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Radiologic Technologists

Also called: Radiologic Technologist (RT), X-Ray Technologist, MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist), Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Technologist)

What they do:
Take x rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's blood stream for diagnostic purposes. Includes technologists who specialize in other scanning modalities.
On the job, you would:
  • Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
  • Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
  • Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.

Knowledge

Business
  • customer service
  • administrative services
Health
  • medicine and dentistry
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • physics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • talking to others
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
  • looking for ways to help people
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things
Visual Understanding
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Concern for Others
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM software/modality management software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
Data base user interface and query software
  • Structured data entry software
Information retrieval or search software
  • Information systems integration software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
associate's degree or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$55,120
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about radiologic technologists.