 | Certificate in Radiography: $6,000-$20,000 |
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 | Associate's Degree in Radiography: $4,000-$30,000 |
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 | Bachelor's Degree in Radiography: $15,000-$43,000+ Per Year |
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| X-Ray technicians and technologists are trained to operate X-Ray equipment and other diagnostic tests to take images inside the body. Though they do not diagnose patients, X-Ray technicians work alongside radiologists who can diagnose using X-Ray images. Education for an X-Ray technician can be a certificate program or associate's degree in radiography (also called radiologic technology), which trains students in the basic skills needed to operate X-ray equipment. X-Ray technologists may have more extensive training in the form of a bachelor's degree, and can often work in supervisory roles and interpret data associated with X-Rays. | | |
| Typical costs: | - A certificate in radiography or radiologic technology typically costs $6,000 -$20,000 and takes 18-24 months to complete. For example, Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, IA, offers a two-year certificate program in radiologic technology for $7,600 total, which includes tuition, books and fees. The program spans fall, spring and summer terms for two consecutive years, and students may spend up to 40 hours per week in the classroom and clinic. The University of Nevada Las Vegas offers a two-year certificate program in radiography for $12,700 for tuition, not including additional fees. Although some colleges offer a certificate program, it is most commonly offered by hospitals and medical centers.
- An associate's degree in radiography takes about two years to complete and costs $4,000 -$30,000. For example, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, N.C., charges $4,500 for tuition (four semesters) plus $3,000 for additional expenses like books, uniforms and certifications, for a total program cost of $7,500 spanning two years. Kaiser Permanente in Richmond, CA, charges $10,000 for the radiography associate's degree, not including additional fees. Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, IN, offers an Imaging Sciences associate's degree for $7,000 tuition plus an estimated $1,000 for books and fees. Associate's degree programs in radiography are the most common among the three types of accredited programs, and are prevalent at community colleges and state university.
- A bachelor's degree in radiography costs about $15,000 -$43,000 or more per year and typically takes two to four years to complete. SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. offers a two-year bachelor's degree in Medical Imaging that costs $15,800 total for in-state tuition and $43,000 for non-resident tuition. The University of Hartford in Connecticut offers a four-year bachelor's degree in radiologic technology for an estimated for $118,000 in total tuition. Additional fees like room, board and books are estimated at $17,000 per year. There are about 30 accredited bachelor's programs in radiology in the U.S.
- The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists offers a voluntary certification for radiologic technologists which costs $200 for the initial certification and an additional $20 per year. Licensure for X-Ray techs is handled differently by each state's health board. Many states use the AART exams for state licensing, and the AART has a full list of contact information for each state's health department. For instance, Illinois charges $120 for accreditation in radiation technology, and requires applicants to submit an AART certification card to seek accreditation.
What should be included: | - Training should include classroom as well as clinical experience. Topics covered should include anatomy, examination techniques, equipment safety, and basic patient care, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Additional costs: | - Room, board, books, and uniforms for a program in radiography can cost an additional $10,000 -$20,000 per year. Room and board is estimated at $11,600 per year at the University of Iowa, while books and uniforms cost $1,150 over the two-year program. Books and materials (including uniforms) at the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in San Mateo, CA, cost $1,700 per year, while uniforms cost an extra $60 per year.
Discounts: | |
Shopping for x-ray technician school: | |
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Article updated February 2012 |
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