How To Become A CT Technologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a ct technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A ct technologist is a healthcare professional who operates specialized imaging equipment to capture detailed images of a patient's internal organs. These images are used by doctors to diagnose and treat medical conditions. CT technologists must have strong technical skills and in-depth knowledge of anatomy, as well as excellent communication skills to interact with patients and healthcare teams. They also help maintain the equipment they use, ensuring that images are accurate and high-quality.

ScoreCT TechnologistUS Average

Salary

5.1

Avg. Salary $65,152

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 6.05%

Black or African American 5.39%

Hispanic or Latino 10.19%

Unknown 4.14%

White 73.75%

Gender

female 57.30%

male 42.70%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

8.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a ct technologist?

Pros

High demand for CT technologists in the healthcare industry
Opportunity to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment
Variety of work settings, including hospitals, clinics, and imaging centers
Ability to specialize in areas such as cardiac CT or pediatric CT
Collaboration with other healthcare professionals, including radiologists and nurses

Cons

Exposure to radiation can be a health hazard if proper safety protocols are not followed
Heavy workload and time pressures can lead to stress and burnout
A physically demanding job that involves standing, moving patients, and operating heavy equipment
May be required to work in a noisy or uncomfortable environment
Can be emotionally taxing when dealing with critically ill or injured patients

Key steps to become a ct technologist

Explore ct technologist education requirements

Most common ct technologist degrees

Associate

63.8 %

Bachelor's

23.3 %

Certificate

6.8 %

Start to develop specific ct technologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	18.15%
CT	15.43%
ARRT	10.94%
Tomography	5.32%
CPR	4.81%

Complete relevant ct technologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ct technologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a ct technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ct technologist resumes.

Gain additional ct technologist certifications

Ct technologist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific ct technologist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for ct technologists include Certified Radiological Technologist and Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA).

More About Certifications

Research ct technologist duties and responsibilities

Manage IP office call recordings.
Experience professional whose skill set has culminate in facilitating all radiology examinations and managing a team of radiology professionals.
Perform iv injections, stress testing, ekg, bone density, ct and nuclear mead safety.
Perform competitive analysis (UNIX vs. Linux, SPARC vs. x86/AMD) to drive product enhancements with application/system profiling.

Prepare your ct technologist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ct technologist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a ct technologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable ct technologist resume templates

Build a professional ct technologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your ct technologist resume.

Apply for ct technologist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a ct technologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do ct technologists rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Ct technologist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020

Pros

use of advanced technology to help diagnose and treat people for their illnesses

Cons

people who are rude and demanding and refuse to acknowledge that they are not the only person needing the service- and complain about waiting and wanting things done faster

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019