June 9, 2025 • 28 mins
We're diving into some real talk about how to kickstart your career in radiology. Today, I'm answering your burning questions—everything from how to get into MRI tech without a fancy degree to the nitty-gritty on whether radiation is actually dangerous for us techs. Spoiler alert: it’s not as scary as it sounds, and I’m here to clear up those misconceptions! We’re also chatting about the money side of things—because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to know which modalities can help pad the wallet? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the world of medical imaging, there’s something here for everyone. So grab your favorite drink, kick back, and let’s get this Q&A party started!
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to step into the world of radiology, you’re in for a treat! In this lively episode, Chaundria takes us on a journey through the frequently asked questions that have been pouring in from her social media followers. With a casual tone that feels like a chat over coffee, she tackles everything from the pathways to becoming an MRI tech to the realities of radiation exposure for techs. One of the standout moments is her breakdown of the educational requirements—turns out, you don’t need a fancy bachelor’s degree to get started in this field!
What’s truly refreshing is how Chaundria blends her professional expertise with relatable anecdotes, ensuring that listeners feel both informed and entertained. For instance, she addresses concerns surrounding radiation safety with a mix of solid facts and a light-hearted approach, reassuring aspiring techs that the risk is considerably low with proper safety measures in place. Throughout the episode, there’s a palpable sense of camaraderie as Chaundria encourages her audience to explore their options and think strategically about their careers.
And just when you think the episode can’t get any better, she dives into the money side of things, discussing which modalities might bring in more cash. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just curious about the field, this episode promises to be both enlightening and enjoyable, leaving listeners with a better grasp of radiology and perhaps even a few laughs along the way!
Takeaways:
- To become an MRI tech in the US, you don't need a BSc; an associate's degree will do!
- Radiology offers various pathways, so think strategically about your education and certifications.
- Working in radiology does not significantly increase cancer risks; safety protocols are in place.
- If you want to switch modalities, explore additional certifications to boost your marketability.
- Before investing in a radiology program, check how your criminal record might affect licensing.
- Different radiology modalities offer varying salaries; research is key to knowing your worth.
Links referenced in this episode:
radiology, MRI technologist, medical imaging, radiologic technology, ARRT certification, radiologic sciences, healthcare careers, radiation safety, medical imaging education, radiology job market, cross-training modalities, radiation therapy, ultrasound technology, interventional radiology, dosimetry, healthcare certifications, radiology Q&A, radiology podcast, career advancement in radiology, medical imaging professions
© 2025 A Couple of Rad Techs Podcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:58):
Welcome to a Couple of Rad Techs.
We are live and today is a Qand A day.
You guys have asked me so manyquestions on social media and I'm
going to answer them all right now.
So let's get started with five questions.
We're gonna actually do six questions.
I wanna do six questions today.
And we're talking about money,how to get into radiology, and some
(01:22):
other in between questions.
So let's start out with thefirst one.
The question is ma' am.
So nice.
Can I be an MRI tech afterpursuing a BSc, which is a bachelor's
in science degree in radiologyor medical imaging technology, or
should I need to do anything else?
Great question.
(01:43):
Now, I don't know what countrythis person lives in, but all of
my information is strictly forthe us.
Each country has their ownrequirements when it comes to medical
imaging and what someone cando as far as their education.
So I only can talk about thecountry I live in.
So I apologize.
Now, if you're looking foryour particular country, you may
(02:06):
want to look at youraccrediting agencies in your country
and find out there.
So to answer this question, inorder to become an MRI technologist
in the United States, you donot need to have a degree in radiologic
sciences.
You have two options if youwant to be ARRT credentialed.
(02:26):
That is the credentialing I hold.
It is the oldest credentialingfor our profession in the US over
a hundred years.
And that is the credentialingthat I will always talk about because
I don't have another one.
So I can only speak on thatone when it comes to mri.
Now, if you want to become anMRI technologist, two options.
First option that the ARRTgives you is you can first go to
(02:50):
school for radiologicsciences, medical imaging sciences,
some degrees are called orradiologic technology program.
And what you're going to do iscomplete a two year associate's degree.
Some programs offer abachelor's degree, but if you complete
a two year associate's degree,then you have the opportunity to
(03:10):
sit for your arrt, become aregistered radiologic technologist.
Then you can cross train intoover 11 modalities, some requiring
extra schooling of about oneyear, others requiring maybe extra
schooling to a master degree level.
And we'll talk about that in a second.
So that's your first option.
You can cross train after twoyears of becoming a radiology technologist
(03:34):
into an MRI program.
You can go to a structuredprogram and then they have some other
programs, or you can crosstrain and get some didactic learning
through the asrt.
If you are a member, they haveonline didactic learning where you
can get the classroom part of it.
So that way you make sure youunderstand that part so you could
pass the test.
Two different things to crosstrain the clinical side of actually
(03:57):
doing the work andunderstanding it, getting comps.
And then you also need to beable to answer the questions and
know how to do mri, theprocess of it.
And the second way to becomean MRI technologist is you can then
become go to a school if youhave a degree.
For most programs that are arrt.
(04:18):
Again, this is arrt.
Have a degree and you can getinto those programs and you can take
the arrt, but you have tograduate from, have an associate's
degree with the art to getyour accreditation.
Now there are other optionsout there to become an MRI tech without
going to radiology school first.
That is your first way throughthe ARRT and following their credentialing.
(04:39):
The second way is armor it.
That is another option optionthat people have when they don't
want to go to school for radiology.
And I'm going to caution youbefore you run to that option, really
think it out.
Think, think, think and bestrategic about it.
And why do I say that?
Because I work with severaltechs over the years that have said
(05:00):
the same thing.
They wish they would have justwent to radiologic technology school.
Now there are thousands outthere that don't say that.
But I'm just speaking of theones that I know.
And I say that because theywish they had known.
If they had taken A two inradiologic technology, then they
could have done six months ora year and become an MRI technologist.
(05:20):
And then maybe if they gotburned out in mri, they could then
pivot over into othermodalities like I do ct, I do X ray,
I do a little mammography.
If I wanted to go to nuclearmedicine, radiation therapy, I could
do all of those things.
If the job market gets low inradiation therapy, I can pop over
to ct, I can pop over to mri.
I have options.
And that is what I encourage.
(05:42):
Go to school for radiologytechnology, get a two year degree
in that minimum, even if youhave a degree in something else.
I actually had a teacher cometo me today and tell me, hey, I'm
thinking about going ahead andtaking early retirement as a teacher.
I'm thinking about ultrasoundor radiology technology.
And I heard you talking tosomeone else.
I followed you on social media.
What would you suggest?
(06:02):
And we talked at length.
So this is how you could getinto MRI in the US and again, you
don't have to have abachelor's of science to do this
again.
You can go to an associate'sdegree program.
Now, if you do take abachelor's of science radiology technology
program, the benefit of thatis you graduate with a bachelor's
degree, you don't necessarilymake more money, but what it does
(06:26):
is set you up to come out ofthat program already with another
credential.
That four years allows youtime to get another modality under
your belt.
So you're graduating with two modalities.
That's amazing.
So to me, it is worth it.
If you're getting into aradiology program and you have a
(06:48):
desire and you don't want tohave to after school go find another
person across train you oranother school, you can get it all
in those four years.
That might be the best bet for you.
So look at all your optionsbefore you zero in on one.
Great question, you guys.
Let's look at the next question.
Second question.
Hey, please, I have a question.
Is radiation.
Is radiation.
Okay, so I'm just reading this question.
(07:09):
It's kind of worded wrong, butis radiation are dangerous for a
radiographer and causes canceror any diseases?
Great question.
I actually got asked this theother day.
A lady was asking me my opinion.
She follows me on TikTok andwanted to know, hey, will I get cancer
if I do radiology?
And that's why she chose notto go to school for radiologic technology.
(07:31):
And I was like, oh no, that'snot going to give you cancer if you
go, if you work in radiologyat all.
I don't, I don't know whereshe had heard that, but she said
people had told her that ifshe works in radiology, she's more
likely to get cancer.
So let me tell you this.
I've been doing it for 20years plus.
I have not come across anyoneper se that has gotten cancer as
(07:54):
a technologist from workingaround radiology.
All my years of working aroundionizing radiology, X ray and ct,
MRI does not have ionizingradiation, but interventional diagnostic
X ray, mammography and ct,they all have ionizing radiation.
Nuclear medicine deals withanother type of radiation.
(08:16):
It's not ionizing.
They deal with nucleotidesthat they put into people's bodies
which are radioactive.
And then you have differentother modalities that might expose
you to radiation.
But this is the thing, in allof those modalities, you all.
We're not standing in A roomfor periods of time that are off
the charts where you'reexposed over and over to radiation.
(08:38):
So your chances are very low.
We wear dosimeters whichmonitor over a lifetime how much
dosage of ionizing radiationyou get while at work.
Now that doesn't count.
All the stuff you, all theradiation that you're exposed to,
ionizing radiation, you'reexposed to by what you do in your
day to day life, which we justdon't take into account.
So who's to say that ifsomeone got cancer who worked in
(08:59):
our profession that they gotit from the profession?
We do so many things thatexpose us to radiation, ionizing
radiation that we just don'taccount for.
So hope that helps our professor.
We are not standing in a roomfor periods of time.
And for interventional andfluoroscopy, you are in a room with
live fluoro or operating roomwith the doctors who are using live
fluoro.
(09:20):
You wear lead shields.
We also stand six feet plusaway from any radiation.
We have barriers, lead walls,and we rarely.
I can count on one hand withjust a few fingers how many times
I've stood in a room and heldany patient during their exam and
been radiated.
It's just not a thing that we do.
(11:20):
We have so many other ways tomobilize a patient to safely get
an exam done without harmingourselves or the patient, but definitely
not harming ourselves.
So great question.
Keep them coming.
I am going to do this more.
Third question, can someonewith a prior and they mean criminal
record become certified inradiology or go to school for radiology
(11:40):
just like any other healthcare?
This is a great questionbecause many people wonder when you
have a criminal record.
It can not definitely, but itcan stop you from working in health
care and not just radiology,but in healthcare, period.
Because you're going to beworking with patients that get Medicare
and Medicare, Medicaid ascertain criminal records or prior
(12:03):
convictions, you're notafforded Medicare and Medicaid, you're
not able to get Medicare andMedicaid, so you're not able to actually
do exams on patients who getMedicare and Medicaid.
So the hospital wouldn't be reimbursed.
So anytime you have a license,like a nursing license, a radiology
license, any kind of licensethat works on patients with Medicare
(12:25):
and Medicaid and you don'tqualify for it because of a criminal
record, you most likely cannotbe licensed.
But it depends on what yourrecord is for.
Not all criminal records stopyou from working in healthcare, right?
So you just have to figure outyour criminal record, talk to who
you need to talk to, and thenyou need to go to the school before
(12:47):
you decide to invest in a twoyear plus program and invest money
and waste your time.
Because you can get throughthe program, but what you can't get
is a license.
That is the clincher.
You can't get a license.
So I encourage you, before youapply to a program, make sure you've
talked to the appropriatepeople and gotten the accurate information.
(13:10):
Don't just take people's wordfor it.
Get documentation, get yourrecord pulled, make sure you get
the, even if you have to, getan attorney, get someone to help
you go through it.
So hopefully that's helpful.
Fourth question, how do I knowif it's the right modality for me?
Oh, wow.
Good question.
Question.
I love X ray.
Love it.
But I need to expand myknowledge and skills and make more
(13:31):
money.
Bottom line.
Bottom line, you want to makemore money?
Money.
We're coming up talking aboutmoney in a second.
Yes.
So, right.
I love radiology.
I still love it.
I never thought I would stopdoing it.
Honestly, I enjoyed it.
I enjoy Fluoro.
That was my, just the bestpart for me, I enjoyed Fluoro, but
I wanted to expand myknowledge in the profession.
(13:55):
That is okay.
Doesn't mean you don't lovewhat it is that you love about radiology.
You just grow and you move andthis profession allows you to grow
and it allows you to growwhere you can make more money.
Because as you add morecertifications, that helps you to
become more marketable.
I want you to remember that isthat you become more marketable.
(14:16):
It's not that you're sayingI'm leaving you behind.
You're a no good modality.
You're in a low standard.
That's what some people think.
I'll never do X ray, it'sbelow me.
It's, oh, I don't want to do that.
I'm going to tell you.
We do barium enemas and X rayin mri.
We do defograms and that'sexactly what they're doing, defecating.
(14:36):
So if people think they'regetting in the MRI so they don't
have to white butts anymore ordeal with poop, you got to deal with
it in a lot more than poop.
We deal with so many bodyfluids and so many things in MRI
that people just don't reallyunderstand that hopping from different
modalities does not.
And this too, when peoplethink of all of us, they think all
(14:59):
of us are just button pushers.
None of us are above the next one.
Whether you have a degree,whether you have another modality
or multiple modality.
Thank you guys for listeningby the way too.
I see the comments, I'mresponding back and trying to talk
at the same time.
So if you see me typing, I'mresponding to those in the chat.
Thank you so much anddefinitely come in the chat.
(15:20):
I'm commenting.
If you have questions, let me know.
I would love to answer those questions.
I see some of you on Live.
Please feel free to leave.
Any questions that you have.
I will get to them after I gothrough these two more questions
here.
But yeah, bottom line, if youwant to make yourself more marketable,
add another certification, addmore education, add more certifications
(15:42):
and they just don't have to be modalities.
I'm going to talk about that more.
You don't have to just addmodality certifications.
There are so manycertifications out there.
I'm going to be talking about it.
So if you're not listening tomy podcast yet, be sure to subscribe
a couple of rad Tech's podcasts.
Is the podcast you can find ithere on YouTube.
I've been doing it for several years.
It's the top 5% radiologypodcast just for us technologists.
(16:06):
So you won't find all that the tr.
I'm not teaching you how to doMRI on there or any other modality.
I'm teaching you how to changeyour career, how to be strategic
about this profession beforeyou get further into it, or if you're
already into it, how to reallybe strategic about what you want
to do.
You do not have to leavemedical imaging.
(16:26):
You don't have to think it'swrong to want to add to your education
and your modality and to stayin medical imaging.
If you want to leave, that'sno problem too.
Because medical imaging allowsyou to advance to other areas.
It prepares you for other things.
But if you want to stay, thereare so many things you could be doing
in medical imaging.
(16:46):
I hope you know, let's get onto number five.
The question is, wait, Ididn't think you could take x rays
or MRI, CT without your ARRT.
Also, this applies to mammography.
I just passed my exam last week.
First of all, congratulations.
Congratulations.
So I did a video on peopledoing X rays, you know, making sure,
(17:07):
you know who's taking your Xrays, making sure that they have
an arrt, their credential.
By the arrt.
This person says, I didn'tthink you could take X rays without
like going to school or MRIsor CT.
Well, in some states, veryfew, I think it's four or five states
are not licensure states,which means individuals don't have
to get any schooling.
Some states they can get aeight hour course and be in a doctor's
(17:31):
office taking your X rays.
Yikes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Many surgeons use them intheir outpatient facilities to take
X rays.
Hospitals do not.
I would say that hospitalsrequire arrt, so you don't have to
worry about it in the hospitals.
But many people go tooutpatient centers and get X rays.
(17:51):
I'll tell you a quick story.
My husband, who is atechnologist as well, went to get,
he was in a car accident, wentto get X rays and he thought the
girls were X ray techs.
They had X ray tech on their scrubs.
Just because somebody has someon their scrubs doesn't mean that's
what they do.
They're credentialed to do it.
So they didn't have rtr, theyjust had, they just had X ray tech
on there.
(18:13):
We don't.
That is why we differentiate,differentiate ourselves, y' all.
And you will not see mecalling myself an X ray tech because
I went to school.
I am credentialed.
I'm a radiologic technologist.
People who are radiologictechnologists are credentialed.
That is a big difference froman X ray tech.
So this person took his X rayand he was like, wow.
(18:36):
They didn't collimate.
They didn't.
They just were.
He was like, oh my goodness.
And that's what he was like.
I don't think the X ray techknows how to take X rays.
And then I found out they're not.
They just took an eight hour course.
Some of them didn't.
So this is what you need to know.
And this is why you need toreally look around before you get
(18:57):
X rays in it.
Tell your family too to becareful in non licensure states.
Make sure who's taking your X ray.
Because if they're notcollimating, they're not doing certain
things.
They're radiating parts ofyour body.
They don't need you.
They're causing you to beexposed to more radiation than you
should be.
Right.
So it's more than taking an Xray, which is getting an image.
There's more to taking an Xray than getting an image.
(19:20):
You put safety along with it.
That alone, those two thingsare the difference between an X ray
technician and a radiologic technologist.
That's Registered.
Hope that helps.
Great question.
We're on to our last questionof the night.
Which modality in radiologymakes the most money?
I told you I was getting to money.
(19:41):
You guys.
Ooh.
What do you all think?
Put in the comments, those ofyou that are online now, and if you're
watching later, let me knowwhat you think.
So try not to get to the answer.
I'd love for you to get to thecomments and tell me which modality.
I'm going to tell you the modalities.
We have diagnostic X ray.
We have mri, et, ultrasound,radiation therapy, nuclear medicine
(20:05):
on densitometry,interventional radiologic technologist.
We have PET CT, NukeMed.
We have medical dosimetrists,and we have registered radiologist
assistants.
I think I got everybody on there.
Woo.
That's a lot.
That is a lot.
We didn't even count the educators.
Okay, so maybe I should count educators.
(20:26):
You have radiology educators,you have radiology supervisors, you
have radiology managers.
Then you have directors.
You have.
Yeah, directors.
Yeah, directors of imaging.
And I think that's.
That.
That's all.
That's all we got.
We got more when you get intothe corporate level, but we're talking
(20:47):
about patient direct.
So I got some comments in the chat.
Let's see what you all think.
Who, which modality makes themost money?
Someone says nuclear medicine.
Ruby Red said nuclear medicine.
Okay.
She says nuclear medicine.
And then Ayla loves anythingsaid MRI with a question mark.
(21:08):
You gotta be sure.
I'm going.
You're sure you're sure you'regonna say that?
Okay, so.
Okay, so those are the two we have.
Oh, wait, no.
Alexandria has one.
Let's put Alexandria up there.
She says that radiationtherapy makes more.
Ooh.
So we got three different ones.
Oh, I love it.
I love that you guys came withthree different ones.
So nuclear medic, MRI orradiation therapy.
(21:30):
Well, I'm going to say this.
It depends.
It really depends.
Because there are somediagnostic X ray techs out there
making more than some MRI techs.
This is one thing about ourprofession, unfortunately, fortunately,
I guess, I don't know.
But it depends on a few factors.
How long you've been in theprofession, as to what you'll make
(21:51):
where you work.
If you're at an outpatient,you know, somewhere with a small
bed hospital, you're probablynot going to make what someone else
doing cardiac with veryextensive experience in the metropolitan
area is making.
Right.
So those things are going to determine.
(22:11):
A lot of things are going todetermine how much you make and what
you want to do is look at the asrt.
I just recently did a podcaston this.
The ASRT talks about the datathat they pull.
They do a survey every year ofits members and they ask us, what
do you do?
Do you work full time?
Do you work part time?
Are you prn?
Do you work in a smallhospital, large hospital?
Are you in a metropolitan area?
(22:32):
Are you in a little town?
Like you know how mucheducation you have?
They take all of this data andthey ask if you would share your
salary.
It's anonymous, if you wouldlike, but they ask you to share your
salary and they put all thistogether and they're able to break
it down.
So if you are a new student,graduate, you have one modality,
you live in Wyoming, you canactually look and you have an associate's
(22:53):
degree.
You can look on that datasheet for the year of 2024 and say,
okay, this is what possibly Ishould be making.
And it gives you an accurateamount of how much you should go
and negotiate with versus whatindeed is telling you or what ZipRecruiter
is telling you or what you'refinding out on TikTok with people
showing their checks.
But that is not realistic foreveryone because it's going to be
(23:16):
different.
Really.
You think about it.
Some people don't thinkinterventional technologists make
a lot of money.
They make a lot of money, Alot of money.
And I find it's one of thoseprofessions that a lot of people
don't even think about going into.
And it's one of those that youcan cross train over from a job.
There are almost everyhospital is looking for people to
(23:37):
cross train in interventional radiology.
You get a lot of call, so youget a lot of overtime.
And that's where a lot of yourmoney comes from.
And the pay is really, really good.
I don't know anyone who doesnot like Interventional.
I just don't.
It was the first place tooffer me a job as a student before
I graduated.
Then came CT and X Ray.
I had three job offers fromthose three and Interventional was
(24:00):
the first one.
I spent a lot of time rotatingthrough Interventional.
I encourage you guys.
It didn't come up in the chat,but any of those of you watching
now and later, if you're atechnologist, if you're one looking
to pivot throughout yourcareer, definitely spend some time
in Interventional Radiolog.
You don't have to go back toschool for it.
You can learn it on the job.
The pay is amazing and theschedule is a little rigorous, but
(24:22):
it depends on the place.
You have a lot more outpatientplaces that do vascular studies now.
When I was starting, you didn't.
You did it in the hospital andthat's where it was done.
Now a lot of surgeons havetheir own and they are Monday through
Friday, you're not taking any call.
So, you know, I mean, theseare all the options that we have.
And don't also forget aboutthe administrator roles.
(24:43):
Some of you are maybe reallygood with managing people and not
really managing patients.
That may be for you becausenot everybody is good managing people.
They're good with patients only.
And sometimes those people getinto leadership roles and that's
not where they should be.
So if that is a strength,start to build that and get yourself
experience in leadership rolesby looking beyond just supervisor
(25:07):
manager, you may be a greatfit as an educator.
Some people are phenomenal atdealing with students and being able
to teach a large group andbeing able to navigate the education
world because it is different.
But this has been a great conversation.
Thank you all for yourcomments and coming along for this
Q and A tonight of radiologytechnology questions that I get from
(25:28):
social media.
I will be coming back weeklywith this series.
So be sure if you have notfollowed along, be sure to subscribe
to the YouTube.
If you enjoyed what you heard,check out all my other socials and
please listen to the podcast.
And we've got a radiology bookout there too.
So if you haven't checked outthe radiology book, oh my goodness,
it is tons of fun.
(25:50):
It is one of the most proudestthings I would say that I have done
and I'm going to show it toyou now.
Here you go.
This is Rachel the radiographer.
This is children's book and itis the cutest little thing and we
have sold out of all of ourpre orders and you just got to check
out this young man's reaction.
(26:11):
That is Rachel the radiographer.
The book, it is for everyone.
Children are loving it.
Adults are loving it.
Be sure to grab your own copy.
It isracheltheradiographer.com and thank
you guys again for listeningand be sure to subscribe.
Follow along, ask any questions.
If you're watching this later,I'll I love to respond to you.
And until next time, have agood evening.
Welcome to a Couple of Rad Techs.
We are live and today is a Qand A day.
You guys have asked me so manyquestions on social media and I'm
going to answer them all right now.
So let's get started with five questions.
We're gonna actually do six questions.
I wanna do six questions today.
And we're talking about money,how to get into radiology, and some
(01:22):
other in between questions.
So let's start out with thefirst one.
The question is ma' am.
So nice.
Can I be an MRI tech afterpursuing a BSc, which is a bachelor's
in science degree in radiologyor medical imaging technology, or
should I need to do anything else?
Great question.
(01:43):
Now, I don't know what countrythis person lives in, but all of
my information is strictly forthe us.
Each country has their ownrequirements when it comes to medical
imaging and what someone cando as far as their education.
So I only can talk about thecountry I live in.
So I apologize.
Now, if you're looking foryour particular country, you may
(02:06):
want to look at youraccrediting agencies in your country
and find out there.
So to answer this question, inorder to become an MRI technologist
in the United States, you donot need to have a degree in radiologic
sciences.
You have two options if youwant to be ARRT credentialed.
(02:26):
That is the credentialing I hold.
It is the oldest credentialingfor our profession in the US over
a hundred years.
And that is the credentialingthat I will always talk about because
I don't have another one.
So I can only speak on thatone when it comes to mri.
Now, if you want to become anMRI technologist, two options.
First option that the ARRTgives you is you can first go to
(02:50):
school for radiologicsciences, medical imaging sciences,
some degrees are called orradiologic technology program.
And what you're going to do iscomplete a two year associate's degree.
Some programs offer abachelor's degree, but if you complete
a two year associate's degree,then you have the opportunity to
(03:10):
sit for your arrt, become aregistered radiologic technologist.
Then you can cross train intoover 11 modalities, some requiring
extra schooling of about oneyear, others requiring maybe extra
schooling to a master degree level.
And we'll talk about that in a second.
So that's your first option.
You can cross train after twoyears of becoming a radiology technologist
(03:34):
into an MRI program.
You can go to a structuredprogram and then they have some other
programs, or you can crosstrain and get some didactic learning
through the asrt.
If you are a member, they haveonline didactic learning where you
can get the classroom part of it.
So that way you make sure youunderstand that part so you could
pass the test.
Two different things to crosstrain the clinical side of actually
(03:57):
doing the work andunderstanding it, getting comps.
And then you also need to beable to answer the questions and
know how to do mri, theprocess of it.
And the second way to becomean MRI technologist is you can then
become go to a school if youhave a degree.
For most programs that are arrt.
(04:18):
Again, this is arrt.
Have a degree and you can getinto those programs and you can take
the arrt, but you have tograduate from, have an associate's
degree with the art to getyour accreditation.
Now there are other optionsout there to become an MRI tech without
going to radiology school first.
That is your first way throughthe ARRT and following their credentialing.
(04:39):
The second way is armor it.
That is another option optionthat people have when they don't
want to go to school for radiology.
And I'm going to caution youbefore you run to that option, really
think it out.
Think, think, think and bestrategic about it.
And why do I say that?
Because I work with severaltechs over the years that have said
(05:00):
the same thing.
They wish they would have justwent to radiologic technology school.
Now there are thousands outthere that don't say that.
But I'm just speaking of theones that I know.
And I say that because theywish they had known.
If they had taken A two inradiologic technology, then they
could have done six months ora year and become an MRI technologist.
(05:20):
And then maybe if they gotburned out in mri, they could then
pivot over into othermodalities like I do ct, I do X ray,
I do a little mammography.
If I wanted to go to nuclearmedicine, radiation therapy, I could
do all of those things.
If the job market gets low inradiation therapy, I can pop over
to ct, I can pop over to mri.
I have options.
And that is what I encourage.
(05:42):
Go to school for radiologytechnology, get a two year degree
in that minimum, even if youhave a degree in something else.
I actually had a teacher cometo me today and tell me, hey, I'm
thinking about going ahead andtaking early retirement as a teacher.
I'm thinking about ultrasoundor radiology technology.
And I heard you talking tosomeone else.
I followed you on social media.
What would you suggest?
(06:02):
And we talked at length.
So this is how you could getinto MRI in the US and again, you
don't have to have abachelor's of science to do this
again.
You can go to an associate'sdegree program.
Now, if you do take abachelor's of science radiology technology
program, the benefit of thatis you graduate with a bachelor's
degree, you don't necessarilymake more money, but what it does
(06:26):
is set you up to come out ofthat program already with another
credential.
That four years allows youtime to get another modality under
your belt.
So you're graduating with two modalities.
That's amazing.
So to me, it is worth it.
If you're getting into aradiology program and you have a
(06:48):
desire and you don't want tohave to after school go find another
person across train you oranother school, you can get it all
in those four years.
That might be the best bet for you.
So look at all your optionsbefore you zero in on one.
Great question, you guys.
Let's look at the next question.
Second question.
Hey, please, I have a question.
Is radiation.
Is radiation.
Okay, so I'm just reading this question.
(07:09):
It's kind of worded wrong, butis radiation are dangerous for a
radiographer and causes canceror any diseases?
Great question.
I actually got asked this theother day.
A lady was asking me my opinion.
She follows me on TikTok andwanted to know, hey, will I get cancer
if I do radiology?
And that's why she chose notto go to school for radiologic technology.
(07:31):
And I was like, oh no, that'snot going to give you cancer if you
go, if you work in radiologyat all.
I don't, I don't know whereshe had heard that, but she said
people had told her that ifshe works in radiology, she's more
likely to get cancer.
So let me tell you this.
I've been doing it for 20years plus.
I have not come across anyoneper se that has gotten cancer as
(07:54):
a technologist from workingaround radiology.
All my years of working aroundionizing radiology, X ray and ct,
MRI does not have ionizingradiation, but interventional diagnostic
X ray, mammography and ct,they all have ionizing radiation.
Nuclear medicine deals withanother type of radiation.
(08:16):
It's not ionizing.
They deal with nucleotidesthat they put into people's bodies
which are radioactive.
And then you have differentother modalities that might expose
you to radiation.
But this is the thing, in allof those modalities, you all.
We're not standing in A roomfor periods of time that are off
the charts where you'reexposed over and over to radiation.
(08:38):
So your chances are very low.
We wear dosimeters whichmonitor over a lifetime how much
dosage of ionizing radiationyou get while at work.
Now that doesn't count.
All the stuff you, all theradiation that you're exposed to,
ionizing radiation, you'reexposed to by what you do in your
day to day life, which we justdon't take into account.
So who's to say that ifsomeone got cancer who worked in
(08:59):
our profession that they gotit from the profession?
We do so many things thatexpose us to radiation, ionizing
radiation that we just don'taccount for.
So hope that helps our professor.
We are not standing in a roomfor periods of time.
And for interventional andfluoroscopy, you are in a room with
live fluoro or operating roomwith the doctors who are using live
fluoro.
(09:20):
You wear lead shields.
We also stand six feet plusaway from any radiation.
We have barriers, lead walls,and we rarely.
I can count on one hand withjust a few fingers how many times
I've stood in a room and heldany patient during their exam and
been radiated.
It's just not a thing that we do.
(11:20):
We have so many other ways tomobilize a patient to safely get
an exam done without harmingourselves or the patient, but definitely
not harming ourselves.
So great question.
Keep them coming.
I am going to do this more.
Third question, can someonewith a prior and they mean criminal
record become certified inradiology or go to school for radiology
(11:40):
just like any other healthcare?
This is a great questionbecause many people wonder when you
have a criminal record.
It can not definitely, but itcan stop you from working in health
care and not just radiology,but in healthcare, period.
Because you're going to beworking with patients that get Medicare
and Medicare, Medicaid ascertain criminal records or prior
(12:03):
convictions, you're notafforded Medicare and Medicaid, you're
not able to get Medicare andMedicaid, so you're not able to actually
do exams on patients who getMedicare and Medicaid.
So the hospital wouldn't be reimbursed.
So anytime you have a license,like a nursing license, a radiology
license, any kind of licensethat works on patients with Medicare
(12:25):
and Medicaid and you don'tqualify for it because of a criminal
record, you most likely cannotbe licensed.
But it depends on what yourrecord is for.
Not all criminal records stopyou from working in healthcare, right?
So you just have to figure outyour criminal record, talk to who
you need to talk to, and thenyou need to go to the school before
(12:47):
you decide to invest in a twoyear plus program and invest money
and waste your time.
Because you can get throughthe program, but what you can't get
is a license.
That is the clincher.
You can't get a license.
So I encourage you, before youapply to a program, make sure you've
talked to the appropriatepeople and gotten the accurate information.
(13:10):
Don't just take people's wordfor it.
Get documentation, get yourrecord pulled, make sure you get
the, even if you have to, getan attorney, get someone to help
you go through it.
So hopefully that's helpful.
Fourth question, how do I knowif it's the right modality for me?
Oh, wow.
Good question.
Question.
I love X ray.
Love it.
But I need to expand myknowledge and skills and make more
(13:31):
money.
Bottom line.
Bottom line, you want to makemore money?
Money.
We're coming up talking aboutmoney in a second.
Yes.
So, right.
I love radiology.
I still love it.
I never thought I would stopdoing it.
Honestly, I enjoyed it.
I enjoy Fluoro.
That was my, just the bestpart for me, I enjoyed Fluoro, but
I wanted to expand myknowledge in the profession.
(13:55):
That is okay.
Doesn't mean you don't lovewhat it is that you love about radiology.
You just grow and you move andthis profession allows you to grow
and it allows you to growwhere you can make more money.
Because as you add morecertifications, that helps you to
become more marketable.
I want you to remember that isthat you become more marketable.
(14:16):
It's not that you're sayingI'm leaving you behind.
You're a no good modality.
You're in a low standard.
That's what some people think.
I'll never do X ray, it'sbelow me.
It's, oh, I don't want to do that.
I'm going to tell you.
We do barium enemas and X rayin mri.
We do defograms and that'sexactly what they're doing, defecating.
(14:36):
So if people think they'regetting in the MRI so they don't
have to white butts anymore ordeal with poop, you got to deal with
it in a lot more than poop.
We deal with so many bodyfluids and so many things in MRI
that people just don't reallyunderstand that hopping from different
modalities does not.
And this too, when peoplethink of all of us, they think all
(14:59):
of us are just button pushers.
None of us are above the next one.
Whether you have a degree,whether you have another modality
or multiple modality.
Thank you guys for listeningby the way too.
I see the comments, I'mresponding back and trying to talk
at the same time.
So if you see me typing, I'mresponding to those in the chat.
Thank you so much anddefinitely come in the chat.
(15:20):
I'm commenting.
If you have questions, let me know.
I would love to answer those questions.
I see some of you on Live.
Please feel free to leave.
Any questions that you have.
I will get to them after I gothrough these two more questions
here.
But yeah, bottom line, if youwant to make yourself more marketable,
add another certification, addmore education, add more certifications
(15:42):
and they just don't have to be modalities.
I'm going to talk about that more.
You don't have to just addmodality certifications.
There are so manycertifications out there.
I'm going to be talking about it.
So if you're not listening tomy podcast yet, be sure to subscribe
a couple of rad Tech's podcasts.
Is the podcast you can find ithere on YouTube.
I've been doing it for several years.
It's the top 5% radiologypodcast just for us technologists.
(16:06):
So you won't find all that the tr.
I'm not teaching you how to doMRI on there or any other modality.
I'm teaching you how to changeyour career, how to be strategic
about this profession beforeyou get further into it, or if you're
already into it, how to reallybe strategic about what you want
to do.
You do not have to leavemedical imaging.
(16:26):
You don't have to think it'swrong to want to add to your education
and your modality and to stayin medical imaging.
If you want to leave, that'sno problem too.
Because medical imaging allowsyou to advance to other areas.
It prepares you for other things.
But if you want to stay, thereare so many things you could be doing
in medical imaging.
(16:46):
I hope you know, let's get onto number five.
The question is, wait, Ididn't think you could take x rays
or MRI, CT without your ARRT.
Also, this applies to mammography.
I just passed my exam last week.
First of all, congratulations.
Congratulations.
So I did a video on peopledoing X rays, you know, making sure,
(17:07):
you know who's taking your Xrays, making sure that they have
an arrt, their credential.
By the arrt.
This person says, I didn'tthink you could take X rays without
like going to school or MRIsor CT.
Well, in some states, veryfew, I think it's four or five states
are not licensure states,which means individuals don't have
to get any schooling.
Some states they can get aeight hour course and be in a doctor's
(17:31):
office taking your X rays.
Yikes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Many surgeons use them intheir outpatient facilities to take
X rays.
Hospitals do not.
I would say that hospitalsrequire arrt, so you don't have to
worry about it in the hospitals.
But many people go tooutpatient centers and get X rays.
(17:51):
I'll tell you a quick story.
My husband, who is atechnologist as well, went to get,
he was in a car accident, wentto get X rays and he thought the
girls were X ray techs.
They had X ray tech on their scrubs.
Just because somebody has someon their scrubs doesn't mean that's
what they do.
They're credentialed to do it.
So they didn't have rtr, theyjust had, they just had X ray tech
on there.
(18:13):
We don't.
That is why we differentiate,differentiate ourselves, y' all.
And you will not see mecalling myself an X ray tech because
I went to school.
I am credentialed.
I'm a radiologic technologist.
People who are radiologictechnologists are credentialed.
That is a big difference froman X ray tech.
So this person took his X rayand he was like, wow.
(18:36):
They didn't collimate.
They didn't.
They just were.
He was like, oh my goodness.
And that's what he was like.
I don't think the X ray techknows how to take X rays.
And then I found out they're not.
They just took an eight hour course.
Some of them didn't.
So this is what you need to know.
And this is why you need toreally look around before you get
(18:57):
X rays in it.
Tell your family too to becareful in non licensure states.
Make sure who's taking your X ray.
Because if they're notcollimating, they're not doing certain
things.
They're radiating parts ofyour body.
They don't need you.
They're causing you to beexposed to more radiation than you
should be.
Right.
So it's more than taking an Xray, which is getting an image.
There's more to taking an Xray than getting an image.
(19:20):
You put safety along with it.
That alone, those two thingsare the difference between an X ray
technician and a radiologic technologist.
That's Registered.
Hope that helps.
Great question.
We're on to our last questionof the night.
Which modality in radiologymakes the most money?
I told you I was getting to money.
(19:41):
You guys.
Ooh.
What do you all think?
Put in the comments, those ofyou that are online now, and if you're
watching later, let me knowwhat you think.
So try not to get to the answer.
I'd love for you to get to thecomments and tell me which modality.
I'm going to tell you the modalities.
We have diagnostic X ray.
We have mri, et, ultrasound,radiation therapy, nuclear medicine
(20:05):
on densitometry,interventional radiologic technologist.
We have PET CT, NukeMed.
We have medical dosimetrists,and we have registered radiologist
assistants.
I think I got everybody on there.
Woo.
That's a lot.
That is a lot.
We didn't even count the educators.
Okay, so maybe I should count educators.
(20:26):
You have radiology educators,you have radiology supervisors, you
have radiology managers.
Then you have directors.
You have.
Yeah, directors.
Yeah, directors of imaging.
And I think that's.
That.
That's all.
That's all we got.
We got more when you get intothe corporate level, but we're talking
(20:47):
about patient direct.
So I got some comments in the chat.
Let's see what you all think.
Who, which modality makes themost money?
Someone says nuclear medicine.
Ruby Red said nuclear medicine.
Okay.
She says nuclear medicine.
And then Ayla loves anythingsaid MRI with a question mark.
(21:08):
You gotta be sure.
I'm going.
You're sure you're sure you'regonna say that?
Okay, so.
Okay, so those are the two we have.
Oh, wait, no.
Alexandria has one.
Let's put Alexandria up there.
She says that radiationtherapy makes more.
Ooh.
So we got three different ones.
Oh, I love it.
I love that you guys came withthree different ones.
So nuclear medic, MRI orradiation therapy.
(21:30):
Well, I'm going to say this.
It depends.
It really depends.
Because there are somediagnostic X ray techs out there
making more than some MRI techs.
This is one thing about ourprofession, unfortunately, fortunately,
I guess, I don't know.
But it depends on a few factors.
How long you've been in theprofession, as to what you'll make
(21:51):
where you work.
If you're at an outpatient,you know, somewhere with a small
bed hospital, you're probablynot going to make what someone else
doing cardiac with veryextensive experience in the metropolitan
area is making.
Right.
So those things are going to determine.
(22:11):
A lot of things are going todetermine how much you make and what
you want to do is look at the asrt.
I just recently did a podcaston this.
The ASRT talks about the datathat they pull.
They do a survey every year ofits members and they ask us, what
do you do?
Do you work full time?
Do you work part time?
Are you prn?
Do you work in a smallhospital, large hospital?
Are you in a metropolitan area?
(22:32):
Are you in a little town?
Like you know how mucheducation you have?
They take all of this data andthey ask if you would share your
salary.
It's anonymous, if you wouldlike, but they ask you to share your
salary and they put all thistogether and they're able to break
it down.
So if you are a new student,graduate, you have one modality,
you live in Wyoming, you canactually look and you have an associate's
(22:53):
degree.
You can look on that datasheet for the year of 2024 and say,
okay, this is what possibly Ishould be making.
And it gives you an accurateamount of how much you should go
and negotiate with versus whatindeed is telling you or what ZipRecruiter
is telling you or what you'refinding out on TikTok with people
showing their checks.
But that is not realistic foreveryone because it's going to be
(23:16):
different.
Really.
You think about it.
Some people don't thinkinterventional technologists make
a lot of money.
They make a lot of money, Alot of money.
And I find it's one of thoseprofessions that a lot of people
don't even think about going into.
And it's one of those that youcan cross train over from a job.
There are almost everyhospital is looking for people to
(23:37):
cross train in interventional radiology.
You get a lot of call, so youget a lot of overtime.
And that's where a lot of yourmoney comes from.
And the pay is really, really good.
I don't know anyone who doesnot like Interventional.
I just don't.
It was the first place tooffer me a job as a student before
I graduated.
Then came CT and X Ray.
I had three job offers fromthose three and Interventional was
(24:00):
the first one.
I spent a lot of time rotatingthrough Interventional.
I encourage you guys.
It didn't come up in the chat,but any of those of you watching
now and later, if you're atechnologist, if you're one looking
to pivot throughout yourcareer, definitely spend some time
in Interventional Radiolog.
You don't have to go back toschool for it.
You can learn it on the job.
The pay is amazing and theschedule is a little rigorous, but
(24:22):
it depends on the place.
You have a lot more outpatientplaces that do vascular studies now.
When I was starting, you didn't.
You did it in the hospital andthat's where it was done.
Now a lot of surgeons havetheir own and they are Monday through
Friday, you're not taking any call.
So, you know, I mean, theseare all the options that we have.
And don't also forget aboutthe administrator roles.
(24:43):
Some of you are maybe reallygood with managing people and not
really managing patients.
That may be for you becausenot everybody is good managing people.
They're good with patients only.
And sometimes those people getinto leadership roles and that's
not where they should be.
So if that is a strength,start to build that and get yourself
experience in leadership rolesby looking beyond just supervisor
(25:07):
manager, you may be a greatfit as an educator.
Some people are phenomenal atdealing with students and being able
to teach a large group andbeing able to navigate the education
world because it is different.
But this has been a great conversation.
Thank you all for yourcomments and coming along for this
Q and A tonight of radiologytechnology questions that I get from
(25:28):
social media.
I will be coming back weeklywith this series.
So be sure if you have notfollowed along, be sure to subscribe
to the YouTube.
If you enjoyed what you heard,check out all my other socials and
please listen to the podcast.
And we've got a radiology bookout there too.
So if you haven't checked outthe radiology book, oh my goodness,
it is tons of fun.
(25:50):
It is one of the most proudestthings I would say that I have done
and I'm going to show it toyou now.
Here you go.
This is Rachel the radiographer.
This is children's book and itis the cutest little thing and we
have sold out of all of ourpre orders and you just got to check
out this young man's reaction.
(26:11):
That is Rachel the radiographer.
The book, it is for everyone.
Children are loving it.
Adults are loving it.
Be sure to grab your own copy.
It isracheltheradiographer.com and thank
you guys again for listeningand be sure to subscribe.
Follow along, ask any questions.
If you're watching this later,I'll I love to respond to you.
And until next time, have agood evening.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.