How to Become a Radiologic Technologist

Medical imaging sits at the center of modern diagnosis. Every day, radiologic technologists step into exam rooms, ICU bedsides, and operating rooms to capture the images physicians rely on to identify fractures, detect tumors, guide surgery, and plan cancer treatment. If a career in health care appeals to you, one that combines technology with direct patient care, becoming a radiologic technologist can open that door in roughly two years.

This guide walks you through the full path: what the role involves, the education you need, the ARRT certification exam you’ll sit for, and the pathways that let radiologic technologists specialize in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography, radiation therapy, and more.

What Does a Radiologic Technologist Do?

A radiologic technologist, sometimes called a radiographer or x-ray tech, is a healthcare professional who operates medical imaging equipment to produce diagnostic images of the human body. Those images help physicians and radiologists make diagnoses, monitor treatment, and guide procedures.

Core responsibilities include:

• Preparing and positioning patients for imaging exams
• Operating x-ray equipment, CT scanners, and other medical imaging equipment
• Administering contrast agents when ordered by a physician
• Reviewing patient histories and doctors’ orders before performing imaging procedures
• Following radiation safety protocols and using safety equipment to limit radiation dose
• Evaluating diagnostic images for quality and relaying them to radiologists
• Explaining procedures and providing instructions to patients and family members throughout the examination
• Maintaining and calibrating imaging equipment

One common misconception among prospective students is that the role is mostly technical, that radiologic technologists spend their days pushing a button while a machine does the work. Dr. Wyatt, Program Director of Keiser University’s Radiologic Technology program at the Daytona Beach campus, has heard this idea for more than two decades.

“People go, ‘oh, just push the button,’ but pushing the button requires understanding and knowledge of how the x-ray beam is going to be created for that particular exam. The pushing of the button requires an understanding of everything that’s attached to that button. And as they go out in the field, they understand the importance of empathy with the patient. Because although you know you have to take a hand that looks like this, without understanding the patient, the communication, and the empathy, it doesn’t matter how well you set the technical factors.” — Dr. Wyatt, Program Director, Keiser University Radiologic Technology Dept.

A Day in the Life of a Radiologic Technologist

No two days look the same. A technologist’s schedule depends on the facility, the shift, and whether they’re training into a second modality. Dr. Wyatt describes three common patterns for an entry-level radiologic technologist in a hospital setting.

• Portable imaging rotation: starting the morning with a list of bedside x-rays in ICU and surgical units, moving from room to room with portable x-ray equipment.
• Operating room rotation: supporting orthopedic, vascular, or cardiovascular procedures in the OR, capturing images in real time while physicians operate.
• Department rotation: staying in the imaging department to handle routine x-ray exams, chest radiographs, abdominal work, extremity studies, as patients are scheduled throughout the day.

Technologists who are training into computed tomography or another modality may spend part of the day on their primary assignment and the rest in on-the-job training on the modality’s equipment. The work involves long periods of standing, patient handling, and close coordination with nurses, clinicians, and other technologists.

Radiology Technician (Radiologic Technologist)  vs. Radiologist vs. Radiation Therapist vs. Sonographer: What’s the Difference? 

The job titles sound similar, but they describe different roles:

• Radiology technician / Radiologic Technologist: a healthcare professional who performs imaging procedures. Most hold an associate’s degree and earn certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
• Radiologist: a licensed physician who completed medical school plus a residency in diagnostic radiology.  Radiologists interpret the images a technologist captures.
• Registered Radiologist Assistant (R.R.A.): an advanced-practice radiologic technologist who holds a master’s degree and works under a radiologist’s supervision.
• Radiation Therapist: a professional who uses radiation to treat patients, typically as part of a cancer care team, rather than to produce diagnostic images.
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: a professional who uses ultrasound (no ionizing radiation) to produce images of organs, blood vessels, cardiac structures, and developing babies.

Dr. Wyatt often explains these distinctions to students deciding between Keiser’s imaging programs.

” Diagnosis was always a guessing game. X-ray gave the ability to create an image which would determine whether there is a pathology or not. And we become the eyes of the doctor. Sonography is done without the use of ionizing radiation, and it requires an individual who has good hand-eye coordination. Radiation therapists use the destructive properties of x-ray, they’re part of a team that treats the disease with radiation, rather than taking a pill.” — Dr. Wyatt

Steps to Become a Radiologic Technologist

Most students follow the same five-step path into the field.

Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma or GED

A high school diploma or GED is the baseline requirement for any radiologic technology program. Coursework in biology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, and math will strengthen your application and prepare you for the science-heavy curriculum ahead.

Step 2: Complete an Accredited Radiologic Technology Program

An associate’s degree is the standard entry point, with a two-year Associate of Science serving as the most common pathway. Bachelor’s programs can help students prepare for supervisory, educational, or advanced clinical roles.

When you compare radiologic technologist programs, focus on programmatic accreditation. The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) accredits programs that meet the educational standards required for ARRT eligibility. Three organizations work together to shape your education: the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) writes the curriculum, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) writes the certification exam based on that curriculum, and JRCERT oversees how programs deliver the education.

Coursework in an accredited radiologic technology program includes:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Medical terminology
• Principles of physics and imaging procedures
• Radiation protection and patient safety
• Radiographic pathology and image evaluation
• Patient care techniques
• Clinical rotations in real healthcare facilities

Clinical training is where classroom learning becomes clinical competency. At Keiser’s Daytona Beach campus, Dr. Wyatt structures the program as a ladder: students learn a body region in class, simulate it in the lab, and then demonstrate competency on that region during a clinical rotation before moving to the next.

“The program is a step program. It’s like a ladder. One class builds upon the other. Rather than sending out the students all at once to do all of their x-rays from head to toe, we divide the learning process into different steps. That way it gives them a better understanding of that particular exam that they’re doing. By the final clinical, they can step into the clinical setting without blinking an eye.” — Dr. Wyatt

Step 3: Pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Certification Exam

After you complete an accredited program, you’ll sit for the ARRT radiography exam. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists awards the registered radiologic technologist (R.T.) credential once you meet three requirements: education, ethics, and examination. You can read the full ARRT primary eligibility pathway here.

If you are using AART’s primary pathway to seek a credential, you must earn an associate’s degree within three years of finishing your radiologic technology program. You also have three years after program completion to establish ARRT eligibility and apply for certification and registration.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers require or prefer to hire technologists who are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

Step 4: Meet State License Requirements

Most states require radiologic technologists to hold a state license in addition to ARRT certification. In Florida, the Department of Health regulates radiologic personnel and recognizes ARRT certification as part of its licensure process.

Requirements vary, so check the rules for any state where you plan to practice before you graduate.

Step 5: Keep Your Certification Current with Continuing Education

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists requires registered technologists to complete 24 approved continuing education credits every two years to maintain certification. Technologists certified on or after January 1, 2011 also complete Continuing Qualifications Requirements every ten years. Continuing education is the main pathway into post-primary certifications in specialized areas, without going back for another degree.

Patient Care: The Human Side of Medical Imaging

The technology attracts attention, but patient care is what separates a competent technologist from the one patients remember for the right reasons.

You’ll explain imaging procedures to people who are often anxious, injured, or in pain. You’ll position patients who can’t move easily. You’ll answer questions from family members and coordinate with nurses, clinicians, and schedulers through every shift.

The skills that matter most include social perceptiveness, clear communication, critical thinking under time pressure, attention to detail when calibrating equipment and evaluating diagnostic images, and empathy during procedures that can feel intimidating to patients.

When asked to name the single non-technical skill that most determines a student’s success, Dr. Wyatt didn’t hesitate.

“You may know all the skills in the world, but you cannot communicate to that patient who has a broken neck of how you’re going to take that x-ray and have them collaborate with you, everything becomes futile. Especially when you’re dealing with children, put yourself at their level. Talk to them at their level; they are the patient. Don’t look at the parents. Look at the patient. In doing so, you’ll get more buy into the procedure that you are doing.” — Dr. Wyatt

Radiation Safety and the ALARA Principle

Prospective students often ask about radiation exposure. Radiologic technologists work under a principle known as ALARA, As Low As Reasonably Achievable, which guides every imaging decision toward the minimum radiation dose needed to produce a usable diagnostic image. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists reinforces radiation protection as a core professional responsibility.

In practice, ALARA translates into:

• Collimating the x-ray beam to the area of interest
• Using lead shielding and other safety equipment for patients when appropriate
• Selecting the lowest technical factors that produce diagnostic image quality
• Monitoring personal dose with a radiation badge
• Keeping distance, time, and shielding in balance for every examination

Accredited radiologic technology programs teach radiation protection from the first term and reinforce it through every clinical rotation.

Medical Imaging Specializations: Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and More

Radiologic technologists specialize in one or more imaging modalities as their careers progress. Most post-primary certifications build on the initial radiography credential and combine continuing education, documented clinical experience, and a certification exam.

Common specialization paths include:

• Computed tomography (CT): CT technologists use rotating x-ray equipment to produce cross-sectional images of organs, bones, blood vessels, and soft tissue. Computed tomography is heavily used in emergency medicine, oncology, and surgical planning.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI technologists operate scanners that use powerful magnets and radio waves, not ionizing radiation, to create images of the brain, spine, joints, and other soft-tissue structures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a leading specialty for radiologic technologists who want to move beyond general radiography.
• Mammography: mammographers perform imaging exams of breast tissue to support breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
• Cardiac and vascular interventional radiography: technologists in this area work alongside cardiologists and interventional radiologists during minimally invasive procedures such as stent, balloon, and valve placement. Cardiac interventional technologists guide tools through blood vessels using advanced imaging techniques.
• Bone densitometry: bone densitometry technologists measure bone mineral density to help physicians diagnose and monitor osteoporosis.
• Radiation therapy: radiation therapists administer radiation therapy to treat patients with cancer and other conditions, usually via a separate associate’s or bachelor’s program rather than a post-primary certification.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Nuclear medicine technologists administer small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals and operate specialized scanners that produce images showing how organs and tissues are functioning, not just how they look. Nuclear medicine is a separate ARRT discipline and typically requires its own training program.

Dr. Wyatt has watched specialization trends shift over her 45 years in the profession.

“The most common one that most technologists go into as they graduate is CT. But the hot commodity now, the one that is in most need, is the cardiovascular. Many hospitals and imaging centers are providing incentives for hiring technologists and training them right away into these fields.” — Dr. Wyatt

Career Outlook for Radiologic and MRI Technologists

Demand for radiologic and MRI technologists is steady, driven by a large and aging population that needs more diagnostic imaging examinations every year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report from August 27, 2026, employment of radiologic and MRI technologists is projected to grow 5 percent for the next decade, faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates about 15,400 openings each year for radiologic and MRI technologists over the decade, driven by new job creation and the need to replace workers who retire or move into other roles.

Beyond the national outlook, Florida’s large healthcare sector supports steady demand for radiologic technologists across hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, physician offices, orthopedic clinics, and trauma centers.

Radiologic Technology Programs at Keiser University

Keiser University is a private, non-profit, institutionally accredited university focused on career-oriented education built around small class sizes and flexible learning options. For students considering a career in medical imaging, three program paths stand out:

• Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology: designed to prepare students for entry-level roles as radiologic technologists, with coursework in anatomy, imaging procedures, patient care, and radiation protection, plus clinical training at partner healthcare facilities.
• Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences: designed for working radiologic technologists who want to advance into leadership or advanced practice. The program builds on an existing ARRT credential and associate’s degree, with an administrative track that prepares graduates for manager and director roles.
• Associate of Science in Radiation Therapy: designed to prepare students who want to administer radiation therapy to treat patients with cancer and other conditions, rather than focus on diagnostic radiology.

Related healthcare programs, including Diagnostic Medical Sonography, give prospective students room to align their education with the imaging path that fits them best.

Dr. Wyatt sees the AS in Radiologic Technology as the foundation that opens every other door in medical imaging.

“The associate in radiologic science is a stepping stone. It gives students the ability to gain advanced modality certifications, CT, MR, mammography, bone density, cardiovascular, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy. The bachelor’s of imaging allows students to gain knowledge and become leaders in the field of radiology. It connects the technical with the managerial. It all comes together like one.” — Dr. Wyatt

Keiser University’s one-class-at-a-time format lets students concentrate on one body region, one set of imaging procedures, or one physics concept before moving to the next, which matches how Dr. Wyatt’s clinical ladder is designed. Program directors across Keiser University campuses use the same model to build student independence from direct to indirect supervision over the course of the program.

The university welcomes career changers, recent high school graduates, working professionals, and military veterans pursuing career advancement. Dr. Wyatt has watched the classroom dynamic evolve as more adult learners enter the field.

“We’ve had students in their 50s who cash in their retirement to do this. Construction, sales, military, they come back because they were exposed to radiology as patients, and they realize they want to work in allied health. They bring life experience into the classroom that the younger generation does not have. One brings life experience, the other helps with study habits. It becomes a unique dynamic.” — Dr. Wyatt

Your Next Step

A career as a radiologic technologist rewards people who like technology, value patient care, and want to make a real difference in healthcare without committing to a four-year degree upfront.

The path is clear: finish high school, complete an accredited associate’s degree, pass the ARRT certification exam, and meet your state’s licensing rules. From there, post-primary certifications in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, or cardiovascular interventional radiography can keep your career moving for decades.

Dr. Wyatt, who has led Keiser’s Daytona Beach radiologic technology program since 2002 and earned her own doctoral degree at Keiser, has watched x-ray move from chemical-bath film processing to fully digital imaging during her 45 years in the field.

“You can’t get bored in it. You get tired of doing mammography, and now you learn CT. You get tired of CT, you learn MR. By the time you learn all of it, it’s time to retire. Your education is the most valuable thing you will ever have in life.” — Dr. Wyatt

Ready to explore radiologic technologist programs at Keiser University? Request information to speak with an admissions counselor about the associate’s and bachelor’s options that match your goals.