mind is that Livermore CA radiographer schools have a clinical training or lab component as part of their curriculum. It may typically be fulfilled by participating in an internship or externship program which many schools offer through local hospitals and clinics in their region. After you have graduated from any of the degree programs, you will need to abide by any licensing or certification mandates in California or the state you will be practicing in as applicable.

X-Ray Tech Certification and Licensing

Once you have graduated from an Radiologist program, depending on the state where you will be working you might have to become licensed. Most states do mandate licensing, and their criteria differ so contact your state. At present, all states that do require licensure will accept The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam for the purpose of licensing, but a number accept additional alternatives for testing also. A number of states also require certification as a component of the licensing procedure, if not it is optional. However, many Livermore CA employers would rather hire radiology techs that have earned certification so it could enhance 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 examination. ARRT also demands re-certification every other year, which may be satisfied with 24 credits of continuing ed, or by passing an examination.

Online Radiology Technologist Colleges

attending x-ray tech school online in Livermore 94550As a part of any 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 although you can still earn your degree online, a considerable amount of the training will be fulfilled either in a college lab or in an externship off campus. Practical training is typically provided in regional hospitals, outpatient clinics or private practices in sponsorship with the schools. But the online segment of the training may be accessed in the privacy of your Livermore CA home. Students who continue working while obtaining their degree usually discover that the online style of learning is far more convenient with their busy schedules. Plus online colleges are often less costly than traditional options. Along with reduced tuition, expenditures for study materials and commuting may be decreased also. But just make sure that the online college you select is accredited (more on the benefits of accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn with this less structured style of training, then an online degree may be the best option for you.

Subjects to Ask Radiologic Tech Colleges

After you have chosen the type of degree that you want to earn, you can initiate the process of finding and assessing Livermore CA x-ray technician colleges. You will also need to determine if you want to attend classes online or drive to a local campus. If you opt for the latter, then of course the location of the college will be critical. The price of tuition and supplementary expenditures will be a determining variable also. But in addition to location and cost, what more should you look at when comparing schools? Well, you need to ask if the colleges are accredited, and if they sponsor internship or externship programs. To help you learn some of these essential details before you make your selection, we have put together a list of questions that you need to ask the colleges you are reviewing.

Are the Radiology Technician Schools Accredited? The majority of xray tech schools have earned some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Even so, it’s still imperative to verify 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 undergone a detailed assessment of their teachers and course materials. If the college is online it might also earn 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. Besides ensuring a superior education, accreditation will also help in securing financial assistance and student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Accreditation might also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And a number of Livermore CA health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry level positions.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the California radiology technician schools you are interested in have partnerships with local hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent manner to obtain practical experience in a clinical setting, they are also a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for most programs. As a secondary benefit, they may assist graduates and students form professional connections in the Livermore CA healthcare community and help with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the radiographer programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Livermore CA healthcare employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Livermore CA home. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need 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.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the Livermore CA colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the radiology technician program as well.

Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the radiographer  college you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in Livermore CA, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. 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 Want to Be a Radiology Technician?

When getting ready to interview for an X-Ray Tech job, it's helpful to consider questions you may be asked. Among the things that hiring managers often ask radiographer applicants is "What compelled you to decide on radiography as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming an X-Ray tech, but also what qualities and skills you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to radiography, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should prepare a number of strategies about how you want to answer them. Since there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the talents you have that make you an excellent X-Ray tech and the perfiect choice for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down a few concepts and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Enroll in the Ideal Radiology Tech Program near Livermore CA

Picking the best radiology technician college is an important first step toward launching a satisfying new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiographer must be in good physical shape. X-Ray techs typically stand for the greater part of the working day and move and in some cases lift the patient to obtain the correct image. Prospects must also demonstrate a capability to pay close attention to detail and to observe the safety requirements designed to protect both the patient and the medical team. X-Ray techs work very closely with patients, other techs as well as the doctors and radiologists. Having interpersonal skills is a must in order to have a good work environment and deliver the best available care to patients. As has been covered in this post, there are a number of questions that you need to ask each college you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection. This is just as true whether you decide on an online school or drive to classes on campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can analyze and compare each college so you can focus your options and make your final choice. And with the proper training and your dedication to succeed, you can realize your goal to work as a radiology tech in Livermore CA.

Some Background on Livermore California

Livermore, California

Livermore (formerly Livermores, Livermore Ranch, and Nottingham)[10] is a city in Alameda County, California, in the United States. With an estimated 2017 population of 89,648,[8] Livermore is the most populous city in the Tri-Valley. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area. The incumbent Mayor of Livermore is John Marchand.

Livermore was founded by William Mendenhall and named after Robert Livermore, his friend and a local rancher who settled in the area in the 1840s. Livermore is the home of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, for which the chemical element livermorium is named (and thus, placing the city's name in the periodic table).[11] Livermore is also the California site of Sandia National Laboratories, which is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its south side is home to local vineyards. The city has redeveloped its downtown district and is considered part of the Tri-Valley area, comprising Amador, Livermore and San Ramon valleys.

Before its incorporation in 1796 under the Franciscan Mission San Jose, located in what is now the southern part of Fremont, the Livermore area was home to some of the Ohlone (or Costanoan) native people. Each mission had two to three friars and a contingent of up to five soldiers to help keep order in the mission and to help control the natives. Like most indigenous people in California, the natives in the vicinity of Mission San Jose were mostly coerced into joining it, where they were taught Spanish, the Catholic religion, singing, construction, agricultural trades and herding—the Native Californian people originally had no agriculture and no domestic animals except dogs. Other tribes were coerced into other adjacent missions. The Mission Indians were restricted to the mission grounds where they lived in sexually segregated "barracks" that they built themselves with padre instruction. The population of all California missions plunged steeply as new diseases ravaged the Mission Indian populations—they had almost no immunity to these "new to them" diseases, and death rates over 50% were not uncommon.[13]

The Livermore-Amador Valley after 1800 to about 1837 was primarily used as grazing land for some of the Mission San Jose's growing herds of mission cattle, sheep and horses. The herds grew wild with no fences and were culled about once a year for cow hides and tallow—essentially the only money-making products produced in California then. The dead animals were left to rot or feed the California grizzly bears which then roamed the region. The secularization and closure of the California missions, as demanded by the government of Mexico, from 1834 to 1837 transferred the land and property the missions claimed on the California coast (about 1,000,000 acres (400,000 ha) per mission) to about 600 extensive ranchos. After the missions were dissolved, most of the surviving Indians went to work on the new ranchos raising crops and herding animals where they were given room and board, a few clothes and usually no pay for the work they did—the same as they had had while working in the missions. Some Indians joined or re-joined some of the few surviving tribes.[citation needed]

The about 48,000-acre (19,000 ha) Rancho Las Positas grant, which includes most of Livermore, was made to ranchers Robert Livermore and Jose Noriega in 1839.[14][15] Most land grants were given with little or no cost to the recipients. Robert Livermore (1799-1858)[16] was a British citizen who had jumped from a British merchant sailing ship stopping in Monterey, California, in 1822. He became a naturalized Mexican citizen who had converted to Catholicism in 1823 as was required for citizenship and legal residence. After working for a number of years as a majordomo (ranch foreman), Livermore married on 5 May 1838 the widow Maria Josefa de Jesus Higuera (1815–1879), daughter of Jose Loreto Higuera, grantee of Rancho Los Tularcitos, at the Mission San José. Livermore, after he got his rancho in 1839, was as interested in viticulture and horticulture as he was in cattle and horses, despite the fact that about the only source of income was the sale of cow hides and tallow. In the early 1840s he moved his family to the Livermore valley to his new rancho as the second non-Indian family to settle in the Livermore valley area, and after building a home he was the first in the area in 1846 to direct the planting of vineyards and orchards of pears and olives. Typical of most early rancho dwellings, the first building on his ranch was an adobe on Las Positas Creek near the western end of today's Las Positas Road. After the Americans took control of California in 1847 and gold was discovered in 1848, he started making money by selling California longhorn cattle to the thousands of hungry California Gold Rush miners who soon arrived. The non-Indian population exploded, and cattle were suddenly worth much more than the $1.00-$3.00 their hides could bring. With his new wealth and with goods flooding into newly rich California, in 1849 Livermore bought a two-story "Around the Horn" disassembled house that had been shipped about 18,000 miles (29,000 km) on a sailing ship around Cape Horn from the East Coast. It is believed to be the first wooden building in the Livermore Tri-Valley.[citation needed]

 

More Cities of Interest in California

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