The X-ray technician is a fast-growing job in the healthcare industry.
The average salary of an x-ray tech is $28,000 per year.
It’s not hard to become an x-ray technician.
You’ll need to complete some training and get certified by the state.
How To Become X Ray Tech
In the healthcare sector, x-ray and other imaging technologies are used to detect and diagnose health problems such as cancer, broken bones and other abnormalities in the body. X-ray technicians – also known as radiographers – often work in a hospital’s radiology department as part of a team of medical professionals. If you like the idea of working with these advanced tools, a job as an x-ray technician might be suitable for you. In this article, we discuss how to become an x-ray technician, including their responsibilities, salary, skills and specialisations.
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What is an x-ray technician?
In one specialism – diagnostic radiography – x-ray technicians are responsible for producing diagnostic images to detect abnormalities in the body such as bone fractures, tumours, foreign objects and internal injuries. They do this by positioning a patient’s body and taking pictures using x-rays and other imaging techniques such as ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), angiography, fluoroscopy and CT (computerised tomography). In a different specialism, therapeutic radiographers work as part of a team of medical professionals to deliver radiotherapy as a treatment for cancer.
Related: How to become a therapeutic radiographer
How to become an x-ray technician
If you’re interested in working in the healthcare sector, you may want to know how to become an x-ray technician. Pursuing a career as an x-ray technician can provide good job security due to consistent growth in this medical field. Take the following steps to follow this career path:
1. Earn a secondary school certificate
Before you can apply for any x-ray technician degree course, one of the requirements is to earn your general certificate of secondary education (GCSEs). This is the first step in your journey to becoming an x-ray technician. Entry requirements into an undergraduate radiography degree are five GCSEs, including English and mathematics.
2. Complete a degree
Complete your bachelor’s degree in a radiography programme such as radiography (diagnostic radiography) or radiography (radiotherapy and oncology). To find a degree course, check the list of programmes approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It takes three years to complete the undergraduate degree if you enrol for full-time study and six years for part-time. If you’re in Scotland, it may take four years of full-time study.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a science-related course, consider applying for a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) course that lasts up to two years. Some of the subjects covered in postgraduate courses include anatomy, ethics, physiology, physics, management, sociology and imaging. The course is a mix of study and clinical placement to learn both theories and practices.
Another route is a therapeutic or diagnostic radiographer integrated degree apprenticeship. This combines work with studying part-time to become qualified in one of these specialisms. You can also consider getting a radiography assistant job and working hard to get to the assistant practitioner level. In this position, you can obtain the permission and support of your employer to study part-time while also working to become a qualified radiographer.
3. Register as a practitioner
After completing one of the approved courses, you must then register as a practitioner with the HCPC before you are eligible to apply for jobs. You can also apply to become a member of the Society of Radiographers.
4. Apply for jobs
Most x-ray technicians in the UK work in public hospitals. Others find job opportunities in private hospitals and clinics through the Society of Radiographers. Before applying for a job:
- Write your x-ray technician CV template which you will later tailor to specific applications.
- When preparing your CV for a particular role, check the job description so you can structure the CV according to the employer’s requirements.
- Ensure you highlight your work experience, skills, certifications and other essential information in the CV.
- Include a summary statement that states what you want to achieve in this career path.
- Be clear on your work experience. Rather than making a generic statement like, ‘examination of imaging procedures performed on patients’, write ‘identified and diagnosed medical issues with skeletal structure, such as ruptures or breakages, by reviewing x-ray images of patients.’
Related: How to write a stand out CV (with advice and templates)
5. Continue with professional development
After becoming a qualified radiographer, you may go through a period of preceptorship where you learn the workplace policies and other procedures. You might work under a senior colleague, who you can learn from and share your clinical experience with. After completing your preceptorship, it’s necessary to stay updated on technological advancements relevant to your specialism.
It’s also important to continue your professional development if you want to remain registered with the HCPC. This continued development is officially known as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). If you’re a member of the Society of Radiographers, you can benefit from their CPD support through seminars, conferences and courses. Consider earning a postgraduate degree, either a master’s or PhD, as part of your professional development.
Related: How to become a radiologist: with steps and FAQs
Responsibilities of an x-ray technician
The following are some of the responsibilities of an x-ray technician:
- assessing patients and their clinical requirements
- performing different radiographic examinations on patients
- ensuring radiation safety in the work area
- checking equipment for malfunctions and errors
- supervising patients and staff visiting radiation work areas
- working with radiologists and surgeons to carry out complex examinations
- supporting the patient’s physical and psychological needs
- supervising imaging support assistants
- staying updated with radiation regulations and other health and safety guidelines
Skills for an x-ray technician
The following are some of the skills and attributes an x-ray technician needs to have:
- communication skills
- attention to detail
- decision-making skills
- ability to work under pressure
- technical skills
- compassion
Related: How to improve your attention to detail
The salary of an x-ray technician
The average national salary for an x-ray technician is £34,695 per year. Your level of education, training and location determine the amount of compensation you can receive. Your employer can also have a large effect on your earnings, with private institutions typically paying more.
The working environment for x-ray technicians
If you’re interested in seeking a career as an x-ray technician, it’s important to know the working conditions. You may experience the following as an x-ray technician:
- Frequent radiation exposure: If your role requires you to carry out medical imaging with the use of radiation, you may be exposed to radiation on a daily basis. However, the exposure is minimal if the proper precautions are taken.
- Long periods of standing**:** Due to the accuracy and precision that medical imaging requires, x-ray technicians might spend hours standing to ensure that they have a detailed and precise image.
- Long working hours: Depending on their employer, an x-ray technician might be required to work long hours as part of their full-time contract. In some cases, they may work on weekends too.
Related: Types of work environments (plus how to improve yours)
Where x-ray technicians work
The following are some of the places an x-ray technician might work:
Healthcare facilities
A hospital is the most common place of employment for x-ray technicians. They work with doctors and nurses throughout a patient’s diagnosis and treatment. In a hospital, x-ray technicians are most likely to work in the radiology and imaging departments. Aside from these departments, you may work in the intensive care unit, neonatal unit, A&E or operating theatres.
If you work in a hospital’s A&E department, you might perform diagnostic imaging at the bedside or in an examination room. X-ray technicians require speed and precision to work in this environment. In an operating theatre, they perform imaging before, during and after a medical procedure following the surgeon’s requirements.
Other establishments
If you don’t want to work in a hospital, you may wish to consider opportunities in research establishments or veterinary practices. Non-medical settings that require x-ray technicians are prisons, customs and excise and the armed forces. You could also work for a company that manufactures equipment as the application specialist. You act as a sales representative or train hospital staff on how to use new equipment.
Areas of specialisation for an x-ray technician
Here are some areas you may choose to specialise in as you progress in your career:
- magnetic resonance imaging MRI
- Mammography (breast screening)
- nuclear medicine
- computerised tomography (CT) scanning or sonography
- medical ultrasound
- trauma/accident and emergency
- interventional radiography
Related: How to become a sonographer
Is an x-ray technician the right job for you?
There are many employment opportunities available to students studying a radiography programme. Nonetheless, as with any other aspect of science, success requires dedication and study. Thus, it’s essential to dedicate time and effort to become a qualified x-ray technician.
