How to Find a Radiologic Technician School in South Dakota
Congratulations on your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school in South Dakota in order to become a radiologic technician. But now that you have made a decision to go into the satisfying field of healthcare, how do you undertake selecting the ideal school and program to ensure that you will get the proper training to become a skilled practitioner? And considering that most states do mandate that x-ray technicians become licensed, depending on where you ultimately practice you might require preparation to pass a licensing test. So it’s imperative that you assess each of the colleges you are considering in order to evaluate each program. A number of prospective students start by looking for colleges or technical schools that are within commuting distance of their homes. Next, they check tuition and often settle on the lowest cost. But while cost and location must be considered, there are other important qualifications as well. For instance, you must ask if the radiology tech schools are accredited, or if they offer internships. These questions and others you should ask the schools you are examining are provided later in this article. But first, let’s discuss what a x-ray technician does and the degrees and education choices that are offered.
X-Ray Technician Occupation Summary
There are a number of professional titles for x-ray techs (technicians or technologists). They can also be referred to as radiologic technicians or technologists, radiology technicians or radiographers. Regardless of the name, each has the identical primary 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 treating cancer. Some opt to practice as generalists, while there are those that have chosen a specialty, such as mammography. They may practice in South Dakota hospitals, clinics, family practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray tech might 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 maintain their equipment plus regularly evaluate its performance and safety. They are also expected to retain complete records of all of their diagnostic procedures. As South Dakota health practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.
X-Ray Technician Degrees Offered
The primary requirement for enrolling in a radiology tech program is to have received a high school diploma or GED. Radiologic technologist pupils have the option 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 based upon 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. Most students opt for a degree major in Radiography, but there are additional related majors that are appropriate as well. One thing to consider is that South Dakota radiographer programs have a practical training or lab component as part of their curriculum. It may typically be satisfied by taking part in an externship program which many schools sponsor through local hospitals and clinics in their area. After you have graduated from one of the degree programs, you will need to comply with any certification or licensing requirements in South Dakota or the state you will be working as applicable.
X-ray Technician Certification and Licensing
After you have graduated from an Radiologist 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 criteria vary so check with your state. Presently, all states that do require licensing will accept The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination for the licensing application, but many approve other alternatives for testing also. Several states also require certification as a component of the licensing procedure, otherwise it is optional. However, numerous South Dakota employers would rather hire radiology techs that have earned certification so it might improve your career options to earn certification. ARRT’s certification program involves graduation from an approved program in addition to a passing score on their rigorous examination. ARRT also requires re-certification every other year, which may be satisfied with 24 credits of continuing education, or by passing an exam.
Online X-Ray Tech Degrees
As a part of every degree program, South Dakota x-ray tech schools will have practical or lab training included in their curriculum. This is the same 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 school lab or in an externship off campus. Practical training is usually conducted in area family practices, medical clinics or hospitals in sponsorship with the schools. However the online segment of the training may be attended in the comfort of your South Dakota home. Students who continue working while earning their degree usually discover that the online style of education is far more practical with their active schedules. Plus online programs are frequently less expensive than on-campus alternatives. Along with reduced tuition, costs for study materials and commuting may be decreased as well. But just make sure that the online school you pick 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 ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Radiology Tech Colleges
As soon as you have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, you can start the process of locating and evaluating South Dakota x-ray technician colleges. You will also have to decide if you want to attend classes online or drive to a nearby campus. If you opt for the latter, then of course the location of the school will be important. The price of tuition and ancillary expenditures will be an important factor also. But in addition to cost and location, what more should you factor in when comparing colleges? Well, you should find out if the colleges are accredited, and if they sponsor externship or internship programs. To help you uncover some of these important details before you make your selection, we have put together a list of questions that you should ask the colleges you are assessing.
Are the X-Ray Tech Colleges Accredited? A large number of radiology technician colleges have obtained some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. Even so, it’s still important to make sure that the school and program 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 gone through a rigorous assessment of their teachers and educational materials. If the college is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Along with ensuring a quality education, accreditation will also assist in obtaining financial assistance and student loans, which are many times not accessible for non-accredited schools. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And many South Dakota employers will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry level openings.
Are Internship Programs Provided? Inquire if the South Dakota xray technician colleges you are interested in have associations with regional clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent way to get practical experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a way to satisfy the clinical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they may assist students and graduates form professional relationships in the South Dakota healthcare community and assist with obtaining employment.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the radiographer schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with South Dakota healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their South Dakota residence. Those who have opted 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. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often 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 Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the South Dakota colleges you are reviewing 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 ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the radiology technician program also.
Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the radiographer college you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in South Dakota, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.
Choose the Right Radiology Tech College in South Dakota
Picking the appropriate radiology technician degree program is an important first step toward starting a fulfilling new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiologic technologist must be in good physical condition. X-Ray techs typically stand for the majority of the day and move and in some cases lift the patient to get the proper image. Candidates must also demonstrate a capability to pay strict attention to detail and to comply with the safety requirements developed to protect both the patient and the medical team. Radiology technicians work very closely with patients, other technicians as well as the doctors and radiologists. Having social skills is a necessity in order to have a productive work environment and deliver the best possible patient care. As we have covered in this article, there are several questions that you need to ask each program you are looking at prior to making your final selection. This is just as true whether you decide on an online program or travel to classes on campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can analyze and compare each program so you can narrow down your options and make your final choice. And with the proper training and your motivation to succeed, you can accomplish your goal to work as a radiology tech in South Dakota.