How Do I Become A Radiographer?

Radiography is a highly rewarding field for the knowledgeable and skilledprofessional radiographer. It is for those who are seeking for exciting jobprospects and a lucrative career. But before considering writing a radiologypersonal statement, what do you need to know on how to become aradiographer?

Radiographers are in demand professionals across the world, such as in theUnited States. By being a medical technologist, you will be working withmedical imaging machines or x-ray machines in order to take high qualityphotos to use in the diagnosis/treatment of a disease or an injury. Your role isvery important because the images will be used in the subsequent treatmentor course of treatment.

There are two paths you can select in the field, diagnostic and therapeutic.Before one, however, you need to comply with the requirements to apply in aradiography school and one of which is the diagnostic or therapeuticradiography personal statement, which we’re discussing a little bit later.

Overview of activities

Diagnostic radiographer,

Interpreting or producing body images in order to find out and diagnoseillness or injury

Abnormality screening Participating in biopsies, or the examination of tissues in order to

diagnose the cause of disease, and other surgical procedures

Therapeutic radiographer,

Assessing patients Monitoring patients in the entire treatment/follow up

Planning/delivering treatment with the use of radioactive sources,including x-rays

Working with medical practitioners in order to plan and/or treat tissuedefects and malignant tumors

What attributes or skills do I need?

Aside from passing the admission requirements, radiology personalstatements included, you will need to possess certain characteristics to workas an effective and successful professional in the field. You need compassionand excellent interpersonal skills. You also have to train and equip yourselfwith scientific and technological background. You should also be accurate.There is no room for mistake in the interpretation of images, for instance.Thus, you should also know how to pay close attention to details.

Aside from these things, you also have to learn how to calculate proceduretimings, radiation exposure included. You should also learn how to placeequipment and patient in the proper position for safety. And speaking ofcompassion earlier, you should learn how to communicate with patients wellso that they can feel at ease when you’re explaining procedures to them. Andbesides accuracy, you should also be competent when it comes todeveloping/checking the films.

Are the specialists radiographers?

Successful students in their applications due to their impressive papers, suchas a personal statement radiology, they might be able to penetrate thedynamic field of radiology. They will become a part of highly trained andcertified people who are going to work with high tech machines, includingmagnetic resonance imaging equipment or computerized tomographymachines, among others. So in the future should you be able to work as aradiographer, you can also improve your skills and become a specialist in aspecific area, such as,

Magnetic resonance imaging that uses 3D imagery that is utilizes amachine with a huge magnet

Angiography involves taking photos or images of the blood vessel or ofthe heart

Trauma radiography involves examinations on the injured Mobile radiography that is for too ill people to attend their x-ray

procedure in the hospital or facility Computed tomography involves the use of 3D x-ray exam Operating theater involves helping medical surgeons with a specialist

imaging equipment Fluoroscopy involves the use of an x-ray machine, which can peek inside

the body and can project moving images

So, what requirements do I need to become a radiographer?

To qualify, you don’t only need stellar radiography personal statements andgrades, but also a full time, 3-year undergraduate degree. In some universities,though, they offer part time positions in which you have to study for 4-5 years.

With a radiography program, you don’t only study in lecture halls to learntheories because about 50% of the entire program requires students to workin a hospital setting to deal with patients and help doctors as well as clinicians.

Remember that the degree to select should be approved by the HCPC or theHealth and Care Professions Council. What to do for guidance is to proceed tothe UCAS website or look for the Society of Radiographers website.Remember planning for your career requires enough time both fordiscovering which course is right for you as well as for visiting differentuniversities, which are also going to require personal statementradiography.

Aside from personal statement for radiology, universities also ask for varyingrequirements, which vary from one institution to another.

Many of them will require applicants to have at least five GCEs, such as math, ascience subject, English as well as equivalent or three “A” levels—but one ofsuch has to be physics or biology. As you can see, you really have to prepareearly to make sure you meet all these requirements as well as to have enoughtime in writing radiography personal statements.

Overview of the requirements

Four-year course or bachelor’s degree Excellent GPA High MCAT scores Letters of recommendations Leadership experiences Volunteer activities Clinical or basic research exposure

Radiology Personal Statements

Remember your therapeutic or diagnostic radiography personal statementis one of the bases on which the admissions decide whether to know youfurther for an interview or not.

Thus, it would be wise to give your best shot in this paper, which is whyyou’re encouraged to come up with several drafts early on so that you will stillhave enough time to make revisions until you perfected the most satisfyingpaper for submission.

Observation visit

Before you could work as a radiographer, you also need to show proof of atleast a visit and observation in the radiography department of a hospital inyour community. Thus, you should contact them to find out if you could comeand observe during an open day so that you can look around and learn howradiographers work. In the process, you will also be able to ask importantquestions.

Funding

If you are concerned about funding, you should not. There is different fundingto apply to when applying in a university. You can get support for your degreevia one of the NHS bursaries, which can help with your course fees as well asyour living cost. Although they will not be able to cover 100% o the cost, they

will be able to help you reduce a significant amount of money when taking upradiography.

When you become accepted in a medical school, you should complete yourdegree and keep high grades/excellent records. While studying in the medicalschool, you will learn many branches of science, including pathophysiology,pharmacology, physiology, anatomy and other sciences. All these are expectedfrom graduating students.

Also, you need to study hard and perform well in the licensing exam called theUnited States Medical Licensing Examinations—both steps 1 and 2.

In your last year in the medical school, you need to look for and apply for atraining program of radiology if you want to become a radiologist in the future.

You will receive your MD degree during your graduation in the medical school,and then you will be able to apply for a medical license. If you have obtainedyour license, you will be considered as a doctor. But then, real hands-ontraining should start, and as a resident in radiology (internship), you will bepracticing both or either surgery or general medicine. You will also have totake care of patients in the inpatient or outpatient settings or emergencydepartment.

Specialty

During the training, you will be a resident in the hospital, days and nights, soyou should also prepare yourself for that. You will also be able to interpret adifferent imaging study that is why you need accuracy in this field. Again,there is no room for mistake when it comes to interpreting images or studiesbecause your findings will be one of the bases for further treatment ordiagnosis of an injury or disease.

You will also be working with clinicians, which is why you also have to learnhow to improve your communication skills as well as your attention to detailsbecause you will observe a lot so that you can have a glimpse on how it is to beworking as a radiographer. In the future, you will be able to get yourselffamiliar with it, so things would be easier and you can have a fulfilling career.

In the training, you will also be working and performing on many image-guided interventions and procedures. In the process, you will further yourknowledge and skills in the field so that you can become an effectiveradiographer in the future. At the end of your training, you will then have totake and perform well on examinations, such as board-certifying exams.

Fellowship

After residency, you need to take up a subspecialty program, just like amajority of the graduating students. They accept one to two years of afellowship program. You need to choose subspecialties that includeinterventional radiology, musculoskeletal radiology and so on. While training,you will have to undergo the last steps of your training—and that is learningof high tech and advance procedural methods or techniques in your chosensubspecialty. And once you have completed the fellowship, you will then beable to apply your knowledge and skills through practicing in your specialty.

Licensure

All practicing physicians should take the state licensure examination, andradiologists are not exempted. You should have your board certification readybefore applying for a job because most employers will require that from you.Since 2013, radiologists are required to take a two-part exam that is coveringanatomy, medicine, and physics and imaging modalities.

Additional advice

If you want to succeed in the field, you need to start building yourself up.Students who are looking to become a part of the industry have to becompetitive in their studies. They are expected to be top performers in schooland they should possess excellent grades. You should also have to haveimpressive personal statement for radiology, letters of recommendationand USMLE scores. You should also have high academic grades, volunteeractivities or exposure in the field.

Thus, it is also advised that you have volunteering activities for exposure inthe field. Speaking of exposure, you should also look into involving yourself in

a radiology research project—which can provide you with additionaladvantage.

Career Advancement

Professionals in the field earn high salaries as they progress. Many of themare living a comfortable lifestyle as they advance in their careers. Speaking ofcareer advancements, you can gain new expertise and skills as you becomemore and more seasoned in the field. For one, interventional radiologists whoare performing advanced procedures earn high income; thus, they areexposed to better opportunities for growth, community outreach, researchand leadership.

In some cases, those who are in the field try other areas, leave the clinicalsetting to pursue a career in teaching or in healthcare administration. As youcan see, there are many opportunities for growth and advancement for aprofessional in the field. It is something that you can also enjoy once youbecome a full time radiologist.

Thus, it would be wise to begin with your application early. Start looking forpossible schools where to start your journey to become a certifiedradiographer in the future. Because it takes a lot of effort, dedication and hardwork before you can work as one, you should start building and equippingyourself up with the right knowledge and skills to acquire in education.

Nevertheless, radiographers are modern heroes that can save lives of manypatients. And so if you’re serious to become one, refer to this guide for an ideaon what requirements you need, characteristics to possess and training toreceive and exams to pass before becoming a radiologist.

Start your application with an impressive radiology personal statementtoday!