According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, among other tasks, "Radiologic technologists and technicians take x rays and administer nonradioactive materials into patients' blood streams for diagnostic purposes. Some specialize in diagnostic imaging technologies such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)." Rad techs may opt for more training and certification in the emerging field of Radiology Practitioner Assistants, a position somewhat similar to physician assistant.
The Bureau of Health Professions reports that the number of recipients of rad tech degrees per 100,000 population increased 10% from 1992 to 1997. An American Hospital Association report released early in 2002 reported a national vacancy rate for hospital radiologic technologists hovering around 15%.
Is the job dangerous? Less so now than before 1950, apparently. In a study of 69,525 female rad techs who were certified as radiation technologists between 1926 and 1982, it was found that women (who fill 75% of the jobs) who began working between 1940 and 1949 were about 2-1/2 times more likely to die of breast cancer compared with those who started working in 1960 or later. It was not until nearly 20 years after Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen's 1895 discovered the x-ray that precautions such as lead aprons and film badges started coming into widespread use. Too, lower radiation dose exposure is now recommended.14
Sources: Map: National Center for Health Workforce Information and Analysis, State Health Workforce Profiles, http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/profiles/default.htm. "Registered Nurses," http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm. National Society of Radiology Practitioner Assistants, http://www.RadiologyPA.org/faqs.asp. "Mortality may be tied to prolonged exposure to low-dose radiation," Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, July 21, 2002 p14. Information retrieved September 30, 2002.
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