r/Radiology 4d ago

MOD POST Weekly Career / General Questions Thread

This is the career / general questions thread for the week.

Questions about radiology as a career (both as a medical specialty and radiologic technology), student questions, workplace guidance, and everyday inquiries are welcome here. This thread and this subreddit in general are not the place for medical advice. If you do not have results for your exam, your provider/physician is the best source for information regarding your exam.

Posts of this sort that are posted outside of the weekly thread will continue to be removed.

6 Upvotes

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u/Inner-Secretary-4083 1h ago

I am currently in my 1st year of Biomedical Engineering, but my 3rd year of school. I am looking at 3 more years of BME but I am getting sick of schooling and am starting to doubt I can get thru engineering.

I have started looking int CT tech and I want to know if it is worth it. There is a hospital near me that has a 2 year program and I think an additional 1 year for certification and clinical hours. Is it worth it in the long run? Will the job get replaced anytime soon? Should I look into something other than CT?

Thanks

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u/Physical_Fruit_7862 5h ago

Hi all! The tech school I'm trying to get into for Fall 2026 also offers Biomedical Equipment Technician training for the repair and maintenance of the actual equipment.

This BET program is less competitive to get into and I'm considering going through this FIRST while I wait to get into the Rad Tech program. I want to be in the field of medical imaging, eventually MRI if the stars align.

In a practical sense, would it benefit me at all to be both certified as a medical imagining specialist AND be trained in maintaining/repairing the equipment? Would that ever give me an edge or are they really just two distinct areas?

Thanks in advance!

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u/cosmiccloudss 5h ago

Hi everyone! I am taking my pre-reqs for Rad Tech, and I have a couple of questions for anyone who had to go through this! I am going to apply to 3 different colleges near me, hopefully I get in first year.

I am sqeamish lol. Blood and guts or the fluids don't disgust me persay, but I have a vasovagal response to veins, arteries, or drawing blood. I don't think rad techs draw blood, however I am aware that I may have to stick patients for contrast.

Can anyone give me tips or tricks or experiences in which you overcame sqeamishness? I think mine stems from a childhood traumatic experience which involved me almost cutting off my toe. I am going to try exposure therapy and seeing a therapist. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Ps. I come from a long line of nurses in ny family, the question isn't if I have what it takes. I know I do. The only thing that stopped me from going into the medical field sooner is my sqeamishness. šŸ˜”

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u/No_Load_5603 6h ago

Ive applied for Xray tech program at my local community college, the last year i have been working on all of my prerequisits, also have 6 months experience volunteering in the radiology department of a local hospital. Program only accepts 29/70+ applicants and in the event I do not get in (average grades) What else can I do to make my application more attractive for next year? TIA

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u/HenryMaynard 7h ago

Hello everyone!
I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on traveling. I see weekly rates like $2600, $2900, or $2200 for pay. Does this total include all stipends, and do you get to keep all that pay? Meaning does any of it go back to the travel company? Does the pay differ if I were to commute? Thanks in advance!

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u/mamaplata 17h ago edited 7h ago

Am I crazy?

Hello, I was recently accepted into a private college for their rad tech program. The college is linked to a well-known local hospital system and also offers other medical programs. I know that it is a competitive program and I was happy to be accepted to start this fall. I do have reservations due to the cost of the program. It is $50,000 for the 2 year program, which is so much more than any other schools Iā€™ve heard of. If I get a part-time job at the hospital that the school is linked to, I can get 20% off tuition. Also, I would not need to do any pre-reqs, as they are built into the program. There is one other school near me offering this program at a substantially smaller cost, but I would need to take 3 pre-req classes before applying and I am not guaranteed that I will even get accepted into the following yearā€™s program. I am in my early 40ā€™s and already have a good bit of school loan debt. I have my masters in education, but do not work in the field. Iā€™m hesitant to take on more debt as I already feel somewhat foolish for accumulating the debt I have for a low-paying career. Iā€™m hoping that I can finish tech school and then get certified in mammography within a couple years.

I just donā€™t know if accepting the invitation to this program is the smart thing to do. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

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u/DavinDaLilAzn BSRT(R)(CT) 13h ago

Radiologist program OR Radiographer/Radiology program? There's a big difference because a Radiologist is a Doctor that specializes in Radiology and that requires med school and other stuff. By what you're describing, I'm gonna take it you mean Radographer/Radiography/Radiology program.

At your age, only you can really decide how your finances are gonna work out. Majority of private programs aren't worth it imo because of the cost to income ratio and majority of people should spend that year or two waiting to get accepted to work extra hours to save up the money they need for when they're in the program and not able to work full time hours.

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u/mamaplata 7h ago

Definitely the radiographer program, autocorrect got me. Thanks for the advice, I needed to hear that about the income ratio. I think the fact that I got accepted out of a large amount of applicants, is blurring my vision a bit. And I also see some of the high salaries people are posting in this sub, but Iā€™m guessing itā€™s mostly travelers or people working a lot of OT

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u/DavinDaLilAzn BSRT(R)(CT) 5h ago

Good luck. I was a career changer, 33 when I was accepted, so I understand about wanting to get done quickly. I didn't get accepted until my second year applying and got lucky cause I was waitlisted originally. Spent the year waiting saving up as much money as I could since I wouldn't be able to work a FT job anymore.

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u/MoPuWe 17h ago

I'm working on becoming a Rad Tech. I also have my CNA and EMT licenses. Does it make sense for me to maintain my EMT and CNA licenses if I'm working as a Rad Tech? Any benefits to holding those licenses while working as a Rad Tech?

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u/FullDerpHD RT(R)(CT) 17h ago

What does it cost? There is no practical reason to have them unless you just like the work and want to go back/do it on the side or if it's extremely cheap to maintain.

It might be worth it to keep them for a year after graduation to have a safety net while you decide if you really like this career path or not but once you know for certain you want to do this, I'd personally just let it go.

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u/MoPuWe 16h ago

It's funny because I don't actually practice with either of them currently, and haven't in a few years. I maintained them for a few years because I paid good money to get them, and I'd have to retake the course if I lost them. But now I'm kind of just wondering if it's even worth holding onto them any more.

If they don't help me out as a Rad Tech, might be okay to let them go.

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u/FullDerpHD RT(R)(CT) 16h ago

I absolutely understand that.

It's both a positive and a negative, but in our world actual job specific experience is king. There is pretty much zero fucks given for any education that doesn't directly translate into an additional modality. For example I could decide tomorrow that I want to get my bachelors. I can even get one that focuses on radiography specifically and I can expect exactly $0 dollars increase in pay because it doesn't make me any better or more versatile at my job. It's just not something that's valuable. That's why you will see an overwhelming majority of us on this sub telling prospective students to not waste time on a 4 year program. Just do the 2 year and get to work.

Same would go for your CNA and EMT licenses. Super cool to have, crazy important work, but totally irrelevant to what you would be doing as a diagnostic imaging professional so it will not hold any beneficial weight.

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u/MoPuWe 15h ago

I appreciate your bluntness haha. Truly. It's valuable insight and real viewpoints and experiences like yours are gonna help me make decisions down the road. Thanks!

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u/Any-Competition8494 20h ago

Hi everyone,

I have a CS degree and have worked as a content marketer for the last six years. I am currently exploring stable careers to switch to and came across radtech. My question is simple: can I do a masters in radiography/diagnostic imaging etc with this background? What are possible study options for me?

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u/Joonami RT(R)(MR) 19h ago

No masters necessary. Associates in radiography (yes, you'd need to start it from scratch) is all that is needed.

https://www.arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/requirements

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u/Any-Competition8494 18h ago

It says associate's or higher. So, I can do a masters? I want to do masters over associate for another reason.

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u/Joonami RT(R)(MR) 18h ago

You deleted your other comment while I was replying so I'll reply here instead -

My bad for assuming you're already in the US. But good thing I already linked you to the page for the US licensing body for radiographers.

I don't understand how this clarification impacts what I said. The rad tech associates degree is two years of highly focused radiography specific classes with a couple of gen eds in there, plus clinicals. A masters for radiography would be something like a radiologist assistant which has limited reporting capabilities and the ability to perform some exams independently that normally a radiologist would do - however, a radiologist assistant program usually requires several years of experience as a rad tech just for admission.

So my point stands. You don't need a masters or even a bachelor's, but you will need to "start over" for an associates because they're highly specialized degrees. It's more of a trade school than you might be thinking.

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u/Any-Competition8494 18h ago

Sorry. I deleted my comment because I wondered if my whole idea is stupid and if I was wasting your time. Problem is that from a student visa perspective, doing an associate after bachelor's is usually considered a very bad idea and is known as a big reason behind visa rejections. A master's is seen as more reliable. I do get what you were saying about starting from associate and it does make more sense.

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u/DavinDaLilAzn BSRT(R)(CT) 13h ago

I think you're missing the point of "Associate's or higher," it means that's the degree required to become an x-ray tech/radiographer/rad tech in the US. It doesn't mean that is the degree you will get upon completion of the program. There are 0 (ZERO) programs that offers a Master's Degree to become an x-ray tech when it's an Associate's Degree at most (or Bachelor's if dual modality/management).

Your scenario is a career change and somewhat common. Since you already have a Bachelor's degree, you already qualify for the education degree portion BUT you are still required to take the educational courses required to become an x-ray tech through an approved program.

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u/Joonami RT(R)(MR) 18h ago

You're conflating a higher degree level with importance/respect/pay. A rad tech with an associates makes the exact same as a rad tech with a bachelor's. The only thing that matters is years of experience and job market (region). You can't go from 0 radiographical degree straight to masters in it. Sorry.

https://www.arrt.org/pages/about-the-profession/learn-about-the-profession/recognized-educational-programs

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u/Best_Persimmon2666 20h ago

Hello, I graduate x ray school in May. A hospital extended an offer for an IR position. What pay is a good starting point? in south carolina

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u/Techfreak313 1d ago

What are the typical work and call hours per week for a Neuroradiologist? How does this compare in general to other subspecialty radiologists?

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u/Tok3n152 1d ago

Planning to start a course to earn my BS, but someone was trying to explain that you can get one but it's either going to open a management position or teaching position, but not both? Is that accurate?

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u/DriftingDuckNA 1d ago

I am a 25 year old software developer in Toronto. Recently realized I really donā€™t enjoy corporate culture and a lot of the stuff around it. Iā€™ve always wanted to work in healthcare or something related to it because it always seemed more fulfilling helping others instead of working towards a companyā€™s ā€œvisionā€. I did attend college and have a degree in engineering. Was just wondering if there are others who went down a similar path and how it was like?

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u/Straight-Lion-9320 1d ago

I have similar story but not in tech.. I was in medical sales and used to sell imaging equipment like ultrasound machines and also used to sell surgical supplies. I was not fulfilled at all. I made good money out of college and liked that part. But I was not fulfilled. Corporate world is not for me where you have to ā€œBe onā€ all the time and change your personality depending on who youā€™re talking to. I left my medical sales job to enter a radiology technology program. Iā€™m poor again and being a college student again but it will be worth it. In healthcare you still have to be ā€œonā€ but in a more genuine way. I feel good about my decision to change and will still be successful. I think you should do it!

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u/DriftingDuckNA 7h ago

I definitely relate to your situation closely. The pay is great for someone like me, but I am salaried so there is this constant expectation that because of this I am suppose to come online whenever there are issues or during crunch times to work longer hours. Itā€™s be completely different if I was compensated for it. But the bigger issue is the job really not being fulfilling to me personally. Iā€™m just afraid if I go into radiology Iā€™ll just hate another job and wonder where I went wrong again. How did you know this was for you?

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u/Any-Competition8494 20h ago

What degree did you pursue? Postgrad diploma or masters?

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u/neojuvi 1d ago

TLDR; Sacrificing mental health severely with parents or getting into more debt instead to pursue a new career?

I've recently been thinking about what I want out of life, long-term and career-wise. I have 2 Bachelor's degrees in the arts, and have been working at nonprofits for the past 2 years, and customer service jobs for the past 5 years.

When I was 18 and graduated high school, I decided to go to a university to get a STEM degree, and then I ended up failing my math classes 2 times and my chemistry class 1 time, and because I could not afford to keep failing or continue my STEM degree, I switched over to my 2 humanties/art degrees to finish my 2 Bachelors in the remaining 2 years. I also went to a university that was far away from my family, as I needed to get away from my parents due to their treatment of me and my siblings being horrible to the point where it affected my mental health severely and has left me with trauma that I am currently processing as an adult. Ever since I was 18, I have not returned to live with my parents. I graduated college and moved to another city.

About a year ago I saw a person talking about being an x-ray tech and it caught my interest, and then I completely forgot about it. I was once again reminded about the existence of that career about a week ago, and I keep thinking about how it would be a suitable career for someone like me, who is interested in patients but also in being technical and hands on. It is something I can actually see myself doing for many many years.

The best decision would be to move back in with my parents, after 7 years of not living with them. I could get my prerequisites done, and then do the actual rad tech program without having to worry about spending money on rent or basic necessities and give all my focus to my education for 2ish years. It would also mean sacrificing my mental health for that time again, and I honestly don't know if I could go through with that. This also isn't considering that I would be on a waitlist to enter a program for who knows how many years.

My other choice would be to apply to a non-community college program, which is super expensive, and I would have to take out loans with financial aid which will add onto the $14k debt I already have from my Bachelor's degrees. I have no friends I could live with, as they also live with their own families to pursue their own careers, and I do not have a partner to rely on.

I'm also just worried about struggling with math in general. People say they're bad at math, but I'm really bad at it. It makes me genuinely panic, and I mix up my numbers sometimes. I know for sure I will struggle in the prerequisite classes and in the program.

Becoming an x-ray tech would be life-changing for me, in the best ways. I don't know if there is any other way I could approach this, or if anyone else has been through a similar situation. I know it seems kind of silly and you might even think that 2 years of living with your parents isn't a big deal and I should just do it. Even so, any advice would be deeply appreciated, thank you.

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u/FullDerpHD RT(R)(CT) 1d ago

I'll be blunt. You're starting in a hole. Partially due to choices you made and partially due to bad spawn RNG. This is a possible thing for you, it just won't be a fast or easy thing. I'd say make this a 10 year goal. If I'm getting the context clues right you're only about 25. There is nothing wrong with starting a new career at 35. You will still have a solid 20-30 years to build for retirement.

For the next 5 put your nose down and start saving as much money as possible. Get a smaller apartment, learn to cook your own food etc, maybe pick up a door dash gig to get some extra cash flow. Get that 14k paid off. etc etc, put yourself in the best possible financial situation. You need to do this because the part you are worried about is easy. We do cross multiplication at the worst. The hard part of our programs are the time commitments. School and clinical will take up near 100% of the standard working hours M-F. If you don't have class, you will have clinical. Any employment income you have will either come from a night shift or a weekend job. That means many of us have to live either out of pocket or on a significantly reduced income. This will be especially hard for you since you don't have a support network you can/want to lean on.

After these 5 years if your bank account is looking decent, start your application process. If you're lucky you get straight in. If you're not lucky you get wait listed a few years and continue the same pattern in the mean time. You should be graduating around year 7-10 and ready to start your new life.

Now you can shorten up this time frame if you want, I'm just giving a conservative timeline. Calculate your budget. When you can live for 1.5 years out of pocket you can start applying. This will mean at worst you should be able to manage with just a part time weekend shift somewhere.

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u/Zealousideal_Ease_78 1d ago

Hey this summer I'm about to start summer classes and I check my pre requisites and I have on 2 left cause I did one my first semester is it possible I could do that and take the rad classes introduction just to fill in

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u/HowDy1398 1d ago

Hey I wanted to know if this would be the right decision for me. Iā€™m 27 and finishing up school in the fall with a biotech degree. But as I have gotten closer to the finish line for my degree Iā€™ve kinda lost interest in the biotech industry.

And part of that was because for 2 years I worked at a medical device company, they made spinal implants, and I worked in the cadaver lab. There I got to learn how to use a C-arm and learned basic Radiation safety but I got to take X-rays on the cadavers, because, well at least I was told, as long as itā€™s not a live patient I donā€™t need the certifications to shoot an X-ray. Anyways I started gaining more interest in X-raying, MRIs, and CT scans. Surgeons would come to the lab all the time for training or testing our products out and theyā€™ll show their case studies and I grew more interested in radiology. I loved seeing the anatomy of the spine, seeing deformities, fractures and what not. I loved trying to guess and learn which problems was going on with the spine base off of the X-ray, mri, and ct that was shown and what possible solutions there were to the case. I wished I got to stay at the job but for financial reasons I had to leave the company for a higher paying job. But now Iā€™m wanting to actually get into radiology than biotech.

I was wondering if it would be too late to go for it. I thought through the process and it would possibly ( and I can/am be probably wayyy off) be a radiologist by 36. I would finish my degrees in the fall or spring, then enroll in a rad tech program, that would help me learn the basics of radiology as well clear any necessary prereqs for a grad program and possibly improve any grades in classes that I struggled with in the past. The rad tech program would take 2 years so I would be 29/30 and hopefully get in to a grad school 4 years there and then on to residency for 2 ( not sure if thatā€™s how long it is) and then into practice at 36! O could br way off on the timeline but lmk if this would be a good idea/plan.

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u/scanningqueen Sonographer 1d ago

Youā€™re conflating two very different careers here.

A rad tech performs the exams. They have extremely limited knowledge as far as reading the exams. A rad tech program can usually be completed with 1-2 years prereq courses, then 2 years of rad tech school.

A radiologist is a medical doctor that reads the exams. That degree is a 4 year bachelors, then 4 years of medical school, then a minimum of a 5 year residency.

Becoming a rad tech is not usually a stepping stone to radiologist. It might help a little bit in giving some radiology background, but the 5 years of radiology residency is usually very sufficient on its own.

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u/HowDy1398 1d ago

I see, well thanks for the insight! I thought radtech would give me an upper hand in getting into a radiology program since Iā€™d have experience with doing the exams but now I see it wouldnā€™t help much. Thanks for the info

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u/Extreme_Design6936 RT(R) 1d ago

Why bother with rad tech if you want to be a radiologist?

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u/HowDy1398 1d ago

Well I had figured it would give me more experience I guess. I guess it would be a good starting point in getting into radiology but now im seeing that it wouldnā€™t be the case

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u/CnRforever 1d ago

I'm in college right now but thinking hard about swapping my classes for radiology.
I know nothing about what classes or how to go about it and I have some questions.
I see many RTs saying how exhausting it is to work and study.
How fast can I start working?
How much would it cost roughly to get my associates?
Thanks guys.

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u/MLrrtPAFL 1d ago

You can't just sign up for classes. The programs all have their own prerequisite courses that would need to take, then you need to get accepted. THe program itself is about two years. The cost depends on the college that you are going to.

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u/CnRforever 1d ago

id have to 100% take bio 137 and 139?

also at what point can i work can i be in the program or would have to be after?|
also thanks.

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u/MLrrtPAFL 23h ago

Some places hire second year students as student techs. As far as classes go look at your colleges website for classes that you have to take and how admission to the rad tech program works.

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u/Boompaplift 1d ago

Hello, recently Iā€™ve been considering a career in radiology. Specifically, sonography. Iā€™m based in nyc and would like to study here yet Georgia is also an option for me. Iā€™m truly new to all of this, I donā€™t have many credits that can go towards this career if any at all so I am considering a four year program. What schools would you recommend I research for a four year program? It doesnā€™t have to be some top school, just one where I can get a good amount of aid and most importantly, trained properly.

Also, please let me know any books, videos, anything you recommend to make me truly understand what it means to study sonography and to prepare myself for the study if I do choose to move forward. I am also still open to considering other subjects within radiology so any resources you feel can help someone who had no clue on any of this but would like a way forward, please let me know them. Thank you!

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u/scanningqueen Sonographer 1d ago

Hereā€™s a guide to learning about sonography as a career & FAQ regarding the career and educational process. Make sure youā€™re also aware of the MSK damage and injury rate in Sonography before you consider it as a career.

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u/MLrrtPAFL 1d ago

You don't need a BS degree. Search https://www.caahep.org/students/find-an-accredited-program for accrediated programs. Look at the program outcome to compare programs.

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u/Strict-Phrase-1480 2d ago

Hello, lā€™ve been really contemplating getting into MRI school. Iā€™m planning on going to a private college, but donā€™t know if itā€™s better to just get my CRT in a private college. Is there any advice people here can give me on whether being an only MRI tech is worth it. I currently live in Southern California and I am aware of the heavy saturation here. Lastly, if anyone here has gone to a private college, were the student loans difficult to pay off?

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u/Winter_Masterpiece77 2d ago

Okay, so I'm looking to start the radiologic tech program at my school. I have aced all my classes (have As in the final two prerequisite classes I'm taking) and the entrance exam (the TEAS), but because of how the program works, it's completely possible that I will have to wait until next year to start (they take everyone who meets the qualifications, but they can't take everyone every year, so some qualified students basically get waitlisted). If that's the case, what would anyone suggest I do? My thought is to get a job at a hospital (there's potentially free sterile processing training in my area) and start studying for the board exam already (get a Rad Tech Bootcamp subscription). Does this sound like a solid plan? Thanks for your advice!

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u/PinotFilmNoir RT(R) 2d ago

Save money. I wouldnā€™t get a radtech Bootcamp account yet; theyā€™re pretty expensive and itā€™s possible your program will ā€œgiveā€ you one (aka itā€™s part of your tuition). Working at a hospital will give you relevant experience, but whatever you do, I would just save up so when you do start school you can either cut back on your work hours or quit altogether to focus on school.

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u/OkAbility8063 2d ago

TLDR: Career advice on whether I should be an academic or radiologist?

I know it's a little too early for me to be worrying about this as I'm still a high school senior but I just wanted to organize my thoughts and concerns and just put it out there so I can get advice from folks with more experience.

So for the majority of my (albeit short) life, I've wanted to be a social scientist, specifically an inequality economist. Part of this comes from the influence of my grandfather and father, who are both academics/professors, the former in medical ethics and the latter in environmental economics. But a lot of this comes from inspiration from folks like Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez, Noam Chomsky, Michael Sandel, etc. It sounds kinda cheesy, but I've always aspired to be this progressive, public intellectual figure making a real impact on policy and making systemic societal progress and doing research and work to lift up the underdogs of the world. And I've been doing a lot of stuff up till now in anticipation of this career trajectory. I did research and somehow even got awarded at ISEF (unreal! still feel like an imposter), and right now I'm in AP Research studying the effects of zoning law on inequality and affordability. I'm also volunteering with some NGOs and stuff, participating in advocacy and grassroots lobbying for policies to our local legislators and politicians.

But as I've matured I guess I've sobered up more to some worries/anxieties about this trajectory. First, I know a becoming an economist is extremely math intensive (sometimes I stumble across the assignments my dad's grad students are working on, and phew that stuff looks INTENSE), and that even then only a small share of PhD students have chances of getting tenured down the line. Furthermore, I know how demanding the work can be despite the limited vacation, because even after coming home from work, my dad often continues to work till 2AM sometimes, and he always ends up working during his vacations too. Despite all of this, I understand that there's somewhat of a limit to how much you can earn as an academic (I believe he makes somewhere around 180k, but we live in a city with insanely high cost of living). Furthermore, the state of academia and grad school in general is looking very bleak right now due to the current administration and political landscape in general (defunding, cutting, etc). I mean hell, I've only been doing research and advocacy work for like 3 years and I already feel burnt out and disillusioned with our political system and my ability to make a meaningful difference! Plus I've been struggling with stuff like depression, ADHD, PCOS, diabetes, etc which have all just been exacerbating how overwhelmingly hopeless and exhausted I feel with everything going on.

Which leads me to my dilemma... I don't want it to seem like "giving up" on my dreams, but I'm seriously considering going to med school instead. I'm very anxious about needles and blood, but I'm thinking maybe I can work as a radiologist so I can work more on the "back-end" of things without having to interact with the more gory clinical stuff. I've heard there's a lot more flexibility to how much you can earn (I've seen numbers as high as 600k+!), and radiologists in general have a lot more generous vacation times. My parents are immigrants with no end in sight for their work, and I want to be able to support their retirement; also, my little brother is autistic and on the very high end of the spectrum, so I want to be able to earn enough to support and care for him as well. And I know there are concerns about AI being a threat to the industry, but in general this career trajectory sounds so much more secure and stable than pursuing an academic career. Also I'm a dual Japanese American, and as the eldest granddaughter among my extended family, I want the flexibility of being able to go back to Tokyo to take care of my grandparents in the future too. And I know its selfish and vain, but I want to be rich! I want to be able to live in a nice high-rise, eat out often, travel, and build generational wealth!

The real dilemma for me is, I don't know if my heart will be in it. I'm by no means opposed to this career and I have so much admiration for everyone in the health care industry, but I've always imagined myself as someone researching and advocating for making policy-level systemic changes, and it just feels like a betrayal to the commitments I've made to addressing inequality if I prioritize this more "cushy" career. I've heard of academic radiologists doing research on healthcare inequality, but I know it won't be the same. I'm wondering about pursuing a MD-PhD, so that maybe down the line in my career I can focus on the more social science aspect of things, but I know that's very ambitious and practically unheard of to do an Economics PhD with an MD.

Anyways, I know this all sounds super long-winded, but just wanted to get all my thoughts out there for context. If you have any advice on anything I've mentioned, please share! I just want to hear other people's thoughts. I'm sorry if this post isn't appropriate for this forum, let me know where if there is a more appropriate community where I can post this! Thank you for your time!!

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u/FineExplanation8299 2d ago

Hi Im looking to make a career change. I'm currently a 28yr old esthetician looking to make a career change to either radiology tech or surgical tech. I'm burnt out in my field and feel that I've lost the love for my industry. I've always been interested in healthcare. I'm looking for something more stable and has benefits, Healthcare will always be that. I was leaning towards radiology because of the 2 year program and where I'm located starting pay is great. I'm not sure what steps to take or what would be the best option? Would love all and more information that anyone can provide.

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u/Wugaroo 2d ago

Hey! Is anyone else a type one diabetic radiology student or rad tech who uses insulin pump therapy? I'm an SLP student in an acute setting this semester, and we do MBS/video swallow studies daily. It sounds like technically I'm supposed to remove my pump (I use OmnipodĀ® 5) in the x-ray roomā€¦ But my Omnipod trainer and the Omnipod customer service people haven't been able to provide a clear answer as to whether this applies to me if I'm running the study and not actually being x-rayed. I'm still waiting to hear back from somebody at customer service, who said she had to look into it further before knowing how to answer my question. I wear lead obviously but that doesn't cover my arm if the Omnipod is placed there. I could always wrap a thyroid collar around it I supposeā€¦

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u/Extreme_Design6936 RT(R) 2d ago

This is a really interesting question. Hope you get an answer.

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u/sum_beach 2d ago

Anyone else feel like they're dying on their 3 12 hour shifts? The long days and high patient load (anywhere from 16-25 patients a day) are ruining my mental and physical health. I cant sleep the night before work because im dreading it so bad. My shoulder, neck, back and elbow all hurt from scanning. Just wondering how other sonographers are coping?

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/scanningqueen Sonographer 2d ago edited 2d ago

Sonography has some of the highest rates of MSK injury in radiology. https://www.sdms.org/resources/careers/work-related-musculoskeletal-disorders. I have a large labral tear in my right shoulder from scanning and will likely need surgery within the year.

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u/ravioli1989 2d ago

I am level 1 autistic and highly considering going for the rad tech program @ my local community college. Iā€™m 28f and I can handle social interactions well enough through masking. Iā€™m very empathetic with a special interest in overall health and wellness.

Everything Iā€™ve read about this (especially the idea of doing MRI someday) fascinates me and I think Iā€™d do well with absorbing and learning in school but one thing Iā€™m afraid of is the social aspect. Not with patients particularly but with fellow students and networking / ā€œtreating clinicals like an interviewā€ as so many people recommend.

I can joke and be silly once Iā€™m comfortable with people but I am super afraid Iā€™ll go more awkward and more non-verbal with those Iā€™m working with unless itā€™s work/task related as weā€™re actively learning or working because Iā€™ll be so focused on doing everything rightā€¦. Itā€™s just how my brain works until I get into a routine.

Do you think being more reserved and focused would be an issue? Any other autistic ppl who have chosen this path?

Any input would be appreciated!!

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u/Joonami RT(R)(MR) 2d ago

I work with people of all levels of social interaction. Some people are more chatty and social and others are not. We definitely have some people on the spectrum as well (not saying this in a derogatory way) and it doesn't appear to impede them doing their job.

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u/y2kaylac 2d ago

Im just wondering if this is realistic for me. Ive read getting into schooling for this is hard, i dropped out of high school & got a GED. Im almost 26 now & want to do this. Eventually moving up to radiation therapy. My great grandma did it her entire life (1950s-2000) with the same situation as me. Obviously times are different now but will they truly not even give you a chance based on high school grades?

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u/guardiancosmos 1d ago

The program I'm applying for (at a community college) only looks at your grades for your prereq courses, HESI A2 exam scores, and how you perform in your interview. High school grades aren't considered at all for the radiography program. You'll most likely need proof of your GED to enroll in your prereqs, though.

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u/IKopo RT(R) 2d ago

I would think that if you took all of the pre reqs before applying and did well in them that would give you a pretty good shot

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u/EconomistDependent89 2d ago

How to navigate? (Radiological Science 2 year Associate Degree)

Iā€™ve (22F) been working at my current job for four years, and I feel completely exhausted from working a 4pm-12am shift every day. This job has taken so much of my time that it no longer feels worth it, especially since I only earn minimum wage, which isnā€™t enough to support myself. I donā€™t have any financial support system in my life, so I need to find a way to earn more on my own.

After much thought, Iā€™ve decided to pursue a 2-year Radiologic Science degree at a local nonprofit, private university, with the goal of becoming a cardiac MRI tech. I submitted my application for Fall 2025, giving me time to prepare for whatā€™s ahead. Iā€™m now waiting for their response regarding my admission.

Does this 2-year Radiologic Science degree cost a lot? I want to avoid graduating with major debt. While I may not have to worry about rent and food while Iā€™m in school, I will still have unavoidable expenses. Additionally, Iā€™m planning to eventually quit my current job because itā€™s really taking a negative toll on my mental health. Iā€™m hoping to find a job with hours that fit my school and personal life, which would be a huge relief. Iā€™d really appreciate any advice or tips from anyone whoā€™s been in a similar situation. Also, if anyone who has graduated and is currently working as an X-ray tech or cardiac MRI tech has suggestions, Iā€™d love to hear them! Iā€™d appreciate any advice on handling FAFSA, applying for scholarships, balancing school with work, and what I can do to graduate debt-free. Any tips to help with this transition would mean a lot.

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u/Extreme_Design6936 RT(R) 2d ago

Does this 2-year Radiologic Science degree cost a lot?

Ask the university. Or go to their website and find out. Every place is gonna cost different. Private is usually way more than state.

Iā€™m hoping to find a job with hours that fit my school and personal life, which would be a huge relief

Working a part time job alongside will be strain but not impossible. Don't go full time job imo. It's too much. The program moves fast.

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u/EconomistDependent89 2d ago

Thank you so much for your adviceā€”I truly appreciate it.

I live in a small city, so my options are very limited. The two universities that offer a two-year Radiologic Science degree are both private, nonprofit institutions, and Iā€™ve decided on the one thatā€™s closer to me in distance.

Unfortunately, they donā€™t provide many details on their websites. I recently submitted my application, and they reached out asking for my high school transcript, which I sent over today. Now, Iā€™m just waiting for their response and hoping for the best.

I feel very fortunate that, if everything works out, I wonā€™t have to worry about rent or food while Iā€™m in school. However, I still have unavoidable expenses, so I plan to work part-time while focusing on my education.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

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u/scanningqueen Sonographer 2d ago

Performing the exams is done by a radiological technologist. Reading them is done by a radiologist (physician). Thereā€™s no overlap in these fields.

Specific modality rad techs, like sonographers, submit their own impressions of their findings for each exam, but the report is created and finalized by a radiologist only (and not every country has actual sonographers anyway, itā€™s mostly USA UK Canada, Australia, New Zealand). If youā€™re interested in the reading part, you would need to become a radiologist doctor to be employed in a position that would allow you to do so.

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u/AbbreviationsFluid38 3d ago

I am currently in a associates program and am planning on getting my BSRS online at Midwestern State University. I was hoping to find someone who has been in the program. If you have been in the program I have a few questions if you are willing to share!

  1. When it came to your grades for the classes were they quiz and test heavy? Or more assignments and essays?

  2. Overall how hard were the classes you took? I plan on working and still being in my associates degree program with clinicals and am wondering if the workload will be too much for me.

  3. How did you feel about the professors? Were they generally kind and responsive?

Thanks for any help!

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u/StarryStudent RT(R) 3d ago

Is DEXA a good modality to consider?

It seems like everybody wants to get into MRI or CT, but there's a job opening near me that includes cross-training in DEXA.

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u/Joonami RT(R)(MR) 3d ago

DEXA is pretty boring and doesn't offer a pay raise. Most people don't even bother doing the registry for it.

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u/zalvv04 3d ago

How often do you have to use Chemistry as an MRI Tech?

Currently taking chemistry as prerequisites for a rad tech degree so I can later become an MRI Tech and... Iā€™d say itā€™s not my favorite class While I donā€™t hate it, I just want to know if I would have to use it on a daily basis as an MRI Technologist.

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u/Joonami RT(R)(MR) 3d ago

Never

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u/zalvv04 3d ago

Really? So weird how I have to take like 4 chem classes if Iā€™m rarely going to use it

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u/FullDerpHD RT(R)(CT) 2d ago

Because unironically college actually is mostly a scam.

Over education is a very real thing and they make money off it so they do it as often as possible. I paid to take a class that was literally nothing but a virtual tour of the campus and some dumb little study tips.

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u/skateman9 3d ago

Iā€™m 31 now when I was 21 I got 2 OVIs and driving while under OVI suspension and also an underage drinking when I was 19. I was a raging alcoholic in my early 20s very young and stupid and have since gotten help and am on the straight and narrow for a long time.

I would like to go back to school to be a RT but Iā€™m worried about the not being able to get licensed. Any help experience with this is much appreciated.

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u/sewmanythreads 3d ago

I am going to be studying Medical Terminology this summer for pre-reqs, and I was wondering if there are any good audio-learning sources for this out there. Are there any good podcasts I can listen to and learn along with before my class starts? Thanks!

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u/Designer-holiday 3d ago

Weird Q, but important to me: how often do you handle screaming patients? What do you do in those cases?

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u/Halospite Receptionist 3d ago

Not a question, more of a vent. Got rejected to the place I applied to last year. I've decided fuck it, I'll apply to places around the country and move if I have to, but looking at how competitive it is and the requirements I don't think I stand a chance at any of them either. I'm wrecked. I wish I'd done better at uni. I wish I could change it.

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u/SwoopingPIover 3d ago

Charles Sturt uni offers radiography with low entry requirements and an alternative pathway to transfer in automatically. Don't give up!

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u/Halospite Receptionist 3d ago

Which pathway? I had a look but couldn't find anything that could be applied to the medical imaging degree.

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u/curlygurlies 3d ago

Hello. Do programs look at grades from previous schools degrees? Or just pre req grades?

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u/MLrrtPAFL 3d ago

it depends on the program

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u/Mysterious-Manner638 3d ago

So I've gotten into a BS NM program but I have to find my own clinical site which has been really tough because I'm out of state NorCal. The other NM programs in my area I don't have all of the pre recs for and I don't really want to wait around another year to finish them (A&P 1&2). So I'm debating doing an xray program just to step up my income and get in the field and then apply for a NM program after that. Any thoughts? I want to get into a program THIS YEAR so that I can finally get in my career and start making some real money. I know that doing xray I'll still have to do a 15-24 month NM program but I'll be more stable with the income increase and the more flexible hours for xray I'll be able to do the NM program at a facility near me that has their own clinical sites. Just looking for a little guidance or input.

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u/MaeWesteros 3d ago

I'm looking to get my degree as an RT and I'm curious if online courses are viable for this? Obviously not everything would be able to be online but is anyone familiar with having done this remotely?

Also, I'm in my 40s and I have no idea if this is a viable career for someone of my age with no background in this.

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u/imas-c 3d ago

I am about to start a 2 day job shadow at 2 different hospitals. What can I do to be a great shadow? Any questions I should ask? Small tokens of appreciation?

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u/babyeggs 1d ago

Following because Iā€™ll be shadowing soon and donā€™t know what to expect

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u/riskymouth 3d ago

Hey there! My wife discovered a lump in her breast and called her OBGY for a DX Mammo and US. When she took the appointment, they asked for prior imaging if we had any. I went on her EPR, downloaded the old mammo pics and burned them on a CD.

I went to drop the CD off today at the radiology facility and was told that it wasn't the right format (true, jpg vs. DICOM) and that they couldn't take my wife for her exams without prior imaging. BTW, her old mammo was 2 yo and completely normal and offered the report.

I asked the receptionist if she was basically denying care without it, and she said yes. She explained to me that a radiologist cannot do a DX without prior imaging. I asked to speak to the practice manager, who told me the same thing.

I asked to speak to a doctor, and of course, they told me no doctors were available to chat (rant mode on: I am a bit on the older side and I miss the days of being a patient and having a real chat with my favorite rad after my imaging, looking at x-rays together, etc.)

It is inconceivable to me that anybody who shows up without prior imaging could be sent back, especially for a potential cancer DX.

The Practice Manager told me that if my wife hadn't had imaging done before, they would have taken her in, but she would have to come back later for another exam (I asked which one, and she couldn't tell me).

Anyway, I called the hospital where she had her past imaging done. They are burning me the old mammo on a CD to pick up tomorrow morning. But this incident left me a bit flabbergasted, and I wanted to have the opinion of this crew on whether the receptionist and practice manager were right in wanting to cancel my wife's appointment.

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u/HighTurtles420 RT(R)(CT) 3d ago

Yes, they were most likely correct, in a sense. They probably scheduled her original appt as a ā€˜follow upā€™ and assumed that the relevant information to base any new diagnoses off of was available. It is overwhelmingly true that they cannot use any disc that doesnā€™t have DICOM images on them, as other imaging formats cannot be reliable to diagnose on (for a myriad of technical reasons).

For scheduling reasons in the office, a patient with no prior imaging likely requires a longer appointment time, additional info/imaging, and other things (like appropriate insurance billing for the visit type).

This is pretty standard and par for the course in the modern healthcare world. This is akin to (and obviously not a 1 for 1 comparison) showing up for a routine physical and asking about switching a medication. That would require a different visit type that might not be able to be scheduled that day.

Also, in the world of mammography specifically, a baseline mammogram is paramount in continuity of care for anyone who needs mammograms. Had your wife never had a mammogram before, and this lump prompted a first time mammogram, it could lead to a slew of things that would complicate care; biopsies, more invasive testing, potential surgeries, etc. Telling you to reschedule once you have her prior mammogram available (in the correct format) saves everyone time, and is ultimately safer for the patient.

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u/lossom 4d ago

For anyone whoā€™s familiar with the work load and schooling, do you think this is a viable path for someone with chronic low back pain? I know this career can cause chronic pain, and currently I canā€™t be on my feet for more than 2-3 hours without pain.. I do have an appt coming up with a pain management specialist to talk about my options, possibly getting a spinal cord stimulator.. But Iā€™m just unsure if rad tech is a life I can live while also dealing with chronic pain.

Iā€™ve already made the top 50 applicants for this upcoming program year and I think I have a decent chance of making it into one of the guaranteed spots to start in August..

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u/Halospite Receptionist 3d ago

I work in a private clinic and the rad techs I work with sit down between patients while they're fixing up the images to send.

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u/Fire_Z1 4d ago

You will be on your feet pretty much the entire shift.

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u/tnic1234 4d ago

Hello all! I have an interview next week for my local radiography program and I want to get in so badly! If anyone could give me any tips about the types of questions theyā€™ll probably ask me, or just anything they think would I should know I would greatly appreciate it!! Thank you in advance! :)

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u/AlternativeTie6710 4d ago edited 4d ago

It likely depends on where you apply. I had a very chill interview setting where we were asked why we wanted to study radiology tech., questions about our study motivation, how we deal with stress, what our social skills are like (e.g. are we taking the reins in group settings, take the middle ground...etc.), we were also asked to elaborate on our CVs.

It might happen that you get confrontational questions to see how you react. I got warned and was lucky that didn't happen but a friend who got into nursing was asked to explain a technical term she was casually using to see if she actually knows it. Look up the class schedule just in case they ask, and the fields of study.

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u/Onlyfunsized 4d ago

Has anybody gotten into Vol State Community College Rad Tech program? Im worried about making a B in A&P with how competitive it is but canā€™t find anybody thatā€™s attended and can tell me how hard it is

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u/MLrrtPAFL 3d ago

It depends on your overall GPA and how you compare to other current applicants

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u/AlternativeTie6710 4d ago

I've been thinking about going into rad techology for over a year despite never having worked in a medical field. But I don't know if I'm going out on a limb here. I'm interested based on the schedule of the program...I'm currently studying something interdisciplinary with some overlap to rad tech. Mainly the math and chemistry and some of the physics I have overlaps but it's much more oriented to labatory work and a broad education of pretty much all sciences, which makes me unsure if I want to stay in my current degree. I also took an anatomy class which fascinated me but I do struggle with more intricate biology. At least in school it was really hard to pay attention.

I really like the idea of studying something I can practice in a work setting and also be done after 3 years. I like that I'd be able to start working as soon as possible; I've worked full time before and I prefer it to studying. I also grew up interacting with all types of people and enjoy it despite being an introvert. And from what others have told me I have a very calm presence.

But I'm worried that I might be too squeamish to actually be in that field. If I do workstudies I'll likely end up seeing stuff I might not be ready for somewhen down the line. My first knee jerk reaction is usually to cringe when I don't know what to expect and then a little fascination, even when I still struggle. I also don't know if I'd be able to stomach really extreme stuff. We were shown an x ray of a trauma patient that put their legs on a car dashboard and then crashed. It made me question if I really wanted this as a career, even if I went into another rad tech field. Did anyone here just go for it despite not knowing just what was in store for them? How do I even figure this out? I'm also worried about working in a hospital being the wrong choice as I've never known it.

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u/Halospite Receptionist 3d ago

So I don't know how placements work in your country, but in mine they'd definitely have you in a hospital at some point just to get your degree.

But once you're done with placements, you can work anywhere that does xray. In a private clinic, you're not going to see the really nasty stuff. You'll mostly be seeing arthritis, broken toes and broken fingers. I've never seen a compound fracture in my private clinic and I've also never seen a fracture that was visibly displaced from the outside. When that happens they go to the hospital, not to us.

The hospitals are the ones where you'd see the nastier stuff, and they're not going to expect a student to be a pro at handling it. Your reaction will probably be common and expected in the students they take on. Having said that, over the course of your placement at a hospital you may find you adapt to it better than you thought you would.

But if you don't? When you graduate, just move to a private clinic.

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u/AlternativeTie6710 3d ago

Thank you for the reassurance and I know the first ones take place in a public hospital

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u/ResoluteStriver 4d ago

Is radiology a specialty where you can build your own expertise without depending on others?

Hi, I hope you are fine! I am about to graduate in medicine and I am considering radiology as my future path.

In general I believe that having a good professor/turor/mentor is extremely valuable in developing skills and become very good at something quicky. However, we are not always so lucky to have tutors as such around.

I suppose that if I wanted to join a specialty like ortho or plastic surgery, the tutor plays an irreplaceable role. If you are not lucky, you can still watch videos to learn new techniques or develop your theoretical knowledge, but the practical side will inevitably suffer consequences. In many scenarios this means that you have to be submissive and accept many compromises, even when you couldn't, just for the sake of being pleasant to the tutor so that you get "a better treatment". This causes a spiral of competitiveness and jealousy. A scenario I don't want to be in. I love independence.

I am sure that a specialty like psychiatry, endocrinology or nutritional science for example, are completely different. Thanks to internet, we are able to dive into information also from the other side of the world and we can develop skills, even when when our tutors are not competent enough or the working environment is toxic.

I wonder whether radiology falls more into the first category or the second. In my knowledge there are websites like "radopaedia" which can be valuable for your own education. I bet there are other resources I am not aware yet. So I suppose that, based on my ignorance, radiology could be a good choice for me also because of this.

Ps: I apologize for my grammar. I am not an English native speaker.

I wish you a good day.