Radiologic Technician

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Administer medical substances for imaging or other procedures.
• Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities.
• Position patients for treatment or examination.
• Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
• Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
• Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
• Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
• Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
• Record patient medical histories.

Typical Working Conditions

• Frequent contact with others.
• Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
• Exposure to disease or infections.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Working with a group or team.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• Wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection.
• Dealing with unpleasant or angry people.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• High levels of competition.

Tools & Technology used by Radiologic Technician

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Radiologic Technician

• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing—Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Radiologic Technician

• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Psychology—Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Medicine and Dentistry—Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Biology—Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Physics—Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Social—Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing very high growth compared to other careers. There will be a 5.2% growth new for Radiologic Technician to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least an Associates degree, but most professionals earn a Bachelors or higher. This job requires a license and certifications could aid in showcasing knowledge.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Anatomy
• Chemistry
• Community Health
• Computer Applications
• Human Development
• Medical Ethics
• Nutrition
• Research Methods
• Safety and First Aid/CPR
• Sociology
• Statistics
• World Languages

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise