HOW DO I BECOME A MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIST?

Updated November 29, 2022 · 1 Min Read

Medical imaging technologists have one of the most simultaneously mentally and physically demanding jobs in the healthcare industry. If you're interested in becoming a medical imaging technologist, you'll want to keep the following things in mind. Education And Certification Requirements The minimum entry-level education requirement for becoming a medical imaging technologist is to possess an ...

BestValueSchools.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Medical imaging technologists have one of the most simultaneously mentally and physically demanding jobs in the healthcare industry. If you're interested in becoming a medical imaging technologist, you'll want to keep the following things in mind.

Education And Certification Requirements

The minimum entry-level education requirement for becoming a medical imaging technologist is to possess an associate's degree. If you're interested in taking things further than the associate's level, you wouldn't be alone if you opted to earn your bachelor's degree through a program that is specifically targeted a medical imaging technology skill development.

Depending on the state you plan to practice in, you may or may not be required to earn an official certification in addition to your associate's or bachelor's degree. Even if it isn't necessary to become certified in your state, going the extra mile can potentially be a very effective way to distinguish yourself as a truly credible and prestigious professional in the field.

In order to be recognized as worthy of becoming a medical imaging technologist, it's necessary to demonstrate a significant degree of proficiency several core subject areas such as sonography and radiologic technology.

Skills And Training

In addition to your fundamental educational level and subject area proficiency, what's also important is that you possess a certain set of highly valuable soft skills that characterize the ideal medical imaging technologists's composure and conduct.

For starters, having pleasant interpersonal skills is absolutely crucial. No matter how much medical material you may be able to understand on a purely technical level, it will be absolutely essential that you're able to connect with other medical professionals and patients in a positive way.

Well-exercised interpersonal skills create a much less stressful environment in the facility that you operate in, increasing morale and facilitating a much better sense of morale. Your interpersonal skill level will play a large part in putting your patient's mind at ease so that they're more compelled to lower their "guard"; this can be an extremely helpful way to more easily communicate with patients who have a more tense or confrontational disposition.

Creating a more relaxed environment with strong interpersonal skills will make it easier for you to maintain the quality of three other highly important skills: dexterity, observation and stamina. Interpersonal skills are highly effective for preventing a cold, hostile aura in the facility that could gradually drain your energy and impair your focus. Some busier days may necessitate spending well over 10 hours on your feet, meaning that occasionally making time for light exercise to increase your stamina can be a highly practical habit in more ways than one.

Before you're permitted to independently carry out your practice in the field, you'll have to successfully complete a clinical training process. While most facilities will consider your completed clinical training to be a satisfactory degree of entry-level experience, the initial sessions with patients in the field can still make many new medical imaging technologists slightly on-edge due to nerves; this is a common and natural reaction to one's first legitimate experience independently carrying out a healthcare appointment, so anticipate some slight jitters and don't judge yourself too harshly when they arise. After just a few more appointments that follow the first, you'll begin to feel more relaxed and confident in your position as a medical authority.

Related resource:

The 100 Most Affordable Universities in America

Get prepared for your next steps

Use articles and resources to uncover answers to common questions, get guidance on your goals, and learn about applying to schools.

Discover a program that is right for you.

Explore different options for you based on your degree interests.