- Aspiring individuals seeking a career as radiologic technologists or X-ray technicians may find several radiology-related programs in Kansas.
- Kansas mandates a special license for X–ray technicians and radiologic technologists(1). Moreover, employers usually select ARRT-certified radiologic technologists.
- As of May 2022, X-ray technicians in Kansas have an estimated annual salary of $64,739(2). X-ray technicians with more than ten years of experience may earn up to $77,304 each year.
List of X-ray Tech Schools in Kansas
Some Kansas universities offer medical imaging degree programs to students who want to work as X-ray technicians or radiologic technologists. Some of these colleges and universities are as follows:
- Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601-4099
(785) 628-5678
- Hutchinson Community College
Davis Hall, 815 North Walnut, Hutchinson, KS 67501
(620) 665-4954
- Labette Community College
200 South 14th Street, Parsons, KS 67357
(620) 820-1159
- Newman University
3100 McCormick Street, Wichita, KS 67213-2097
(316) 942-4291
- Washburn University
Benton Hall, Room 107, 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621
(785) 670-2170
List of Programs
The coursework, credit hours, and extent of diagnostic imaging programs for aspiring X-ray technicians or radiologic technologists differ.
Kansas colleges and universities offer the radiography programs shown below. The list also includes the duration of each program, job placement rate, and passing credentialing exam rates:
- Fort Hays State University
Program: Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology
Duration: 24 months(3)
Program Effectiveness(4):
-
-
- Job Placement Rate: 99%
- Credential Examination Pass Rate: 97%
- Completion Rate: 97%
-
- Hutchinson Community College
Program: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Radiologic Technology
Duration: 24 months(5)
Program Effectiveness(6):
-
-
- Job Placement Rate: 93.3%
- Credential Examination Pass Rate:100%
- Completion Rate: 68.4%
-
- Labette Community College
Program: AAS degree in Radiography
Duration: 24 months(7)
Program Effectiveness(8):
-
-
- Job Placement Rate: 94%
- Credential Examination Pass Rate: 95%
- Completion Rate: 77%
-
- Newman University(9)
Program: Associate in Health Science
Duration: 24 months
Program Effectiveness(10):
-
-
- Job Placement Rate: 96%
- Credential Examination Pass Rate: 82%
- Completion Rate: 77%
-
- Washburn University(11)
Program: Certificate in Radiation Therapy
Duration: 13 months
Program Effectiveness(12):
-
-
- Job Placement Rate: 89%
- Credential Examination Pass Rate: 93%
- Completion Rate: 98%
-
- Washburn University(13)
Program: Associate of Science in Radiography
Duration: 21
Program Effectiveness(14):
-
-
- Job Placement Rate: 100%
- Credential Examination Pass Rate: 91%
- Completion Rate: 95.8%
-
X-ray Technician Program vs. Radiology Technologist Program
Many radiology courses differ from one another. However, educational programs for radiologic technologists and X-ray technicians are commonly equivalent(15).
Nevertheless, one notable difference is that radiologic technology programs typically take at least two years to complete. This program includes hours of focused field study such as clinical rotations and patient care and training in medical centers involving radiographic procedures.
X-ray technician degree programs can last from nine months to two years, depending on the college or university.
Moreover, a radiology certificate is often necessary for full-time or entry-level work as an X-ray technician.
Furthermore, some states in the United States may require candidates to earn a separate license before working as radiologic technologists.
Due to this state requirement, aspirants may need an extended waiting period before becoming an X-ray technician.
What Is an X-ray Technician?
X-ray technicians are allied health professionals who develop images of human anatomy using medical imaging technology. These images help radiologists provide treatment strategies for specific medical conditions and injuries.
Technicians may assist in calming patients who are undergoing X-ray procedures and ensuring that patients receive the minimum radiation exposure to create high-quality images.
The titles “X-ray tech” and “X-ray technologist” refer to the same thing and are interchangeable medical terminologies(16).
Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) considers medical X-ray imaging as a radiologic technology specialization(17).
Colleges and organizations may interchange the terms “radiologic technician” and “radiology technologist” because these phrases typically refer to the same job(18). Other terms that are equivalent include:
- Radiology tech
- Radiologic tech
- Radiographer(19)
Radiologic technologists may earn more credentials to specialize in the following areas:
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Nuclear medicine
- Bone densitometry
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Sonography
- Mammography
How to Become a Radiology Technologist in Kansas
Some states in the United States may require individuals to hold a license before practicing as radiologic technologists.
In Kansas, radiologic technology professionals must earn their license through the state’s licensure exam or any other relevant national tests(20). Kansas can also accept licenses from other states in the United States as long as the licensure standards are equivalent to the state’s standards.
Furthermore, candidates should pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or ARRT certificate program before practicing radiography or radiation therapy.
Individuals seeking a career in radiologic technology should also meet the ARRT‘s requirements. Obtaining a certificate or degree (an associate’s or bachelor’s degree) in a relevant program is one way to meet this requirement.
Accreditation
A JRCERT-accredited radiologic science or radiography program imparts the general education and specific training necessary to prepare students for a potential career in radiologic technology.
JRCERT stands for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
After completing a JRCERT-approved program, the applicant can earn credentials by taking an ARRT-administered national registry exam.
Individuals can find out if their preferred program has accreditation by visiting the JRCERT office at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182 or exploring the www.jrcert.org webpage for more information.
Tuition and Fees
Aside from differences in courses that lead to a career, such as radiologic technology or X-ray technician, tuition fees in Kansas schools differ.
In addition to the basic tuition for the program, each institution may charge extra fees to pay necessary expenses such as utilities and laboratory upkeep.
As of May 20, 2022, the Kansas schools below have the following tuition fee estimations for various radiology programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)(21):
- Fort Hays State University
- Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology: $11,600 (resident), $34,160 (non-resident)
- Hutchinson Community College
- AAS in Radiologic Technology: $3,040
- Labette Community College
- AAS in Radiography: $3,167 (resident), $3,942 (non-resident)
- Newman University
- AAS in Radiologic Technology: $24,920
- Washburn University
- Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology: $5,537 (resident), $12,391 (non-resident)
Career Opportunities
In Kansas, hospitals are the major employers of radiologic technology practitioners. Some of these hospitals and medical facilities include:
- Hays Medical Center
2220 Canterbury Drive, Hays, KS 67601-2342
(785) 623-5000 - Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
3651 College Boulevard, Leawood, KS 66211
(913) 338-4100
- Manhattan Surgical Hospital LLC
1829 College Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502
(785) 776-5100
- Salina Surgical Hospital
401 South Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 493-0685
- University of Kansas Hospital
4000 Cambridge Street, Kansas City, KS 66160-7200
(913) 588-1227
Similar Occupations
The following occupations have job responsibilities similar to those of radiology technicians:
Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Endoscopy technicians
- Radiation therapists
- Dental assistants
- Surgical technologists
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Nuclear medicine technologists
- Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Dental assistants
- Surgical technologists
- Neurodiagnostic technologists
- Dental hygienists
- Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Ultrasonographer
- Endoscopy technicians
X-ray Tech Salary in Kansas
As of May 21, 2022, the estimated annual salary for an X-ray technician in Kansas is $64,739(22). X-ray techs with more than ten years of experience may earn $77,304 annually.
Is It Hard to Become an X-ray Tech?
The difficulty of intending to pursue a career as an X-ray technician depends on the school’s program curriculum and teaching approach.
The student’s capacity to learn the material and adapt these lessons in a clinical setting can also influence how easily or slowly they become excellent technicians.
Switching from high school to a career as a radiology technician may not be as difficult as many think.
In radiologic technology coursework, there are no formal mathematics classes. However, radiology technicians must understand mathematical equations and be able to perform basic algebraic calculations.
What Is a Radiology Technician?
Radiology technicians assess patients for examinations, position them correctly, utilize the equipment, and use basic radiologic technology knowledge and expertise to decrease the patient’s radiation exposure.
Radiology is a medical specialization that uses medical imaging to diagnose disorders and develop treatment plans for patients.
Specific doctors, such as radiologists, order radiology exams to confirm a suspected diagnosis based on symptoms, diagnostic testing (such as labs and ECGs), and patient history.
Job Description
Radiology technicians collaborate with doctors to treat patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors. Some everyday tasks and job duties include:
- Patient assessment, examination, and evaluation
- Patient positioning for diagnostic procedures
- Applying patient care during imaging procedures
- Explaining the processes to patients
- Keeping up-to-date on radiation protection and safety protocols and applying this additional information when necessary
- Keeping patient records, organizing images, guaranteeing image clarity, and relaying images to the doctor
- Conducting or aiding a licensed practitioner in procedures
- Sterilizing and keeping imaging equipment in the correct manner
Degrees and Programs
Most medical imaging facilities and companies require radiologist technicians to have a formal academic credential from a Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or an accredited hospital-based or college-based training course.
Degree courses in radiologic science or radiology technology may concentrate on the following course subjects:
- Radiation therapy treatment planning and dosimetry
- Medical imaging procedures
- Radiographic pathology
- Human anatomy, physiology, and pathology related to radiology
- Radiation physics
- Patient care
AAS in radiologic technology is an excellent educational program for participants who want to be at the forefront of innovations in patient care and technology.
An AAS in radiology tech is typically a 75-hour degree consisting of introductory classes and professional radiologic coursework(23).
Coursework
Completing an AAS radiology technology program may involve the following steps:
1. Applying and completing initial coursework
The first stage is looking for a school with a biological sciences training program that can provide the prerequisite coursework for a radiology tech degree.
Candidates should expect to pay a registration fee and submit high school and college documents.
English, basic anatomy, healthcare, medical terminology, physiology, and psychology may be necessary lessons.
2. Enrolling in the university’s radiologic technology degree program
Students who complete the prerequisite coursework may be eligible to enrol in the university’s radiologic technology program.
After acceptance into the program, students must pass screening tests and exams to pursue jobs as healthcare professionals.
3. Finishing the professional radiologic technology coursework
Students may complete their remaining college credits, usually in a step-by-step manner. This option implies that the student’s knowledge of one subject is directly relevant to the next.
Internships and Externships
At this point, instructors can arrange for students to participate in clinical experiences (internships or externships) through the university’s network of affiliated providers.
Where Do Radiology Technicians Work?
Many radiographers work in hospitals(24). However, radiology technicians can work in surgical centers, pain treatment facilities, orthopedic offices, and outpatient imaging centers.
Radiology techs‘ daily activities may vary depending on their workplace. Radiologic technologists, for example, use handheld machines to X-ray patients in hospitals’ imaging departments or emergency departments.
On the other hand, radiology technicians at an orthopedic facility or outpatient imaging facility may employ static images to X-ray fractured and healing bones and abdominal or chest anatomy.
FDA Recommendations
As per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), medical imaging specialists must keep in mind two criteria for radiation protection(25).
- Optimization: X-ray practices should employ appropriate strategies to reduce radiation exposure while still generating high-quality images for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. This objective may require using the X-ray technicians’ mathematical and critical-thinking skills.
- Justification: The X-ray operation must regularly undergo reviews and assessments to ensure that the procedure profits patients more than it endangers them. Consequently, ionizing radiation reviews are necessary to identify a medical problem, remedy a disease, or offer treatment options.
Radiation dosage optimization occurs when practitioners develop high-quality images while using the least amount of radiation necessary for the clinical task.
The quality assurance (QA) program of a facility can help reduce radiation exposure for any X-ray imaging test, surgery, or medical imaging process.
The patient’s size is a crucial consideration in optimization(26). For example, larger patients necessitate a higher radiation dose to produce images of comparable quality to smaller patients.
When radiation levels are abnormally high (or low), routine and systematic radiation dose tracking and the application of follow-up actions are critical components of a QA program.
Furthermore, for interventional fluoroscopy exams, which is a type of X-ray medical imaging, “diagnostic reference levels” (DRLs) or simply “reference levels” are necessary(27).
These standards rely on professional organizations and national, state, regional, or municipal government criteria.
27 Sources
- Discover a World of Possibilities in Radiology in Kansas
https://radiologyed.org/schools/kansas/ - X-ray Technician Salary in Kansas
https://www.indeed.com/career/x%20ray-technician/salaries/KS - Radiologic Technology Program Student Handbook
https://www.fhsu.edu/alliedhealth/academic-programs/asdegree/r.t.-student-handbook-final-version.pdf - Discover a World of Possibilities in Radiology in Kansas
https://radiologyed.org/schools/kansas/ - Student Handbook
https://www.hutchcc.edu/cms/files/126 - Discover a World of Possibilities in Radiology in Kansas
https://radiologyed.org/schools/kansas/ - Radiography Program
http://www.labette.edu/radiography/index.html - Discover a World of Possibilities in Radiology in Kansas
https://radiologyed.org/schools/kansas/ - Newman University – Radiography
https://www.jrcert.org/programs/newman-university/ - Discover a World of Possibilities in Radiology in Kansas
https://radiologyed.org/schools/kansas/ - Washburn University – Radiation Therapy
https://www.jrcert.org/programs/washburn-university/ - Program Effectiveness Data
https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/applied-studies/departments/allied-health/xt/files/xt-program-effectiveness-data.pdf - Washburn University – Radiography
https://www.jrcert.org/programs/washburn-university-2/ - Program Effectiveness Data
https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/applied-studies/departments/allied-health/xr/files/xr-program-effectiveness-data.pdf - How to Become a Radiologic Technologist
https://www.nwhealth.edu/blog/how-to-become-a-radiologic-technologist/ - 5 Differences Between RT (Radiologic Technologist) and LMRT (Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist)
https://www.chcp.edu/blog/5-differences-between-rt-and-lmrt/ - What Radiologic and MRI Technologists Do
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm#tab-2 - What’s the Difference Between a Technician and Technologist in Radiology?
https://www.cambridgehealth.edu/blog/whats-the-difference-between-a-technician-and-technologist-in-radiology/ - What Radiologic and MRI Technologists Do
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm#tab-2 - Discover a World of Possibilities in Radiology in Kansas
https://radiologyed.org/schools/kansas/ - Ibid.
- X-ray Technician salary in Kansas
https://www.indeed.com/career/x%20ray-technician/salaries/KS - Radiologic Technologist (Radiographer): 3 Steps to Be One
https://www.cleveland.edu/blog-post/~post/radiologic-technologist-radiographer-3-steps-to-be-one-20201020/ - Everything You Need to Know About a Career as a Radiologic Technologist
https://www.herzing.edu/blog/everything-you-need-know-about-career-radiologic-technologist - Medical X-ray Imaging
https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-imaging/medical-x-ray-imaging#principles - Ibid.
- Ibid.