How to Become a Mammography Technologist

As a mammography technologist, you may be employed by a hospital or clinic, or you may travel in mobile mammography units to rural communities. Your job is to provide caring, supportive diagnostic services for women who have routine mammograms and for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Associate Degree in Radiology
• ARRT certification

Find Your Career as a Mammography Technologist

1. Complete a 2- or 3-year college radiology program. This is a requirement before you can specialize your training in mammography. An Associate Degree in Radiology is the minimum requirement to become certified in diagnostic mammography.

2. Find an accredited program that meets the criteria set by the CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs).

3. Plan to spend an additional 40 hours in instructive classroom training to specialize in mammography. The advanced training to become a mammography technologist also includes 250 hours of actual clinical training.

4. Complete the requirements for ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) certification (see Resources below). In addition to the certification, many states require a license issued by the state to practice radiologic technology.

5. Perform mammograms under the direct supervision of a certified mammographer. Prior to admission to take the certification exam to become a certified mammography technologist, you must have performed a number of mammograms.

6. Complete an additional 8 hours of training to learn digital mammography. The use of solid-state detectors replace the need for x-ray film by transforming the picture into electric signals. The electrical signals are sent to a computer screen producing a picture in more detail than a traditional mammogram.

7. Maintain your license and certification as a mammography technician with Continuing Medical Education in mammography. Take advantage of CME's to learn the latest technology in mammography.

Find Work as a Mammography Technologist

1. Plan to stand on your feet for most of your workday. Between positioning the patient for the mammogram and stepping behind the protective shield to take the image, there's often very little time to sit.

2. Take additional training and seek a position as a Quality Management Technologist. The Quality Management Technologist combines the skills and training of a mammography tech and the collection and analysis of data.

3. Put good communication skills to work as you perform a mammogram. Provide reassurance to the patient during the mammogram process.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the safety guidelines established by the Radiology Department to avoid over exposure to radiation.

• Wear lead aprons as required.

Resources

• ARRT certification