Radiology Technician Schools in Texas
Receiving your Radiologic Technologist Training in Texas
Doctors, medical clinics, hospitals and patients would be lost without radiology technicians. These are the people who perform X-rays and other forms of diagnostic imaging on patients to help doctors make a correct diagnosis.
People interested in working as a general radiologic technologist typically need an associate degree or less. The specialty fields often require a bachelor degree.
People entering this career field have the option of specializing in one of the following areas:
- Cardiac and Vascular Radiology: This type of radiology technician injects dye into the patient’s heart or blood vessels so the doctor can spot blockages or abnormalities easier.
- Computed Tomography (CT): CT is often used to scan the patient’s blood vessels, bones or internal organs. Doctors also order CT scans of a patient’s head or skull to check for brain diseases or tumors. CT scans are three dimensional to provide the doctor with the best possible internal view of the patient’s body.
- Mammography: Radiology technicians in this specialty scan the patient’s breast tissue to produce a mammogram report. The doctor reviewing the report is typically looking for signs of breast cancer.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This is an advanced type of X-ray that gives doctors the ability to view soft tissue and internal organs with as much detail as possible.
Radiology Technician Licensing in Texas
The Medical Radiologic Technologist Certification Program is managed by the Texas Department of State Health Services. You must include an $86 non-refundable fee with your completed application. Additionally, you need pass an exam given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). On the application, you must include your name, contact information, social security number, work history and current employment setting.
In the second section of the application, you need to list information about any professional credentials that you hold and all radiologic technologist education. Although you must disclose whether you have been convicted of a crime, you are not automatically disqualified from obtaining a professional license if you answer yes.
Texas Radiologic Technology Association
Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists
Career Outlook for Radiology Technicians in Texas
According to an Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average radiology technician in Texas earns $52,660 per year. This is just under $2,000 less than the national average. There are 12,790 people employed in this field in Texas. The metropolitan area of Houston, Sugar Land and Baytown has the seventh-highest concentration of radiologist techs in the United States. The ninth-highest is the Dallas, Plano and Irving metropolitan area.
There are currently 219,900 people employed as radiologic technologists in the United States. The BLS anticipates that this number will jump to 281,000 by 2020. While hospitals remain the largest employer of radiology techs, the demand for skilled people to work in outpatient imaging centers is expected to increase. This is due to the trend among third-party insurance payors to utilize outpatient treatment facilities to reduce costs.