r/RadiologyCareers

I will be starting my rad tech program in August! I have worked as a CNA/CMA in a long term care facility for the last 2 years. I’m curious if it would be beneficial to move over to the hospital as a PCT or just stay where I’m at until I can land an internship in an imaging department?

Any techs out here in Los Angeles? I saw a post earlier regarding a graduate who passed her boards and still has not found a job here 3 months later. I start my program this month in the LA area and I’m just worried about the over saturation of this job market. Moving is not an option for me unfortunately as I still live at home with my parents. Not sure if I made the wrong mistake of joining this field and should have applied to nursing instead :/

Im in Sacramento and want to pursue something in healthcare that can pay good. Im 29, I just support myself and will not have kids or mortgage.
I read radtechs can work 3 days a week with optional OT?
Sounds like a dream over typical 5 day 8-5 shift. Problem is, im basically starting over. I got my bachelors in teaching and have no “science” background.
I currently make more as a server so I don’t want to pursue the teaching route.
But I can’t be a server forevor. Program reccomendations? I have to take pre-reqs first, but Im willing to wait for a lottery system for a the associate? but is it really that hard to get into - like years?
Thank you.

I need to make a choice. I’m a very knowledgeable sterile tech with 3 years experience, surgical tech seems like the more rational choice, but Rad Tech seems so much more rewarding. Any thoughts? Advice? What are the pros and cons of each

Hey guys. I posted here before. Its now been about 3 months since I passed my board exam. I am studying for my CT boards as we speak.

I have applied to urgent care, surgical centers, registries, radnet, etc. I get interviews or phone calls, then I just don't hear back after. Idk what to do guys, any advice is appreciated

X-ray tech for 6 years, worked in all different settings and I honestly hate people and caring for people. I only do this for the money. I could care less about everything else. Just wanted to see if there is anyone else like me out there who hates this shit with a passion.

Hi everyone, i'm relatively new here so i'm not 100% sure how this works but I was hoping someone out there could give me advice.

I'm 20 in Socal and i’ve had a 9-5 job which will meet my 1 year anniversary in a couple months. I've been very interested in pursuing a career in the radiological field for as long as I can remember but i’m having trouble figuring out where i’m at.

I was hoping someone, really anyone out there could give me any advice as to how I can pursue this career without having to quit my job while pursuing schooling. It may be unrealistic, as you do have to go in person for hands on experience which I am more than happy to do, but i’d definitely like to hear what your experiences were like if you worked full time or if I should just quit to follow my dreams and not look back 😭.

Thank you!!

I'm currently going into my senior year of highschool and I want to be prepared for a better chance for when I applying to a radiology program. I know to have GOOD grades, and score high on the pre-test. I've seen people recommend shadowing, interships, CNA & phlebotomist to better your chances of being accepted. The cc i plan on going to does also have a particularly small group of people they take.

I've already elimanted a whole semester of preresitquites by doing Dual Enrollment in highschool over the years too! I do perfer to have a paid job, as I want it to be my only job (so im not doing two jobs at once) but if non-paid positions are better than im willing to work with it. What's the best rountine?

I have an interview for my rad program next week. I will be 7 1/2 months pregnant and I’m nervous that they will see it as a reason to not move me forward. Anyone else interviewed while pregnant and got accepted? I’m also a great candidate but not always a great speaker. Any tips on how to psych myself up to perform well here would be appreciated.

Hi everyone,
New to this sub so sorry if this is a redundant question.

I’m 34 years old and currently a retail store manager. I did not go to college and have no college credits. I decided I am ready to switch careers to something more sustainable long term and am very interested in radiology.

I’ve been doing my research and understand the basic process. College pre reqs, apply to a radiology program, then get state certifications but I just wanted to hear some people’s experience. Like, step by step, how did you go about getting your degree?

I live alone and fully support myself financially so I was concerned when I read about the clinical hours. How were you guys able to support yourselves? I’ve seen a lot of people say they worked as a CNA during the clinical period.

Also as far as loans go, aside from fafsa, did anyone have their job pay for (at least part of) their degree? I’m thinking about applying as a transporter or CNA at hospitals and just wondering what the likelihood of the hospitals assistance in education would be?

I hope all that makes sense. I’m just trying to be realistic and hear from real people who went through the program. Alsooooo if anyone has any suggestions that may be similar to radiology (pay, hours, stress level, in a medical setting) but have less clinical hours or a shorter program, I’m still open to alternatives. :)

In the informational meeting earlier this year, the program director said last year's average GPA was 3.9... Just curious if there's anyone who can attest to getting in with a lower GPA. Haven't taken my prerequisites yet, but am hesitant to go down the path if my GPA puts me out of consideration. As well, any advice for other programs in the Chicago area that are worth applying to? I don't have a car so I feel like Malcom X is my only option. (I live in Lakeview)

Hi, Im 35F living in Midwest Illinois and am looking for some input and advice. I spent my 20s & 30s as a creative and a performer while working in mostly nite life & part time service jobs to (barely) pay the bills. As Im watching myself and my peers approaching our 40s, I am worried about my financial future. I hate the idea of working a 9-5, 5 days a week but I don’t mind working weekends or night shifts so the idea that I could work 3 12s as a Rad Tech is attractive. I’m single & childfree so traveling for work would also be an option for me. I’m fortunate in that my family is willing to let me move back home & live with them while going back to school.

My GPA from back when I was in community college before I dropped out at 20 is TRASH so I will have to do my prerequisites for Rad Tech School. I was looking into Midwestern Career College because the have program where your prerequisites can be included but I’m seeing people saying that jobs are less likely to hire graduates from Midwestern Career College. Was this true in your experience? How long after you graduated were you able to find employment? Or is it worth the extra time for me to do my prerequisites separately? I worry because I’ve also heard how competitive the community college & state school programs are and I want to start working as soon as possible since I’ll already be pushing 40 by the time I graduate.

I guess I’m just feeling defeated & confused & grasping for any advice. I don’t want to be broke & bartending in my 60s. HELPPPP. Advice from ppl who went into this field later in life would be appreciated.

I have been giving myself anxiety for days now & really just need someone to tell me if this is even worth pursuing. I am looking to start keiser university in south Florida for radiography… I’m 30 years old… I had some charges I caught all in 2015 after barber school running around my with my ex bf who was about 29 years old & I was 17 just turning 18 and he was addicted to pills. So I ended up catching 2 petit thefts & a possession of a pill charge. They are not expunge-able in my state. I am NOT a convicted felon but the posession charge is a felony (adjudication withheld) I have been a licensed barber in this state since 2014 & never had any marks on my license. I have also been a barber instructor for 4 years & I personally had a 100% pass rate on the state licensing exam. I am not who I was 12-13 years ago. I already plan on submitting an ethics review & I know I have a good chance of them giving the green light!! My fear now lies with taking out a big loan for private ( the community programs in my area are soooo hard and competitive to get into I feel I have no choice but to go private here unfortunately) & doing my pre reqs & being told no to get into the program bcuz of the background check and clinical sites.,. If I get a green light on the ethics review will that help me get accepted into the program and overlook the criminal history?

Hi! I’m interested in becoming a radiographer and I was wondering what route I should take in order to pursue it. I was thinking of going to a 4 year school for radiology but the schools in my state (MA) are extremely expensive, since they’re all private. No public universities offer it over here. So, I looked into community colleges. I’ve seen several different radiologic technology/medical imaging programs. I have also considered getting a bachelor’s degree from a public university and then going into a rad tech program. I’m looking forward to any comments with advice for the most cost effective and a good career advancing route. I really want to be able to maximize my career and eventually move onto different modalities. Is a AS/BS worth it?

I'm an artist with a dual passion for healthcare, and I just graduated with my BFA this past May. I finally gave up on going to med school earlier this year and found that my job offers to pay for programs with a work commitment. I have been wanting to find another stable career with minimal schooling, as I'm holding 2 jobs in pharmacy right now and don't feel I can trust to keep it in the next few years with how the industry is going.

So I looked into radiology and signed up to finish my prerequisites starting this Fall. Only thing is, I'm now debating whether I should take a year to myself and give myself time to finish several creative projects, as I've had a hard life and never given myself time to actually live.

Thing is, I'm not that passionate about radiology, it's a settlement for me, and I really don't like how difficult it is to get into these programs. On top of that it's a severe time commitment with years already blocked out of my life. I know I want a stable job to build the future I want, but it feels like I have to put myself and my life aside and give my all to these classes, and even if I do get good grades, there's no guarantee I'll be accepted to a program next summer.

On the other hand, I have a strong feeling in me telling me I'll regret it, and to take the classes anyways, but I just know I'm going to hate starting the program next fall if I do get in, cause that means I've had already lost a year to focus on my creative projects and I won't be able to dedicate time for another 2-4 years after as I get into radiology and do my certifications.

Part of me wants to give my time to myself and focus on art, the other part tells me to be smart and suck it up, focus on getting a better job and more money. I guess I just wanna know if it'll be fine waiting a year to do my preqs to hopefully start a program in 2028 if I'm accepted. I know we can only predict so much, but do you think rad tech programs/jobs will be alright in the next few years? I wanna know if I'm gonna mess up a huge opportunity or if I have some room to slow down for a bit. I'm about to turn 25 and I don't want to be in certain positions in my early 30s but it feels like any decision I make right now will challenge my life significantly.

Any advice welcome, thanks

Considering doing the x-ray radiology program at my local community college (only affordable radiology program around me) and wanted to know if after getting hired and stuff if later on i could move to other things like mri, or would that require more school/a different program?

Good evening all. I’m considering this as a career change and wondering about weekend schedule. My wife is a nurse who works every other weekend so if I was required to work every other weekend we’d never get time off together on weekends. We also have 2 kiddos who’d love to be able to do stuff with both parents on weekends.

So the question is how likely is it I’ll be required to work every other weekend?

I’m currently a pharmacy tech working per diem and taking care of kiddos. If I went full time as a pharm tech I’d be required to work every other weekend at my current hospital.

Yes, when I encounter rad techs at work I’ll ask them about their schedule.

I recently got accepted into the Radiology program at CAHE in NYC and I’ll be starting this fall!

I had a question for anyone who’s been through the program (or any radiology program, honestly).
Before I even decided to apply, I had already planned and paid for two trips: Oct. 29 – Nov. 1 and Nov. 13 – Nov. 16.

Now that I’m officially enrolled, I’ve been reading that radiology programs are extremely intense with a heavy workload, lots of studying, and strict attendance policies. I’m starting to worry that traveling during the semester may not be realistic.

I’m also working two part-time jobs because I need a way to pay for school lol… On top of that, I’ll be paying a few thousand dollars each month toward tuition since my financial aid doesn’t cover everything.

For anyone who’s been in a radiology program or is in the midst of it, were you able to travel at all during the semester? Were you able to balance working while in school?
If you had trips planned before starting, what did you do?
Any advice for managing school, work, finances, and life without completely burning out?

I’m a first-generation college student, so this is all pretty new to me, and I’d really appreciate any tips or advice from people who’ve been through it. Thanks in advance!

Hi yall, I'm currently a PT, looking to switch careers maybe in a few years time. I just don't see how sustainable my career maybe for me in the long run especially as I get older. With the anatomy background and some imaging classes back then i thought maybe it may be a good transition. I want to ask yall what are some pros and cons for your career?