Radiology technicians are also commonly known as radiographers. They operate x-ray machines which are used to produce images of the parts of the human body for diagnosis purposes. They also prepare the client prior to the procedure, instruct and assist the client proper positioning in order to get a quality image. Radiology technicians are under the supervision of the physician on duty, which means that they have to follow physician’s orders precisely and conform to regulations regarding the standards for protection and prevention of harm to both himself and to the client and also to the co-workers.  Radiology technicians also keep client’s records and maintain the equipment.  They may also make work schedules, evaluate purchases of equipments, or even manage the radiology department if certain certification and advancement is acquired.
Radiology technicians work 40 hours per week. They must be physically fit because being a radiology technician involves standing for long period of time and assisting patient position during the procedure. Although radiation hazards exist in this occupation, they are protected by the use of lead apron, gloves and other protective devices. These devices put the radiation level of the technician to a minimum. Also, radiology technicians wear bracelets or badges to indicate their radiation exposure level.

Training, qualifications, and advancements

Training courses for this profession are often offered in colleges, universities, and even in hospitals. Most states require a license to practice.
Formal training for radiologic technician comes in various ways. An applicant could have an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. The most prevalent educational attainment for radiology technicians now is having an associate degree. Some may receive certificates. This program could last around 2-3 years.

The Joint Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology accredits formal training in radiography. The programs provide both classroom and clinical exposure. Common lessons are anatomy, patient care, radiation physics, principles of imaging, medical terminologies, proper positioning, medical and work ethics, radiobiology, and pathology. Interested applicants should be a high school graduate who had finished mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology.

In order to maintain the profession, the technician is required to complete a 24 hour continuing education every 2 years. Experienced technicians may become specialists such as performing CT Scans, and Magnetic Imaging Resonance, if also additional training is acquired. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists provides such certifications and programs.
Salary
The median annual salary of radiographers was $52,210 in 2008. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,100, while the highest 10% earned more than $74,970. Salaries may also vary according to experience, education, advancements, and most importantly the place of work. Technicians who work in private diagnostic laboratories earn more than those who work in physician’s office and in the general hospital. This is according to statistics. However, whatever the salary may be it is very important for one to consider the health risks of being a radiology technician.

Ultrasound Technician Training/Schooling

Training to become an ultrasound technician can be obtained through several different avenues.  This can be done through a hospital, community colleges and universities or vocational or technical schools.  Training is also available through the Armed Forces if you so desire.

As of now, states are not specifically requiring licensing for ultrasound technicians, but hospitals and clinics do require that you have to have a certificate of diploma from a recognized training program.  Keep in mind though that although  two-year associate or certificate programs are more prevalent  a four year program  can lead to a bachelor’s degree.

You can also choose to attain certification through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical  Sonographers.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most new openings for ultrasound technicians will occur at hospitals, but the possibilities are also very high in private physicians offices, laboratories and specialized diagnostic imaging centers.

Ultrasound Technician Job Description

As an ultrasound tech, your main job duties will be that of working with patients and using sonographic equipment known as a transducer to view real-time, three-dimensiional images of a person’s organs, muscles, or even a developing baby!  The ultrasonographer applys a sound-enhancing gel to the patient’s skin, places against it the transducer, which emits a beam of high-frequency sound waves into the body.  These waves then bounce off body fluids and soft tissue and the transducer records the minute variations in the echoes and uses these to formulate a live feed of the person’s internal organs.  This procedure is absolutely painless and harmless.

Ultrasound  modalities are also used to image such areas as the eyes, abdominal organs, heart, and blood vessels in order to diagnose infections, pain or swelling.  The technician must know how to evaluate the quality of the imge to best assist the physician in making a correct diagnosis as well as having a thorough understanding of the internal structure of the body, the function of the organs, and medical ethics in patient care.

It is vital that you know and understand how all of the equipment works so that if there are any problems with the captured images, you are able to troubleshoot them.  You also will have to explain the procedure to your patients and answer any questions that they may have in a friendly and knowledgeable manner.

Ultrasound Technician Salary

The averaged ultrasound technician salary will be based on several different factors as is true with any job, such as your location, whether you go for it full time or opt for part-time and in what kind of facality you choose to work in.  According to the BLS, employment opportunities for ultrasound technicians are predicted to grow rapidly through 2012 and in 2008 the average annual income was $62,660. Straight out of college you will have to start at the bottom and work your way up in the rankings. With hard work you can expect salary increases as you are given more job responsibilities and promotions.

Specializing in certain areas of surgery can be a good way to advance in the field. Other options may be to work as a circulating technologist or as a surgical first assistant. In either of these latter cases, you would likely need additional training whereas; specialization could be obtained by on the job training.

Before deciding if this is the right job for you, there are some things you should consider. Keep in mind that each day on the job there might be disagreeable sights and smells and it may be part of the job for you to be manipulating those unpleasant things which you see and smell. There also may be the possibility of exposure to disease. What is more you may find yourself on call, working nights, weekends, or holidays.

But here is an interesting fact: By 2018 there is an anticipated 25% increase in job opportunities for Surgical Technicians. That makes this one of the fastest growing jobs available. The growth will probably be attributed to more surgeries being performed. The increase in surgeries could be caused by the aging population along with advanced technologies and new surgical procedures.

Most Surgical Technicians are employed at hospitals. Clearly that is where most people go for surgery. Of course there are surely some jobs available at outpatient facilities. Just think of the opportunities you would have if you were certified, specialized in certain types of surgery, and were willing to move around as needed. Your pay scale would likely increase too.

As a Surgical Technician you would have a lot of varied responsibilities. The extent of your responsibilities will play a large roll in the amount of pay you can expect to recieve as a surgical technician. Other aspects such as schooling, experience, job location and job demand will also cause a variance in the average surgical technician salary. Regardless of your starting pay, good work ethics and time will allow you to be eligible for salary increases and promotions.

Are you able to multi task? That would be a strength in this occupation. You would have to prepare the patient for surgery by cleaning and shaving incision areas. Also you need to prepare the operating room for this particular surgery by making sure all the surgical instruments and equipment are in place and ready to use. You will also have to gather gloves and surgical gowns for all members of the operating room team likely even dressing them with these items. And as you are busy preparing all these areas, you will be required to monitor the patient’s vital signs as well. Yes, there is much to keep in mind as you decide if being a Surgical Technician is the job for you.

We here at ESM group really push for the career of an EKG technician for someone who cannot invest much time in school. In as little as 8 to 16 weeks you can receive on-the-job training from an EKG supervisor or cardiologist. This basic training will get you started in a great career in the medical industry. With as little as one year enrolled in a technical school or college you can earn a certificate that will allow you to perform extra testing on patients, earning you a higher average EKG technician salary.

Although most jobs in the medical field offer great job stability, it is important to keep in mind that EKG responsibilities are being taught to registered nurses and nursing assistants. This means that finding ekg technician jobs will be tough for technicians offering only skills as an electrocardiographic technician. For this reason, it is advised that students who are seeking a job in this field should pursue advanced training in order to learn the skills needed to perform stress testing and Holter monitoring. If you bring something more to the table other than just basic training, the chances that you will land a job and hold onto the job will be much greater.

What can you expect to earn as a technician on a yearly basis? Where are several variables that will play a vital role and the amount of money you can expect to earn each year such as your job experience, where your job is located both geographically and size of your employer, along with the amount of training you received in your schooling courses. EKGs on average will see a yearly income of about $24,000 per year, however you can expect to see the technician salary of an EKG as high as $30,000 per year with experience.

It is important to research things such as a careers job demand not only what is currently, but what is expected of a career fueled in the near and distant future. Studies and surveys on graduated college students has shown that many students chose careers and completed their college education, only to find that the job market was flooded to the point that they could not find a job related to their career degree. Do not let this happen to you.

Do you feel like you are just floating from basic course to basic course trying to decide what career choice you should make? While it is good to get the basics out of the way, the basic courses are not always required, depending on what degree or certification you’re going for. Why waste the time of taking extra courses, which means spending extra money and more time in school when you could be that much closer to graduating and starting your career earlier. Here at the extreme sound in mind group, we want to show you that you don’t have to spend four or six years in a traditional college or university to land a good job.

By this, we mean that there are alternative schools, that are not only reputable both accredited as well that can earn you a degree quickly and allow you to make a very good living at the same time. The kind of schools that we push here at ESM group or that of technician schools, vocational and trade schools. While these schools are not for everyone, you may find that they might be for you. Fast-track programs get you in and out of school in as little as six months to two years, depending on what degree or certification you are going for.

So in short, we will be choosing several different fast-track careers, that we fill there is a good job demand for, great salary range and a school curriculum that will get you in and out as fast as possible. We hope you will come back often to see our updated site as we add more and more careers to the list. Let us do the bulk of the research for you and help you to make an educated choice on what career path you will follow.

We want to help you pin point school locations along with the programs that they may offer. From dialysis technician schools in Austin TX to ekg technician schools in Athens Georgia, we will help you find the courses and schools that offer them.