How to Choose a Radiology School

Your future is promising if you are interested in a career in radiology. Thanks to advances in technology, working in this field of medicine offers many opportunities for employment. Here are some guidelines to help you choose a radiology school.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Bachelor's degree
• Knowledge of the radiology field
• Computer
• Internet access

1. Know the radiology field and its job market. In addition to being a doctor (aka radiologist), there also is a growing need for radiological nurses and technicians.
2. Decide whether you want a radiology school that offers a certificate program or an advanced four-year degree. Knowing where you want to work after completing school can help you decide. Some employers will hire a radiology technician with a certificate, while others require an advanced degree.
3. Choose between a traditional and vocational school. At a traditional school you will attend class on a campus and take general education and career-specific classes. Vocational schools offer more hands-on learning. Students limit their courses to those directly related to their field of study and curricula are completed faster.
4. Consider taking courses online, especially if you have a hectic schedule. Radiology degrees require students to have clinical or hands-on experience so when searching out online programs, look for institutions that address that issue.
5. Apply for scholarships by contacting organizations, such as the American Healthcare Radiology Administrators, The American Society of Radiological Technologies (www.asrt.org), the National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov) and the American Medical Student Association (www.amsa.org).
6. Find a radiology school near you by visiting www.rtstudents.com. This site features a U.S. Radiology School Directory and a variety of other resources that will locate the best school for you.
7. Contact the American College of Radiology (www.acr.org) about licensing and certification requirements.

Tips & Warnings

• If the radiology program isn't a minimum of two-years it is considered a limited scope program.
• Take advantage of the many online radiology resources that are available.

Who Can Help:

• Earn an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix
• Flexible Scheduling, Online Programs, Get Info Now