A radiographer is the person responsible for operating the X-ray technology in a hospital or other medical setting. Radiographers do not make diagnoses of what X-rays mean (this job is done by radiologist physicians), but the job of the radiographer is to work with the patient to take the X-ray images while using appropriate safety precautions. A radiographer may also be called an X-ray technologist, a radiographic technologist, or a radiologic technician.
Instructions
1. Find a training program in radiography or radiologic technology. (At a minimum, you will need an associate's degree to get an entry-level job.) Check the prerequisites and take any courses that you have not already taken.
2. Apply to and complete the training program in radiography, making sure that you have chosen a program that is recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Expect to study at least two years for an associate's degree and four years for a bachelor's degree.
3. After completing your education, check the requirements of your state. Some states require certification or licensing for radiographers while others do not. If your state is one of the few that has no professional licensing requirements, you can apply for entry level jobs in radiography at this point.
4. If you live in a state that requires certification, study for and take the entry level certification exam. You can register for the exam by following the instructions on the ARRT website.
5. After obtaining certification, you must then register with the ARRT and renew your registration annually in order to maintain your certification. The ARRT website has the instructions for the registration process. As opposed to certification, registration does not require an examination but merely the payment of an annual fee and sending of paperwork.
6. Check your state's requirements. After you have completed certification and registration with ARRT, you may still need to submit paperwork to be licensed by your state health board and to be eligible for employment.
Tags: your state, ARRT website, associate degree, certification registration, entry level, program radiography
