BA? AA/AS? or Certificate for Radiologic Technicians?

Question

Hello! I am 39 years old and trying to become a Radiologic Technician. What type of school should I go to? (I live in VA.)
The school that gives you AS told me that because I don't have any medical back ground, I have to go for Medical Assistance first, then after I work as a medical assistant for a while, go back to the school and take the RT program. That will take about 6 years! She said RT program will be too hard for me right now. She said her school is well known in town and the reputation is different. You will get a better job if you go to her school but this school is twice more expensive compare to the one at the hospital. The hospital based school which gives you a certificate said you can enter as a high-school graduate. I think normally if you go to hospital based school, they will hire you right away when you finish with the school. Please give me your advice. Thanks!

Answer 1

That woman you talked to is full of crap. You don't need her medical assistant program to become a rad tech.

I personally think that you get better training for less tuition in a hospital program vs. college, but they are harder to get into. The most important thing is that whatever school you choose, it is accredited so that you will be eligible to sit for the national registry exam after you graduate. Also check into the school's registry pass rate - the higher the better. A school with a low rate is no good (my school had a 100% first time pass rate). You only need a certificate and be ARRT-registered; an AS or BS is not necessary unless you want to move into management eventually, and you can always get those degrees later.

You can get more information at:
ARRT.org
ASRT.org
JRCERT.org

Here are the accredited rad tech schools in Virginia:

SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
UNIV OF VA HEALTH SYS CENTER
JEFFERSON PARK AVE BOX 170
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22908-0000
Program Director: JODY D CRANE Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
DANVILLE REGIONAL HEALTH SYS
142 S MAIN ST
DANVILLE, VA 24541-0000
Program Director: KEVIN L MURRAY Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
MARY WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
2300 FALL HILL AVE. SUITE 260
FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22401-0000
Program Director: DONNA CARROLL VAN NORMAN Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
ROCKINGHAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
235 CANTRELL AVE
HARRISONBURG, VA 22801-3293
Program Director: RUSSELL H CRANK JR Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMM COLLEGE
3506 WARDS ROAD
LYNCHBURG, VA 24502-0000
Program Director: EDDIE W HAYNES Telephone: [phone]

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RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
ACT COLLEGE
8870 RIXLEW LN SUITE 201
MANASSAS, VA 20109-
Program Director: THERESE A HENRY Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
RIVERSIDE SCH OF HLTH AND MEDS
316 MAIN STREET
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23601-0000
Program Director: PAMELA C GEBHART-CLINE Telephone: [phone]

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MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY PROGRAM - ECPI
MEDICAL CAREERS INSTITUTE
1001 OMNI BLVD
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23606
Program Director: CHARLES W PHANEUF Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
SOUTHSIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR
801 S ADAMS ST
PETERSBURG, VA 23803-0000
Program Director: PAMELA J G SHELTON Telephone: [phone]

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NAVAL RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
NAVAL SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCE
1001 HOLCOMB ROAD
PORTSMOUTH, VA 23708-0000
Program Director: TONY L ELLISON Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMM COLL
BOX SVCC
RICHLANDS, VA 24641-0000
Program Director: DONALD LOWE Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF MEDICAL IMAGING
BON SECOURS RICHMOND HLTH SYS
8550 MAGELLAN PARKWAY STE 700
RICHMOND, VA 23227-0000
Program Director: KIMBERLY L PERRY Telephone: [phone]

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DEPT OF RAD SCI. RADIOLOGIC TECH PRG
VA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
701 W GRACE ST BOX 843057
RICHMOND, VA 23284-3057
Program Director: TERRI L FAUBER Telephone: [phone]

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RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
920 S JEFFERSON ST POB 13186
ROANOKE, VA 24031-3186
Program Director: JAMES A PARSONS Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
VIRGINIA WESTERN COMM COLLEGE
PO BOX 14007
ROANOKE, VA 24038-0000
Program Director: SHIRL DUKE LAMANCA Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOGRAPHY
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMM COLLEGE
6699 SPRINGFIELD CENTER DRIVE
SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150-0000
Program Director: MARILYN J SINDERBRAND Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1700 COLLEGE CRESCENT
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23453-0000
Program Director: KIM B UTLEY Telephone: [phone]

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SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
WINCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER
1840 AMHERST ST PO BOX 3340
WINCHESTER, VA 22601-0000
Program Director: JOHN D ORNDORFF Telephone: [phone]

Good luck.

Answer 2

Speaking from my personal experience

Go to the hospital based program or community college it cheaper and better.

Private colleges are a rip-off

All u need to be a x-ray tech is a AS DEGREE and pass the ARRT EXAM.

A BA degree is waste of time unless u want to get into management. but then just go to a public college and get a ba in management online!!

Go to arrt.org to get a list of approved schools in VA

However i will let u know now that x-ray tech pays less than the other medical imaging fields.

U could make more money doing nuclear medicine,radiation therapy or sonograpy they are all AS 2 year degrees.

CC college or Hospital based is the way to go!!

Answer 3

i'm an MRI tech interior the state of MN. regulation right this is you may no longer become an MRI Tech with out having your RT (R) certification. because it stands there is at present no colleges that only teach MRI, no longer In MN and that i do no longer think everywhere else. Its extra of a crossing preparation ingredient. oftentimes Imaging centers and Hospitals won't touch you while you're no longer registered in Radiography. you will desire to bypass to Rad tech college.