What degree do you need to be a radiologic technologist?

You need an associate's degree in radiologic technology to be a radiologic technologist. In addition, certain states require you to pass the examination and receive certification to practice as a professional radiologic technologist.

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

What is a radiologic technologist assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Karen Bubb

Radiology technologist assistants aid the work of X-ray technologists, contributing to the examination and diagnosis process. They perform clerical as well as technical duties, contributing to the work of the medical team. They communicate with patients, keep their records, and assist with diagnostic exams using various radiology modalities.

It will be your job to check-in patients, prepare and educate patients for the X-ray examination, assist with X-ray imaging procedures, transport patients, among other tasks. You collect and maintain patient information, schedule exams, and make sure the regulations and policies of the healthcare organization are respected.

The minimum requirement here is a high school diploma, but candidates with an associate degree in a related field are often preferred. Experience in healthcare or customer service will be appreciated, and a CPR license will most probably be mandatory. You will have to know how to sterilize equipment and how to protect people from radiation. This is a good place to gain experience in the field, should you later decide to get an education as a radiology technician. In the meantime, you will be able to earn around $29,000 on average per year.

What general advice would you give to a radiologic technologist assistant?

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.

ScoreRadiologic Technologist AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $50,212

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 74.44%

male 25.56%

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 a radiologic technologist assistant

Explore radiologic technologist assistant education requirements

Most common radiologic technologist assistant degrees

Associate

59.7 %

Bachelor's

23.0 %

High School Diploma

7.3 %

Start to develop specific radiologic technologist assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	28.59%
Patient Care	13.56%
Vital Signs	4.72%
CPR	4.41%
Radiologic Technologist	4.25%

Complete relevant radiologic technologist assistant training and internships

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

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed radiologic technologist assistant usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed radiologic technologist assistant in most of states. 32 states require radiologic technologist assistants 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 radiologic technologist assistant certifications

Radiologic technologist assistant 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 radiologic technologist assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for radiologic technologist assistants include Certified Radiological Technologist and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research radiologic technologist assistant duties and responsibilities

Complete DEXA scans and manage DEXA files.
Perform x-ray procedures during surgery an
Assist with all x-ray and ultrasound procedures.
Use of old and new c-arm equipment.

Prepare your radiologic technologist assistant resume

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

Choose from 10+ customizable radiologic technologist assistant resume templates

Build a professional radiologic technologist assistant 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 radiologic technologist assistant resume.

Apply for radiologic technologist assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a radiologic technologist assistant 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 radiologic technologist assistants rate their job?

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Radiologic technologist assistant reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020

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