Radiological Technologist Schools and Certification in Kentucky
Kentucky issues general and limited certifications to radiation operators. General certification takes substantial education; this credential is available only to those who have complete accredited programs and received a certificate from an approved national certifying agency. Explore accredited radiologic technologist schools and related programs offered in Kentucky.
Radiologic Technologist Resources – Kentucky
Limited certification is available to those who have completed short programs or approved home study courses. Limited radiation operators can be hired at facilities like doctor’s offices where only basic x-rays are performed; they can’t work as radiation operators at facilities where contrast studies are performed.
Requirements for General Certification of Radiologic Technologists in Kentucky
If you are pursuing full certification in general radiography, you will need to be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). You will need to enroll in a program that meets the ARRT’s standards.
Your program, moreover, will need to be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JCERT). You may do a program search on the ARRT or JCERT site. You can also look to the Kentucky Society of Radiologic Technologists for a list of programs organized by educational level.
You can pursue a degree at the associate or baccalaureate level. There are also schools in the state that offer certificate programs in radiography. You should be aware that starting in 2015, the ARRT will only certify graduates who hold at least an associate degree (though the degree may be earned before or after the radiography coursework).
Your radiography curriculum will typically include a mixture of lecture, lab work, and field experience. You may begin doing clinical hours in a health care facility once you’ve completed at least 50% of your program requirements — it will be up to your school exactly when you begin.
As you’re nearing program completion, you can take the initial steps toward ARRT registry. Your program director will eventually need to sign that you have met the clinical requirements — i.e. performed all the needed procedures. You will schedule an exam at a Pearson site once you have been approved. The ARRT certification process also includes an ethics screening.
You can work under a temporary license while you’re working toward meeting the examination requirements. Look for applications on the board site.
If you are pursuing a career in nuclear medicine technology, you will have a slightly different curriculum as well as a different testing agency — the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB).
As a general radiographer in Kentucky, you can move up the career ladder by completing requirements to become a radiologist assistant. This requires education at at least the baccalaureate level.
Radiologic Technologist Career Outlook in Kentucky
Relatively speaking, Kentucky employs a lot of radiology technologists. It is among the highest states in the nation when it comes to the percentage of individuals employed in this occupation group – at 2.32 per thousand, it ranks #4. The Lexington-Fayette area has the highest concentration of workers in the state.
What about future prospects for radiology technologists? Kentucky has been projected to see 16% growth during the 2008 to 2018 decade.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released 2011 salary averages. Kentucky’s radiology technologists and technicians make a mean wages of $22.91 an hour or $47,640 a year. In general, workers make slightly more in metropolitan areas than in more rural ones. Bowling Green tops the state at $49,550; Lexington is not far behind.
Additional Resources for Radiologic Technologists in Kentucky
- Licensing Agency: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Radiation Operator Certification
Click Here to visit their website
- Professional Organization: Kentucky Society of Radiologic Technologists
Click Here to visit their website.
