It’s simple to understand the appeal of the expanding healthcare field if you’re looking to leave dead-end jobs and launch a more fulfilling career. Healthcare providers will need assistance meeting the demand for their services as the baby boomer generation approaches the peak of its healthcare needs.
There are quite a few solid career options in this field, so where should you start? Radiology is an appealing field for many—but when it comes down to choosing a radiology career path, there are questions that still need answering: What’s the difference between radiologic technologists and radiologists? How can you know which career path is best for you?
What is a radiology technologist?
A medical professional who conducts diagnostic procedures using radiology equipment is known as a radiology technologist. They may specialize in a certain area of radiology. Their responsibilities include:
What is a radiology technician?
A professional who uses and maintains radiology equipment is known as a radiology technician. Clinical engineers, field service engineers, and biomedical engineers all hold comparable positions. However, those positions are only concerned with creating and maintaining equipment, whereas radiology technicians have a wider range of duties that also involve interacting with patients. Their responsibilities include:
Radiology technician vs. technologist
Take into account the following elements to comprehend the distinctions between radiology technicians and technologists:
Education
Both careers have similar educational requirements, but there are some differences. A high school diploma or GED and an associate’s degree in a relevant field are requirements for radiology technologists. The majority of radiology technologists earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. They learn about topics like radiology science, radiation biology, and anatomy and physiology in this program. Students in this program gain clinical experience working with patients while being supervised by medical professionals.
While some radiology technicians might pursue the same academic path as radiology technologists, they also have the choice to advance to the position of technician without earning an associate degree. Either an associate’s degree or specialized training is necessary to work as a radiology technician. Before starting their careers as radiology technicians, technicians who opt for vocational training typically gain some work experience.
Both technologists and technicians have the option of pursuing a bachelor’s degree to further their education, but technologists do so more frequently as they already hold an associate degree. When they do this, radiology technicians typically earn a bachelor’s degree in radiologic sciences or another related medical field. With a bachelor’s degree, radiology technicians can make more money than those without one. If they decide to pursue further education, this degree could also assist them in becoming radiologists in the future.
Responsibilities
The fact that radiology technicians cannot work with patients without a doctor’s supervision is one of the key distinctions between these two occupations. They interact with patients only when taking scans with radiology equipment. Due to their higher level of education and certifications than radiology technicians, radiology technologists sometimes have more duties. For instance, they can interpret the scan results, analyze the scans, and talk to the patient about them.
Another distinction is that radiology technicians may be in charge of upkeep and repair of radiology equipment. They are educated in the technical aspects of how the equipment functions, whereas radiology technologists put more of a focus on using the equipment and helping patients.
Training
While radiology technologists are trained before starting work, radiology technicians typically receive on-the-job training. Radiology technologists receive training throughout their academic career and are fully qualified when they begin their careers.
Certifications
Radiology technologists must pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART) certification exam after completing their degree program. They can select a specialty to concentrate on thanks to this certification, such as nuclear medicine technology, mammography, CT, or MRI.
In contrast, radiology technicians need a license to practice their profession. The requirements depend on where they intend to work because state licensing laws differ.
Salary and job outlook
Skills you need to be a radiology technician or technologist
Radiology technologists and technicians have many of the same duties, so they need a lot of the same abilities. Although each of these abilities is necessary for both jobs, there are a few small variations to be aware of:
Technician Vs Technologist
FAQ
What is the difference between technician and technologist?
A technician is trained to work on radiology equipment. Also called Clinical Engineer, Field Service Engineer or Biomedical Engineer. A technologist has received training in the methods used to conduct diagnostic tests using radiology equipment and the potential side effects it may have on the body.
What is the difference between radiography and radiology technician?
Although there are similarities between the jobs of a technologist and a technician, a technologist typically holds a four-year engineering degree while a technician frequently holds a lower degree or certification and works under a technologist.
