Radiology X-Ray Technician Schools near Waukegan IL 60079 - Find X-Ray and Radiology Tech Schools

How to Find a Radiologic Technician College near Waukegan Illinois

Waukegan IL x-ray tech internship program Best wishes on your decision to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Waukegan IL so you can become a radiologic technician. But now that you have chosen to enter the rewarding field of healthcare, how do you set about choosing the right school and program so that you will get the proper training to become a skilled practitioner? And since most states do mandate that x-ray technicians become licensed, based on where you subsequently work you may need preparation to pass a licensing test. So it’s important that you assess each of the schools you are looking at in order to compare each program. Most prospective students begin by looking for colleges or technical schools that are within driving distance of their homes. Next, they compare tuition and often gravitate toward the lowest cost. But while location and cost should be taken into account, there are additional critical qualifiers also. For example, you should find out if the radiology tech schools are accredited, or if they sponsor internships. These inquiries and others you must ask the schools you are evaluating are presented later in this article. But first, let’s explore what a radiologic tech does and the credentials and training options that are available.

X-Ray Tech Occupation Summary

There are a number of professional designations for x-ray techs (technicians or technologists). They may also be referred to as radiologic technicians or technologists, radiographers or radiology techs. Regardless of the name, each has the identical fundamental job function, which is to utilize imaging machines to internally view patients for the objective of diagnosis and treatment. Some radiologic technologists may also administer radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. Some elect to perform as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialization, for instance mammography. They may practice in Waukegan IL clinics, hospitals, family 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 must care for their equipment and also frequently assess its performance and safety. They are additionally expected to keep in-depth records of each of their diagnostic procedures. As Waukegan IL health practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.

X-Ray Tech Degree Options

x-ray machine in Waukegan IL The primary prerequisite for attending an x-ray tech school is to have earned a high school diploma or GED. Radiologic technologist students have the opportunity 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 2 years to complete based upon the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take more time at as much as four years to complete and is more expansive in nature. Most students select a degree major in Radiography, but there are additional similar majors that may be acceptable also. One thing to bear in mind is that Waukegan IL radiographer programs have a clinical training or lab component as a component of their course of study. It may frequently be fulfilled by participating in an internship or externship program which many schools offer through local clinics and hospitals in their area. After you have graduated from one of the degree programs, you must comply with any certification or licensing mandates in Illinois or the state you will be working as applicable.

X-Ray Tech Licensing and Certification

Once you have graduated from an X-Ray tech school, based on the state where you will be practicing you might have to become licensed. Most states do require licensing, and their requirements vary so contact your state. Currently, all states that do mandate licensing will accept The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam for the licensing application, but several offer other alternatives for testing as well. Some states also require certification as part of the licensing procedure, if not it is optional. However, many Waukegan IL employers would rather hire radiology techs that are certified so it might enhance your career options to become certified. ARRT’s certification program involves graduation from an approved program in addition to a passing score on their rigorous examination. ARRT also calls for re-certification every 2 years, which may be fulfilled with 24 credits of continuing education, or by passing an exam.

Online Radiology Technician Schools

attending x-ray tech school online in Waukegan 60079 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 no different for online degree colleges. So even though you can still earn your degree online, a large amount of the training will be completed either in a college lab or in an externship off campus. Clinical training is typically provided in regional family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the colleges. However the online portion of the training may be accessed in the comfort of your Waukegan IL residence. Students who continue working while earning their degree often discover that the online style of learning is much more practical with their active schedules. Plus online colleges are often less expensive than on-campus options. In addition to lower tuition, costs for commuting and study materials can be reduced also. But just make certain 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 structured style of training, then online classes may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask X Ray Tech Programs

When you have decided on the kind of degree that you want to obtain, you can start the process of finding and assessing Waukegan IL x-ray tech 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 obviously the location of the school will be relevant. The cost of tuition and supplementary expenses will be a determining factor as well. But in addition to cost and location, what else should you look at when comparing colleges? Well, you should ask if the schools are accredited, and if they provide externship or internship programs. To help you find out some of these crucial details prior to making your selection, we have put together a list of questions that you should ask the schools you are considering.

Are the Radiology Tech Schools Accredited? Most xray technician schools have obtained some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. However, 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 gone through a detailed examination of their teachers and educational materials. If the school is online it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. All accrediting organizations should be acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to guaranteeing a premium education, accreditation will also help in acquiring financial assistance and student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And numerous Waukegan IL health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry-level positions.

Are Internships Provided? Ask if the Illinois radiology tech schools you are interested in have relationships with local clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent means to get practical experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they can help students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Waukegan IL health care community and assist with job placement.

Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the x-ray tech schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Waukegan IL healthcare employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Waukegan IL residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. 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 may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually 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 prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the Waukegan IL 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 ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the radiology tech program also.

Does the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the radiographer college you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in Waukegan IL, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Why Did You Want to Be an X-Ray Tech?

When prepping to interview for an X-Ray Tech job, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. One of the things that hiring managers typically ask radiographer prospects is "What drove you to select radiography as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not only the private reasons you may have for being a radiology technician, but additionally what attributes and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to radiography, along with a certain number of standard interview questions, so you should organize some approaches about how you want to answer them. Considering there are several variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an exceptional X-Ray tech and the leading choice for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down a few concepts and talking points that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can help you to formulate your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Best Radiology Tech College near Waukegan IL

Enrolling in the right x-ray tech degree program is an important first step toward launching a gratifying new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiologic technologist should 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. Candidates must also demonstrate a capability to pay strict attention to detail and to adhere to the safety guidelines designed to protect both the medical team and the patient. Radiology techs work very closely with patients, other technicians as well as the doctors and radiologists. Possessing social skills is a necessity in order to have a pleasant work environment and deliver the best available care to patients. As we have discussed in this report, there are a number of questions that you need to ask each program you are considering before making your final decision. This is similarly true whether you participate in an online program 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 decision. And with the right training and your motivation to be successful, you can reach your goal to work as a radiology tech in Waukegan IL.

Some Background on Waukegan Illinois

Waukegan, Illinois

Waukegan /wɔːˈkiːɡən/ is the largest city in and the county seat of Lake County, Illinois, United States.[6] It is part of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. As of the 2013 census estimate, the city had a population of 88,826.[3] It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population, and it is the fifth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, after Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Kenosha.

The site of present-day Waukegan was recorded as Riviere du Vieux Fort ("Old Fort River") and Wakaygagh on a 1778 map by Thomas Hutchins. By the 1820s, the French name had become "Small Fort River" in English, and the settlement was known as "Little Fort". The name "Waukegance" and then "Waukegan" (meaning "little fort"; cf. Potawatomi wakaigin "fort" or "fortress") was created by John H. Kinzie and Solomon Juneau, and the new name was adopted in 1849.[7][8]

Waukegan had an abolitionist community dating to these early days. In 1853, residents commemorated the anniversary of emancipation of slaves in the British Empire with a meeting.[9] Waukegan arguably has the distinction of being the only place where Abraham Lincoln failed to finish a speech; when he campaigned in the town in 1860, a fire alarm rang, and the man soon-to-be president had his words interrupted.[10]

Waukegan's development began in many ways with the arrival of Washburn & Moen, a barbed-wire manufacturer that prompted both labor migration and land speculation beginning in 1891.[11] Immigrants followed, mostly hailing from southeastern Europe and Scandinavia, with especially large groups from Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania.[12][13] The town also became home to a considerable Armenian population.[14] One member of this community, Monoog Curezhin, even became embroiled in an aborted plot to assassinate Sultan Abdul Hamid II, reviled for his involvement in massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Curezhin lost two fingers on his right hand while testing explosives for this purpose in Waukegan in 1904.[15]

By the 1920s and 1930s, African-Americans began to migrate to the city, mostly from the south.[16] The town was no stranger to racial strife. In June 1920, an African-American boy allegedly hit the car of an off-duty sailor from nearby Great Lakes Naval Base with a rock, and hundreds of white sailors gathered at Sherman House, a hotel reserved for African-Americans. Although newspaper reports and rumors suggested that the officer's wife was hit with glass from the broken windshield, subsequent reports revealed that the officer was not even married.[17] The sailors cried "lynch 'em," but were successfully kept back by the intervention of the police.[18] Marines and sailors renewed their attack on the hotel several days later. The Sherman's residents fled for their lives as the military members carried torches, gasoline, and the American flag.[19] The Waukegan police once again turned them away, but not before firing and wounding two members of the crowd.[20] The police were not always so willing to protect Waukegan's citizens. The chief of police and the state's attorney in the 1920s, for example, were avowed members of the Ku Klux Klan, facts that came to light when a wrongfully convicted African-American war veteran was released from prison on appeal after 25 years.[21][22] Labor unrest also occurred regularly. In 1919, a strike at the US Steel and Wire Company - which had acquired Washburn & Moen - led to a call for intervention from the state militia.[23][24]