What Is the Job Outlook for a Radiology Technician?

What Is the Job Outlook for a Radiology Technician?

The job outlook for radiology technicians is expected to remain quite good. As the population ages and increases in size, there will be a greater demand for diagnostic imaging. This growing demand will directly affect the need for more radiology technicians as more people, young and old, will need their services. While there is a projected rise in need for radiology technicians, there is also a current shortage that is happening within this field. In the U.S., radiology technicians are in demand in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, primary care clinics, government, armed forces, radiology sales and services and education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 196,000 radiology technicians employed in the U.S. in 2006. Researchers expect this number to increase by about 15 percent by 2016.

In addition to job growth, more positions are expected to open up because of the need to replace radiology technicians who have left the field or retired. Radiology technicians, who have training in additional diagnostic imaging procedures and are open to relocation and different health care settings, can expect the best employment opportunities. The reason for this is health facilities, such as physicians’ offices and diagnostic imaging centers, are expected to grow by 2016 because of a shift toward outpatient care. This is encouraged by third-party payers and progressive medicine that allows procedures to be done outside of hospitals. All in all, employers prefer workers who are multi-credentialed, because they can cut costs and hire less workers.

With a higher demand and expected increase in radiology technician jobs, students can expect more competition within the field. Knowing this, you should strongly consider becoming a certified and registered radiology technician to set yourself apart from others and increase your job opportunities. Being registered with The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists is a life-long commitment to upholding the ethical and educational standards in which you were certified for. In your annual registration renewal, you have to earn continuing education credits to refresh your skills and enhance your medical knowledge. Many employers only hire radiology technologists that are registered and committed to continuing their education every year.