Certification is voluntary for both professions, but employers prefer it.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and echocardiography are two fields of diagnostic healthcare that have similar aims but different methods of deriving them. The radiologic technologists who take MRI scans are using radio frequency to create three-dimensional pictures of the inside of a person's body. Echocardiographers, who belong to the healthcare field of cardiovascular technology, use sonography to create pictures of the heart's valves and chambers.
Radiologic Technology
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an associate's degree is by far the most common pathway to becoming a radiologic technologist, which is the branch of the healthcare profession MRI technology falls in. Four-year bachelor's degree programs are also available as well as certification programs. Programs that result in a certificate usually last between 21 and 24 months.
Radiologic Salary
As of 2010, radiologic technologists in all fields, including MRI technology, earned $26.80 an hour on average, or $55,730 a year according to the BLS. Salaries ranged from the 10th percentile, or lowest, at $17.35 an hour or $36,510 a year to the 90th percentile, or highest, at $36.95 an hour, or $76,850 a year.
Cardiovascular Technology
Educational requirements for cardiovascular technology are similar to that of radiologic technology. An associate's degree is, again, the most prevalent path of study, though programs that result in a bachelor's degree are increasing according to the BLS. The last year of study focuses on either invasive or noninvasive cardiovascular technology, or noninvasive vascular technology. Professionals in another field of medicine only need to complete this year in specialization to become a cardiovascular technologist.
Cardiovascular Salary
Cardiovascular technologists, including those specializing in echocardiography, earned $24.38 an hour or $50,720 a year on a mean average in 2010 according to the U.S. BLS. Real salaries ranged from the 10th percentile at $12.79 an hour, or $26,610 a year, to the 90th percentile at $37.03 an hour, or $77,020 a year.
Tags: hour year, cardiovascular technology, 10th percentile, 90th percentile, associate degree, bachelor degree
