The overall employment of radiologic technologists is expected to grow 9% between now and 2028, adding 23,300 jobs. That means that radiologic technologist job growth rate is much faster than the average job growth rate for all occupations.
Radiologic technologists can make great money and usually only need an associate’s degree to get started. If you’re looking for a rewarding and flexible career that will give you the opportunity to keep learning throughout your life, this might be the job for you.
Becoming a radiologic technologist isn’t the end of the road, though. Continuing education for radiologic technologists is a necessary part of maintaining your license.
Keep reading to learn more about continuing education requirements in this field and how lifelong learning can benefit you.
What is Continuing Education for Radiologic Technologists?
To maintain your American Registry of Radiologic Technologists® (ARRT®) credentials, you must comply with a series of ongoing requirements and take part in continuing education.
Here are the requirements according to their website:
- Complete an annual renewal process
- Complete and report continuing education every 2 years
- Complete Continuing Qualification Requirements every 10 years (this only applies to Registered Radiology Assistants and Radiologic Technologists who earned their credentials on or after January 1, 2011)
Regarding specific continuing education requirements, the ARRT® states:
“As an R.T.®, you must complete and report 24 credits of approved continuing education activities every two years (or 50 credits if you’re an R.R.A.®). If you’re an R.T.® in Sonography, 16 of the 24 credits must be directly related to your discipline. You’ll have specific deadlines for completing and reporting your CE activities.“
The Importance of Continuing Education
Although continuing education can seem inconvenient, it can benefit you in several ways if you make the most of it. Keep reading for some ways continuing education can benefit you.
Keeping Up With Technology
Continuing education is mandatory for those employed in technical fields for a good reason—constantly changing technology.
The medical field strives for constant improvement for the sake of patient safety and outcomes. When you decide to become a radiologic technologist, you make a commitment to lifelong learning.
Constant changes in technology, patient care, hospital policy, and new procedures will keep you challenged. Technologic advancements are constantly making it easier to take better images. Therefore, continuing education is mandatory.
Career Advancement
The radiologic technologist field rewards those who want to put in extra effort. If you’re a radiologic technologist interested in learning about new modalities, there is a world of opportunity with continuing education.
There are many modalities beyond working in a general radiology department, but getting into these modalities requires a commitment to continuing education beyond the basic requirements.
These are just a few of the modalities you can get into:
- MRI
- CT
- Radiation therapy
- Special procedures
- Nuclear medicine
- Mammography
- Sonography
- Cardiac Cath
If you pursue one or more of these specialties, you’ll have more opportunities to advance your career. You can start by choosing a continuing education course that has the 16 hour structured educational requirement to apply for the post primary exam.
Tired of being in the trenches day in and day out? Looking for something different within the field. You can earn an advanced degree and move into areas like management, sales, administration, and even education if you earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
The field of radiology is constantly growing and new positions are being created. These include the Radiologist Assistant (similar to a physician assistant but with training in radiology) and the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) administrator (a unique position including elements of radiology and IT).
Better Marketability
Employees with additional skills and training earned through continuing education are more marketable to employers. By keeping up with developments in the field through continuing education you’ll open up more opportunities for yourself.
Employees that aren’t compliant with required continuing education might be in danger of losing their licensure and their job. Completing your continuing education requirements will show employers you are ready to work for them. It will be easier for you to transition to another employer when you’re up to date.
If you go above and beyond the baseline continuing education requirements, you’ll have an edge over your competition. This may mean promotion, raises, and better job opportunities. Be sure to add your continuing education credits and accomplishments to your resume.
Personal Development
If you think you’re satisfied with your current position, continuing education can still benefit you.
Learning should be a lifelong process and committing to learning more through continuing education can help you develop personally as well as professionally. Chances are you find the field of radiology interesting. Completing continuing education can be fun and you’ll feel more confident in yourself after learning more about your field and adding skills to your resume.
If you’re only completing continuing education because you have to, take a moment to consider how you can make the most of it.
Make the Most of Your Continuing Education
Continuing education for radiologic technologists is important for the health and safety of your patients. However, continuing education doesn’t have to be something you dread and try to avoid.
We offer high quality, convenient and affordable continuing education courses that you can do online, or as a homestudy course in the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to worry about attending classes that take you away from your work or family.
We understand you are a busy professional and we strive to make achieving your continuing education requirements easy and rewarding.
Click here to view our available continuing education courses and get started.
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