How to Select a Radiology Tech College near Clay Center Kansas

Congrats on your career choice to enroll in an x-ray tech school near Clay Center KS so you can become a radiology technologist. But now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare, exactly how do you set about choosing the right school and program so that you will receive the appropriate training to become a skilled professional? And because the majority of states do mandate that x-ray techs become licensed, based on where you ultimately practice you might require training to pass a licensing test. So it’s imperative that you research each of the schools you are looking at in order to evaluate each program. A number of prospective students begin by searching for colleges or technical schools that are within driving distance of their residences. Next, they compare tuition and usually settle on the lowest cost. But while location and cost must be considered, there are other critical qualifiers also. For example, you must find out if the radiology tech schools are accredited, or if they sponsor internship programs. These inquiries and others you must ask the colleges you are examining are presented later in this post. But first, let’s discuss what a radiologic technician does and the credentials and training options that are available.

Radiology Technician Occupation Summary

There are multiple professional designations for x-ray techs (technicians or technologists). They may also be referred to as radiologic technologists, radiologic technicians, radiographers or radiology techs. Irrespective of the name, they all have the same major job description, which is to employ imaging machines to internally visualize patients for the objective of diagnosis and treatment. A number of radiologic technologists may also administer radiation therapy for treating cancer. Many opt to practice as generalists, while others may choose a specialty, for instance mammography. They may work in Clay Center KS clinics, hospitals, family practices or outpatient diagnostic imaging centers. The imaging technologies that an X-Ray tech may work with include:

• Traditional and specialized X-Rays
• Computerized tomography (CT) or “CAT” scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Sonography or ultrasound
• Fluoroscopy

Radiographers must maintain their equipment and regularly analyze its performance and safety. They are additionally required to retain in-depth records of all of their diagnostic procedures. As Clay Center KS health practitioners, they are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct.

X-Ray Technician Degrees Offered

The basic requirement for enrolling in an x-ray tech program is to have attained a high school diploma or GED. Radiologic technologist pupils have the opportunity to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree, which is the most common among technicians, generally requires 18 months to 2 years to complete depending on the program and course load. A Bachelor’s Degree will take more time at up to 4 years to complete and is more comprehensive in nature. The majority of students opt for a degree major in Radiography, but there are additional related majors that are appropriate as well. Something to consider is that Clay Center KS radiographer programs have a practical training or lab component as part of their curriculum. It can frequently be fulfilled by taking part in an internship or externship program which many schools sponsor through local hospitals and clinics in their area. Once you have graduated from one of the degree programs, you must abide by any certification or licensing requirements in Kansas or the state you will be working as applicable.

X-ray Technician Licensing and Certification

When you have graduated from an X-Ray tech college, depending on the state where you will be working you might have to be licensed. The majority of states do mandate licensing, and their criteria vary so check with your state. Presently, all states that do require licensing will recognize The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam for the purpose of licensing, but several accept other alternatives for testing as well. A number of states also require certification as a component of the licensing process, if not it is optional. However, numerous Clay Center KS employers would rather hire radiology techs that have earned certification so it might enhance your career options to earn certification. ARRT’s certification program calls for graduation from an accepted program in addition to a passing score on their rigorous examination. ARRT also requires re-certification every 2 years, which may be fulfilled with 24 credits of continuing ed, or by passing an exam.

Online Radiology Technologist Degrees

As a component of any degree program, x-ray tech colleges will have clinical or lab training included in their curriculum. This is the same for online degree programs. So although you can still earn your online degree, a large portion of the training will be completed either in a school lab or in an externship off campus. Clinical training is often provided in area hospitals, outpatient clinics or private practices in sponsorship with the schools. But the online section of the training may be attended in the privacy of your Clay Center KS residence. Students who continue working while earning their degree usually find that the online style of education is much more practical with their busy schedules. Plus online programs are generally cheaper than on-campus alternatives. Along with reduced tuition, expenditures for study materials and commuting can be lessened as well. But just confirm that the online college you select is accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to learn with this less structured type of training, then online classes may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Radiographer Colleges

As soon as you have selected the type of degree that you want to earn, you can start the process of locating and assessing Clay Center KS 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 choose the latter, then naturally the location of the college will be relevant. The cost of tuition and ancillary expenses will be a determining factor also. But in addition to cost and location, what else should you factor in when evaluating colleges? Well, you should find out if the colleges are accredited, and if they provide internship or externship programs. To help you learn some of these important details before you make your decision, we have assembled a list of questions that you need to ask the colleges you are assessing.

Are the Radiology Technician Programs Accredited? Most radiology technician schools have received some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. Nevertheless, it’s still important to verify that the program and school are accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting organizations in the field of radiology is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Programs earning accreditation from the JRCERT have gone through a detailed assessment of their teachers and educational materials. If the program is online it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to guaranteeing a premium education, accreditation will also assist in obtaining financial aid and student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation may also be a pre-requisite for licensing and certification as required. And many Clay Center KS health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited college for entry level openings.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Inquire if the Kansas xray tech programs you are evaluating have partnerships with area hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships a terrific way to get hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a way to fulfill the clinical training requirement for most programs. As an ancillary benefit, they can assist students and graduates form professional connections in the Clay Center KS health care community and assist with obtaining employment.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the x-ray tech schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Clay Center KS healthcare employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Clay Center KS residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the Clay Center KS schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the radiology tech program also.

Does the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the radiographer  school you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in Clay Center KS, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Radiology Technician?

When prepping to interview for an X-Ray Tech job, it's important to consider questions you could be asked. Among the questions that interviewers frequently ask radiographer applicants is "What drove you to choose radiography as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the private reasons you might have for being an Xray technician, but also what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to radiography, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you must prepare some ideas about how you want to answer them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the abilities you have that make you an excellent X-Ray tech and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down several concepts and anecdotes that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Ideal Radiology Technician School near Clay Center KS

Picking the right radiology technician college is an important first step toward initiating a satisfying new career providing diagnostic medical services to patients. The ideal radiographer should be in good physical shape. Radiology techs frequently stand for the majority of the day and position and at times lift the patient to obtain the correct image. Candidates must also show an ability to pay close attention to detail and to comply with the safety requirements developed to protect both the patient and the medical team. Radiology techs work very closely with patients, other technicians as well as the doctors and radiologists. Possessing interpersonal skills is a necessity in order to have a productive work environment and deliver the best possible patient care. As has been covered in this report, there are several questions that you should ask each college you are looking at prior to making your final decision. This is equally true whether you enroll in an online school or drive to classes on campus. By asking the appropriate questions you can evaluate and compare each college so you can narrow down your choices and make your decision. And with the right training and your motivation to succeed, you can achieve your goal to practice as a radiologic technologist in Clay Center KS.

Some Background on Clay Center Kansas

 

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