The desire to work in the medical field and interact with radiologists and patients is the first step toward becoming a radiologist assistant. The first step is to obtain certification as a radiographer or radiation technologist. Most accredited radiologist assistant programs require this as a prerequisite. After that, you must first become certified and then pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ exam in order to become state licensed.
It’s important to distinguish between radiologist assistants and radiology technologists. There are numerous instances where the two job descriptions overlap or could be used interchangeably. The main distinction is that an assistant spends more time assisting the radiologist. He’ll help with advanced radiology procedures, as well as evaluate diagnostic data and provide patient education. As a result, a candidate must first become a radiologist technologist before becoming a radiologist assistant.
A certified radiographer or radiography technology is required for most accredited radiologist assistant programs. A radiographer is a healthcare professional who administers high doses of radioactive materials to cancer patients, performs x-rays, and maintains radiology equipment. The skills learned as a certified radiographer will come in handy when working as a radiologist assistant. These programs are usually two years long and lead to an Associate’s degree.
To become a radiologist assistant, you must first complete an education program, which usually lasts two years. Pharmacology, radiologic safety, and radiation physics will all be covered in the curriculum. There will also be opportunities for hands-on experience in a clinical setting. A Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences, a Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences, or a post baccalaureate certificate are all options for radiologist assistant programs. It all depends on your prior educational background and the nature of the current program you’re pursuing.
A radiologist assistant must be certified before starting work. To ensure the quality of work, nearly every clinic or hospital that employs radiologist assistants will require certification. A minimum number of hours of clinical training and current status as a registered radiological technologist are required for certification. A graduate of an accredited radiologist assistant education program with at least a Bachelor’s degree is also required. Each year, continuing education classes must be completed in order to maintain certification.
All that’s left to do now is obtain individual state licensing to work as a radiologist assistant. Each state has its own set of requirements and procedures for obtaining a license. If a radiologist assistant relocates from one state to another, he must obtain licensure in both states. It should be noted that some states do not require any kind of licensing, but this may change as state laws change.