Diagnostic Imaging Jobs

Imaging covers 7 role types: radiologic technologists, mammography technologists, sonographers, cardiovascular technicians, MRI technologists, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists.

An accredited program, usually an associate degree, then the ARRT registry exam. Most states also license the role, and postings list both the license and the registry.

Sonographers work with ultrasound and often specialize in cardiac, vascular, or OB imaging. Which registry a posting names follows the modality: ARDMS for general, OB, and vascular work, CCI on the cardiac side, and both boards certify vascular. Radiologic technologists work with x-ray under the ARRT umbrella and can add CT or other modalities later.

Delivers the radiation treatments a radiation oncologist prescribes, positioning patients precisely and running the machine through a course of daily sessions. These jobs are in cancer centers and hospital oncology departments.

Start in x-ray, then cross-train into CT, MRI, or mammography and sit the added registry exam. Employers often fund the cross-training because multi-modality techs are harder to hire.

Hospital imaging covers nights, weekends, and on-call for emergencies. Outpatient imaging centers keep weekday appointment hours, which is the usual trade against hospital pay differentials.