If you want to work as a radiographer, perhaps you’ve wondered how much education you might need. While training for this profession, you might work in hospitals, colleges and universities, and employers prefer to hire technologists with formal training in the field. You might be surprised to learn that you can begin to train for this field immediately upon graduation from high school.

Admission to radiography programs require, at a minimum, a high school diploma or the equivalent. High school courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology are helpful. The programs provide both classroom and clinical instruction in anatomy and physiology, patient care procedures, radiation physics, radiation protection, principles of imaging, medical terminology, positioning of patients, medical ethics, radiobiology and pathology.

One way to prepare for a higher education in radiography is to learn more about what the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology expects from future radiographers. The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology accredits most formal training programs for the field.

Formal training programs in radiography range from one to four years and provide a foundation that prepares you for certification. This means that an associate degree is very appropriate, but you may want to go for a bachelor’s or master’s degree if you intend to advance your career. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of the radiologic technologies is required in mot cases for supervisory, administrative or teaching positions.

Some one-year certification programs are available for experienced radiographers or individuals who arrive to this profession through other health care occupations such as medical technologists or registered nurses. Preparation for this profession is offered in hospitals, colleges and universities, and sometimes through vocational-technical institutes.

You might wonder about the safety of this career, considering you will be using equipment that emits radiation. Federal legislation protects workers and the public from the hazards of unnecessary exposure to medical and dental radiation by ensuring that radiologic equipment operators are properly trained. Under this legislation, the Federal Government sets voluntary standards that states may use for accrediting training programs and licensing individuals who engage in medical or dental radiography.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) offers voluntary certification for radiologic technologists. In addition, 35 States use ARRT-administered exams for State licensing purposes. To be eligible for certification, technologists generally must graduate from an accredited program and pass an examination. Many employers prefer to hire certified radiographers. To be re-certified, radiographers must complete twenty-four hours of continuing education every two years.

With experience and additional training, staff technologists may become specialists, performing CT scanning, MR and angiography, a procedure during which blood vessels are x-rayed to find clots. Technologists also may advance, with additional education and certification, to become a radiologist assistant.

Experienced technologists also may be promoted to supervisor, chief radiologic technologist, and, ultimately, department administrator or director. Depending on the institution, courses or a master’s degree in business or health administration may be necessary for a director’s position.