Radiology technicians work in hospitals and other medical facilities taking x-rays and helping individuals with physical ailments. Advances in healthcare and science and a growing demand for radiology services have created a significant demand for radiology technicians in Oklahoma and around the United States.
Instructions
1. Find a radiology technician program in Oklahoma. Northern Oklahoma College, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, Rose State College, Carl Albert State College, Tulsa Community College and Western Oklahoma State College all offer some type of degree program in radiology technology, with most offering an associate’s degree for individuals aiming to become technicians. You should review the program requirements as well as the admissions criteria to determine which program is best for you.
2. Complete the prerequisites needed for entrance into the program of your choice. Each college requires different classes to be taken prior to beginning their program, thus it is important that you find specifically which ones apply to you. Some classes you may have to take include English, public speaking, college algebra and human anatomy and physiology.
3. Apply for admissions and get accepted to the program. Most colleges and universities only accept students into their radiology technician programs once a year, in the fall. This generally means that applications are due anytime from October through May of the preceding year. It is important that you get your application in early and meet all the admission requirements, since most programs only accept 10-20 students each year.
4. Complete the program successfully including clinical requirements. Clinicals are a required aspect of most radiology technician programs, and many students find them to be very valuable. They provide you with the opportunity to actually work in radiology labs at hospitals, doctor’s offices and other healthcare facilities.
5. Pass the national certification exam. The national certification exam is required in order to become certified in the state of Oklahoma, and it is administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Due to the fact the test is given at Pearson Education Testing centers, you can take it almost any time within three years after graduating from a radiology technician program.
6. Meet the minimum hour requirement for safety and on-the-job training. Oklahoma requires that all radiology technicians complete a minimum of 200 hours of training with radioactive materials and 120 hours of training using x-ray machines. In addition, each person applying for certification as a radiology technician in Oklahoma is required to take a 40 hour safety course on radiation.
7. Get your license and keep it renewed. After you have passed the national exam and completed the safety and job training, you can become a fully-certified radiology technician in Oklahoma. Of course, it is important to keep your license updated, which requires continuing education and certification through the ARRT.
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