How To Become An PRN Radiology Technologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an prn radiology technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Karen Bubb

As a PRN radiology technologist, although you might not be conducting the actual surgery, you will stay play a vital role in the medical facility. Your purpose, in this capacity, will be to provide radiologic care to patients for the purpose of diagnosing or treating disorders. You will capture images of organs and tissues to help the doctors and surgeons focus on the problem area within the patient's anatomy.

Some of the duties and responsibilities that you will be performing in this capacity include using imaging equipment, positioning patients to make sure that unnecessary exposure is avoided and the final image is focused on the problematic area. Moreover, you will also perform administrative tasks and ensure image accuracy. Essential skills required for the successful completion of these tasks are attention to detail, communication, interpersonal, teamwork, and computer proficiency, along with technical skills.

To qualify for this position, you will need to be a high school graduate, although having an associate's degree in a related technical field may be given preference. In addition, you will also need to be a BLS Provider credentialed from the American Heart Association and other similar licenses to keep working in this field. The average hourly pay for this position is $23.82, which amounts to $49,540 annually. This career is projected to grow in the near future and create new opportunities across the United States.

What general advice would you give to an prn radiology technologist?

Karen Bubb

Department Head, Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Medical Imaging, Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

In the fields of Radiologic Technology and Medical Sonography, continuous learning is the key to a long-term career. Never assume you know it all because there is always something new and innovative to learn. New technological advancements are continuously being released and it is vital to keep up with the newest techniques. The more you know and the more relevant you are in the professions; the more employers will seek you out and compensate you for your expertise. Also, do not get into bad habits when it comes to ergonomics. Musculoskeletal injuries are common in sonographers and can ruin a budding career fast.

ScorePRN Radiology TechnologistUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $50,899

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 76.17%

male 23.83%

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

Key steps to become an prn radiology technologist

Explore prn radiology technologist education requirements

Most common prn radiology technologist degrees

Associate

75.8 %

Bachelor's

16.8 %

Certificate

3.2 %

Start to develop specific prn radiology technologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	26.02%
ARRT	15.49%
Radiologic Technologist	6.85%
CPR	5.31%
Surgery	4.84%

Complete relevant prn radiology technologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New prn radiology 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 an prn radiology technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real prn radiology technologist resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming an licensed prn radiology technologist usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed prn radiology technologist in most of states. 32 states require prn radiology technologists to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alaska	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Radiologic Technologists
Arkansas	Degree required	Both state and third-party exams required	Radiologic Technologist (Radiographer)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	California Radiologic Technologist (CRT)
Colorado	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Radiologic Technologists
Connecticut	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Radiographer

Gain additional prn radiology technologist certifications

Prn radiology 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 prn radiology technologist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for prn radiology technologists include Certified Radiological Technologist and Radiation Therapy.

More About Certifications

Research prn radiology technologist duties and responsibilities

Manage IP office call recordings.
Order and read lab tests, x-rays, MRI, ultrasounds, and EKG.
Maintain equipment and perform QC & QA protocols.
Set up MRI exam room and supply necessary medical supplies and contrast materials.

Prepare your prn radiology technologist resume

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

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