How to Find a Radiologic Technician College near Souderton Pennsylvania

Congrats on your decision to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Souderton PA so you can learn to be a radiology technologist. And now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare, exactly how do you go about selecting the ideal school and program to ensure that you will obtain the appropriate training to become a skilled professional? And because most states do require that radiology techs become licensed, depending on where you ultimately work you might need preparation to pass a licensing examination. So it’s important that you assess each of the colleges you are considering in order to evaluate each program. A number of students start by looking for technical schools or colleges that are within commuting distance of their homes. Next, they compare tuition and typically gravitate toward the most affordable cost. But while expense and location must be considered, there are additional significant qualifiers as well. For example, you need to find out whether or not the radiology tech schools are accredited, or if they sponsor internships. These questions and others you must ask the schools you are evaluating are presented later in this article. But first, let’s explore what a radiology technician does and the credentials and training choices that are available.

Radiology Technician Job Summary

There are several professional titles for x-ray techs (technologists or technicians). They may also be referred to as radiologic technologists, radiologic technicians, radiology technicians or radiographers. Irrespective of the name, they all have the identical principal job function, which is to utilize imaging machines to internally view patients for the objective of diagnosis and treatment. A number of radiologic technologists may also administer radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. Some opt to perform as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialty, such as mammography. They can work in Souderton PA clinics, hospitals, private practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray tech may 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 and also routinely evaluate its performance and safety. They are additionally required to retain detailed records of each of their diagnostic procedures. As Souderton PA medical practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.

X-Ray Technician Degree Options

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 option to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most typical among techs, generally takes 18 months to 2 years to complete depending on the program and course load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as much as 4 years to complete and is more extensive in scope. The majority of students select a degree major in Radiography, but there are other similar majors that are acceptable also. Something to consider is that Souderton PA radiographer schools have a practical training or lab component as part of their curriculum. It may frequently be satisfied by participating in an externship program which many colleges offer through local hospitals and clinics in their area. After you have graduated from any of the degree programs, you will need to abide by any licensing or certification mandates in Pennsylvania or the state you will be working as applicable.

X-Ray Tech Certification and Licensing

Once you have graduated from an X-Ray tech program, depending on the state where you will be practicing you may need to be licensed. The majority of states do mandate licensing, and their prerequisites vary so contact your state. At present, 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 as well. A number of states also call for certification as a component of the licensing procedure, if not it is voluntary. However, numerous Souderton PA employers favor hiring radiology techs that are certified so it may improve your career options to earn certification. ARRT’s certification program calls for graduation from an accepted program in addition to a passing score on their comprehensive examination. ARRT also calls for re-certification every other year, which may be fulfilled with 24 credits of continuing ed, or by passing an examination.

Online X-Ray Technician Classes

As a component of any degree program, x-ray tech schools will have clinical or lab training included in their course of study. This is no different for online degree schools. So although you can still earn your degree online, a substantial amount of the training will be fulfilled either in a school lab or in an externship off-campus. Practical training is typically carried out in area family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the schools. But the online portion of the training may be attended in the privacy of your Souderton PA home. Students who continue working while obtaining their degree often find that the online style of learning is much more convenient with their busy schedules. Plus online programs are generally less costly than conventional alternatives. Along with lower tuition, expenses for study materials and commuting may be decreased as well. But just be sure that the online program you enroll in is accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). So if you are motivated enough to learn with this less structured style of training, then an online degree may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask X Ray Tech Programs

Once you have chosen the type of degree that you would like to obtain, you can initiate the process of finding and evaluating Souderton PA x-ray tech schools. You will also need to determine if you want to attend classes online or travel to a nearby campus. If you choose the latter, then naturally the location of the college will be relevant. The price of tuition and supplementary expenditures will be an important variable as well. But in addition to cost and location, what else should you factor in when comparing 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 crucial details before you make your decision, we have assembled a list of questions that you need to ask the schools you are considering.

Are the X-Ray Tech Colleges Accredited? A large number of radiology tech schools have acquired some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. However, 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 obtaining accreditation from the JRCERT have gone through a rigorous assessment of their instructors and course materials. If the program is online it might also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. All accrediting agencies should be acknowledged 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 acquiring financial aid and student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And a number of Souderton PA health facilities will only hire a graduate of an accredited school for entry-level jobs.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask if the Pennsylvania radiology technician colleges you are interested in have partnerships with local hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a great manner to receive practical training in a clinical setting, they are also a means to satisfy the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a supplemental benefit, they can assist graduates and students establish professional connections in the Souderton PA healthcare community and assist with job placement.

Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the radiographer schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Souderton PA healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Souderton PA home. Students who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally 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.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the Souderton PA colleges you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student 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 an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the x-ray tech program as well.

Does the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the x-ray tech  college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in Souderton PA, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Why Did You Choose to Be an Xray Technician?

When preparing to interview for an X-Ray Tech job, it's helpful to consider questions you could be asked. One of the questions that hiring managers typically ask radiographer candidates is "What made you decide on radiography as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming an X-Ray tech, but additionally what attributes and talents you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to radiography, along with a certain number of routine interview questions, so you must organize some strategies about how you want to respond to them. Because there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an excellent X-Ray tech and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down some concepts and anecdotes that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can help you to develop your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Radiology Technician School near Souderton PA

Picking the right radiology tech school is a crucial first step toward initiating a rewarding new career furnishing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiologic technologist should be in good physical shape. Radiology techs often stand for the greater part of the working day and position and in some cases lift the patient to obtain the correct image. Prospects must also show an ability to pay strict attention to detail and to comply with 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 radiologists and other doctors. Possessing interpersonal skills is a necessity in order to have a pleasant work environment and deliver the best possible patient care. As has been discussed in this article, there are several questions that you should ask each school you are assessing before making your final selection. This is similarly true whether you participate in an online school or travel to classes on-campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can analyze and compare each school so you can focus your options and make your decision. And with the proper training and your commitment to be successful, you can accomplish your goal to work as a radiologic technologist in Souderton PA.

Some Background on Souderton Pennsylvania

 

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