Choosing Radiology Technician Schools
Wondering how to choose a Radiology Technician School when there are so many to choose from? You must first start by deciding whether you want to relocate to complete your education or if you want to find radiology schools near you. Some students need to continue working for a variety of reasons and this will require that you find an online or hybrid program or a campus based program in your area. We've created a list of factors to take into consideration when choosing a radiology technician schools:
Find nationally or regionally accredited radiology technician schools
The accreditation of a particular school can be confusing and there are different types of accreditations such as regional, state, national, or accreditation by a specific authoritative body. The important thing to remember is that if you are planning on going through the certification process through the ARRT or ARDMS, for example, you will need to attend a school or program that is recognized by JCERT (Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The JCERT website will provide you with a list of recognized radiology technician schools that, after your completion, will qualify you for taking the exam.
Take your time getting the program details from schools
Since choosing the right radiology technician school is one of the single most important decisions you will make, it is highly recommended that you request information from more than one school. You can quickly get the information you need by clicking on the request information forms on this website and a school representative will call you usually within 24 hours of your request. You will want to have a set of questions prepared in advance to ensure that you get the most from your conversation with school representatives. The following are some examples of what you may want to ask about:
- Will your schools program prepare me for certification and if not, what types of jobs will I be eligible for?
- Do you offer classes at night, weekends, or online and how flexible are you with the scheduling needs of those who need to work full time?
- What are the tuition costs and on average, what does it cost for books or housing in the area the school is located?
- Do classes start at one time during the year, or are there multiple possibilities for start dates?
- Will I get to practice on radiology equipment that is used in the real world?
- Is there support for job placement once I've completed the program
- What if I want to continue my education; will credits transfer?
This list is by no means exhaustive and every student has their own unique career goals and circumstances. The main point is to do thorough research of radiology technician schools and their program details.
Read job descriptions for positions you will want to be eligible for when you complete the program.
Take some time to read job descriptions for the positions you want to apply for and be sure that the radiology program you are researching will provide you with the skills and credentials you will need. Visit our radiology careers page to begin your research and read the sample job descriptions to be sure you understand the requirements to land the job you want.
We have put together some resources to help you in your research:
School Directories:
Radiology Career Research: