How To Become An Imaging Services Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is an imaging services director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Imaging services directors are in charge of a surgical facility's diagnostic imaging team. They typically report to the senior management leader. These professionals can work closely with patients to conduct X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging scans. The majority of their time, though, is spent carrying out the administrative tasks of the agency.

On a daily basis, imaging services directors review work schedules and assign duties to workers to maintain patient flow and achieve production goals. They evaluate the accuracy and quality of images and provides technical assistance when necessary. They also demonstrate new techniques, introduce new equipment, show new procedures in compliance with the policies.

Since an associate degree is the only formal education needed to become an imaging technologist, if you're interested in entering the management ranks, you must return to school and hit the books. Candidates for imaging services director positions are usually expected to have at least a bachelor's degree, but many employers give priority to those with a master's degree. While standards vary by state, certain jurisdictions stipulate that imaging technologists at all skill levels must be qualified or accredited in order to practice the profession.

ScoreImaging Services DirectorUS Average

Salary

8.4

Avg. Salary $129,941

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 7.85%

Black or African American 10.90%

Hispanic or Latino 14.84%

Unknown 4.28%

White 61.40%

Gender

female 30.05%

male 69.95%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an imaging services director

Explore imaging services director education requirements

Most common imaging services director degrees

Bachelor's

48.7 %

Associate

27.1 %

Master's

17.3 %

Start to develop specific imaging services director skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	14.11%
Patient Care	10.51%
Ultrasound	10.40%
MRI	7.45%
Nuclear Medicine	4.52%

Complete relevant imaging services director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New imaging services directors 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 an imaging services director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real imaging services director resumes.

Research imaging services director duties and responsibilities

Manage PPS details efficiently to ensure high quality clinical care while maximizing reimbursement for the facility.
Re-Accredite mammography program with ACR and FDA.
Maintain JCAHO compliance and state regulations.
Maintain QA standards for radiology department.

Get imaging services director experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an imaging services director. The most common roles before becoming an imaging services director include radiologic technician, director of radiology team lead and nuclear medicine technologist.

Prepare your imaging services director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your imaging services director 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 an imaging services director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable imaging services director resume templates

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