Do you have a liking for taking care of the health of other people? Are you caring and compassionate? Do you think you don’t want to invest a long time in preparing for a career in the medical field but still want a decent job in healthcare? Do you want to leave formal education early and be on your feet as soon as you can? You can look at a career option as a X-Ray Technician and earn a decent living.
An X-Ray Technician is trained in creating X-Ray images of various body parts of humans using radiographic equipment under the guidance of a Radiologist.
Why become an X-ray Technician?
As an X-Ray Technician, you will be trained in creating X-Ray images of various body parts of humans using radiographic equipment under the guidance of a Radiologist. You will be responsible for keeping patients safe from radiation, positioning the X-Rays correctly so that it has the right exposure, regulating the intensity and duration of X-Rays, etc.
As an X-Ray Technician, you will be working with doctors and helping them to diagnose ailments and identify areas inside the human body that are affected by diseases or injuries.
What does an X-ray technician do?
As an X-Ray Technician, you will be:
- Determine patients’ X-Ray needs by reading requests or instructions from the doctor.
- Preparing and setting up the X-Ray room for patients and keeping the X-Ray room clean.
- Positioning X-Ray equipment and adjusting controls for setting exposure factors, such as time and distance.
- Positioning the patient on examining the table and setting up and adjusting equipment for obtaining an optimum view of a specific body area as requested by the doctor.
- Explaining the procedures to patients for reducing anxieties and obtaining cooperation.
- Using beam-restrictive devices and patient-shielding techniques for minimizing radiation exposure to the patient.
- Making exposures necessary for the requested procedures; will be rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
- Collecting and maintaining records of patients examined, examinations performed, patient medical histories, views taken, or technical factors used.
How to become an X-ray technician – eligibility criteria
After class 10 in school if you are not much inclined to higher education, and then you may apply for a Diploma in Radiology Technician from any ITI or other vocational institutes.
If you have completed class 12 in school, then you may obtain NSQF Level 3 qualification in X-Ray Technician from any vocational institute or another similar institute.
You can also obtain NSQF Level 4 qualification in Radiology Technician after completing class 12 in school (class 10 under some certain situations) or obtain NSQF Level 3 certification in X-ray Technician with 3 years of experience in this field.
Educational fees
The cost of studying X-ray technician courses in India can vary depending on several factors such as the type of program, institution, and location.
Certificate courses in X-ray technology can range from INR 10,000 to 30,000 per year, while diploma courses can cost between INR 30,000 to 1,00,000 per year. Bachelor’s degree programs in X-ray technology can cost around INR 50,000 to 2,00,000 per year.
Job Opportunities
After completing Diploma/NSQF qualification, you can find various work opportunities such as:-
- X-Ray Technician
- Assistant X-Ray Technician
You will get work opportunities with various established Private as well as Government establishments or Hospitals.
Salary of an X-ray Technician
As an apprentice or trainee, you will be earning about Rs. 7,000-10,000 a month.
After 1-5 years of experience, you will be earning about Rs. 10,000-17,000 a month.
After 8-10 years of experience, you will be earning about Rs. 20,000-30,000 or more a month.
Career progression in X-ray technician profession
As an X-Ray Technician, you may find limited career opportunities. From a Trainee, one can become an X-Ray Technician and then a Senior X-Ray Technician. In a large hospital, one can get into a supervisory role.
What do industry trends say – future prospects
As the years pass by, with better education, degree, and experience, X-ray technicians can expect more salaries and sophisticated equipment. In India, the Healthcare market is expected to reach US$ 372 billion by 2022. It is also expected that CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of the hospital industry will grow by 16-17% and reach by Rs. 8.6 trillion by FY22. These Statistics imply that there will be X-Ray Technician employed in the coming years, which mean more services will be provided to the aging population. There are several new labs, and hospitals opening in India.
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