Radiologist Education in California

The beautiful and sunny coastal state of California is one of the most popular places to visit and live in the United States. Tourists flock to the coastland year after year to visit theme parks, see celebrities, experience the sandy California beaches, or shop in some of the best malls and boutiques in the country. Due to the warm climate and area attractions, California has also become a hot spot for retirees looking to spend their golden years in a mild and comfortable environment. The growing number of snow birds and permanent elderly residents has prompted the boom of medical schools and health care facilities. Radiology schools in California, including Kaplan College, are popping up all over the state to offer training and promises of lucrative careers.

Kaplan College

One of the leading radiology schools in California is Kaplan College which offers degree programs such as Associates and Bachelors, as well as certificates in a wide variety of medical and health related fields. The radiology program at Kaplan is designed to prepare students to pass the licensure examinations required by the California State Department of Health Services. By receiving a diploma from the accredited institution in radiology, graduates become eligible for entry-level employment in a wide variety of radiological occupations including a CT technologist, Mammography technologist, darkroom technician, or radiologic technologist. Graduates of the Kaplan program receive more than their certification or diploma, but problem solving and critical thinking skills that cannot be traded. The radiology field is becoming as alluring as the warm climate of California because of its employment availability.

Diploma
Diploma: Radiologic Technology: Radiologic technicians are responsible for taking x-rays and administering non-radioactive materials into patients' bloodstreams for diagnostic purposes. They explain the procedure to patients, and then position the patient and radiographic equipment to ensure that the parts of the body can be properly imaged.
Other programs available at Kaplan College: Diploma: Radiologic Technologist
North Hollywood

Do I Need to Attend a Four-Year Institution to Be a Radiology Technician?

When considering a career in radiology technologies the question arises whether it is required to attend a four-year institution for a radiology technician degree. Simply put: no, it's not necessary to complete a four-year degree to be a radiology technician, but these programs are not as wide spread as the four-year or two-year degree programs.

Length of Training and Educational Programs

  • One to four years and lead to a certificate, associate's degree or bachelor's degree in radiology
  • The length of training and education can determine the salary and duties of a radiology technician

A radiology technician or radiographer is responsible for the reading of X-rays and administration of X-rays for diagnostic purposes.

Typical Coursework

In addition to classroom work, hands-on clinical work is required in any radiology program. Technicians need to prepare non-radioactive solutions for diagnosis purposes and often need to be made on demand that is for the diagnosis at hand. For that reason training in the radiology environment is included in all programs; it is the amount of these experiences that differs from a certificate program to a bachelor's program.

Radiologists

Often maintain the diagnostic equipment as well as running the radiology department of a hospital or clinic. These additional duties such as budgeting, scheduling, purchasing, and hiring are not necessarily covered in shorter degree programs.

The education required will be completely dependent on the position desired by the student. Shorter degree programs are typically more intensive and involve more concentrated material than a four-year program and are set programs. This means that a student may not be able to add courses to their education to expand their knowledge. These certificate programs still fully prepare a student for the career in radiology technology, offering the core requirements and essential training to get students into the workforce more quickly.

Two-year or Associate's Degree

They provide a more in-depth experience than the certificate programs, covering a wider range of topics while providing some options in the coursework for students. It should be noted that adding classes to a degree program of any kind is completely at the discretion of the institution and may warrant a longer duration of educational training. Associate's degree programs cover anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and microbiology as do university and certificate programs. The duration and requirements of these areas will vary from school to school, but a two-year school will grant more knowledge in a less intensive environment than a certificate program.

Bachelor’s Degree

A four-year or bachelor's degree is more involved and will better prepare technicians to perform a wider variety of services and procedures than a technician with a certificate and, in turn, will be paid more. University graduates can perform other diagnostic procedures as well.

It is not the length of a radiology technician program that is important. It is the length of the program compared to the career desired by the student that is important. The length of the program determines the amount of training a student will receive, both within radiology techniques and procedures and education in the areas of business management, human resources, and maintenance of equipment. These factors should be considered when choosing a radiology training program to facilitate the student's career path desires.

Online Schools

The following is a list of schools that offer online Radiologist Education programs.