Online X-Ray Technician Training Programs

Working in the healthcare industry holds many benefits for prospective candidates, including employee benefits, competitive salaries, and a stable working environment.

However, few candidates are able to find the time to complete a course or attend lectures at a college.

Fortunately, thanks to technology, students are now able to study towards certification as an X-Ray technician from the comfort of their homes.

Online training programs offer students a plethora of benefits and allow students the flexibility they need to pursue a career and study part-time.

This challenging yet rewarding job allows prospective students to get their foot in the door in the healthcare industry.

What Courses Are in an Online X-Ray Technician Program?

Course materials will differ from one school to another.

In addition, the length of the course, the institution offering the course, and the type of certificate will determine which course material is included in the program.

Below is a list of possible topics that may be covered in this program:

• Medical imaging
• Laboratory Procedures and Quality Management
• Conducting ultrasounds and MRIs
• Electrocardiography
• Health laws
• Radiographic Procedures
• Trends in radiography
• Administering radiography
• Patient Care
• Image Acquisition
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Urinalysis
• Lab Result Correlation
• X-raying extremities

Can You Earn an X-Ray Technician Certification Completely Online?

There are a few courses that are offered online.

However, due to the nature of the course, and the requirement for students to be hands-on, the courses are not offered entirely online.

Courses are a blend of online and on-campus.

The theory may be covered with distance learning, but the radiography courseware is conducted on-campus.

In addition, some of the courseware may require clinical or on-campus residencies.

The clinical portion of the courseware may be completed at a hospital or clinical facility situated close to the school and pre-approved by the school, while the residency may be completed over a short period of time, such as a weekend.

How Long Does it Take to Earn a Medical Assistant Certification Online?

The X-ray technician programs are offered at traditional colleges and universities.

Students have a few options when pursuing a qualification in this field:

• A certificate/diploma course
• An associate degree
• An undergraduate degree
• Graduate degree
• Hybrid

Keep in mind, that these courses are only partially online.

How Much Does an Online X-ray Technician Certification Cost?

Tuition, application fees, and admission fees will differ from one institution to another offering the same course.

Tuition may start at $2,700 per semester for in-state students and $7,900 per semester for out-of-state students.

Benefits of Online X-Ray Technician Training Programs

This may be a challenging course to complete online, as it is a very hands-on course that requires students to complete practicals in order to qualify.

1. Extremely flexible

Most prospective students that opt to pursue this course are most likely already working in a career or field.

This means that finding the time to study may be very challenging, to say the least.

Allowing students to complete the theoretical section of this program online means that students are able to adapt their lifestyle to fit their studies into their daily routine.

It not only saves students time to commute to and from school but also saves students money on their commute.

There is complicated terminology associated with this field and this course.

Allowing students to study at their own pace means that students have additional time to focus on sections of the theory that may be problematic to digest or process.

2. Work while you learn

Students are able to earn a living and progress in their careers while they are studying for their certification and RRA licensure.

The job is flexible enough to allow students to either work part-time, during the evenings or on weekends while they study.

3. Ability to advance career

Previously, students did not have the option of learning online while they were working.

If you could not take the time or find the time, it simply meant that you would not be able to study further.

Being able to work while working towards certification is something that has only gained momentum in the last several years.

4. Affordability

For some, opting to study online is more about saving money and being able to afford to go back to school.

For the most part, tuition for online courses is priced lower than tuition for in-classroom lectures.

That is because online schools do not have the same overheads as brick-and-mortar buildings that need to pay for staff and other utilities.

Hence, these savings are carried over to the students.

This is also an alternative for students who are unable to qualify for financial aid and who do not have the financial means to pay for full-time college.

Drawbacks of Online X-Ray Technician Training Programs

Studying for certification online has its drawbacks.

While this format is suited to many types of programs, not all are a good match.

This particular program does not benefit too much from this type of educational instruction.

1. It creates a feeling of isolation

Students learn differently.

Some students benefit more from learning in an online format, other students benefit more from learning in a group setting.

For students that find it difficult to adapt to learning online, a sense of isolation may make learning new subject matter this way unbearable.

Online learning is not for everyone.

And as such, this may pose additional problems.

For example, students may start to procrastinate and put off learning because they do not enjoy learning in this manner.

Furthermore, students may find it more challenging to connect with other students in the virtual classroom or in chat forums.

Some students may even abandon their studies as a result.

2. You must possess a high degree of self-discipline

Organizing yourself and your time is no easy feat.

You are required to balance out your responsibilities, your work, your personal life, and now your studies as well.

Time management seems to be the biggest culprit for most people who wish to pursue a course in this format. In addition, many students tend to procrastinate for various reasons.

Accountability increases when a student forms part of a community and attends campus classes.

In order for the student to fully engage in the lesson, the student must feel that they are being adequately guided, which may not always be the case with online learning.

3. Technical issues

One of the more frustrating aspects of online classes is the technical issues that many students tend to face.

These issues may disrupt the class and cause the student to miss out on valuable instruction.

It may even frustrate the student if the matter persists and motivate the student to abandon their studies altogether.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Online X-Ray Technician Training Programs – Summary Table

Types of X-ray Technician Certifications

There is currently one qualification with several specializations in this field:

1. Fluoroscopy
2. Sonography
3. CT scans
4. Brain imaging
5. Mammography
6. Cellular imaging
7. MRI scans

4 Self-Study Tips for X-Ray Technician Online Students

Here are four tips to help you study for your online X-ray Technician certificate.

1. Good study habits

You will need to start by developing good study habits.

In order for you to successfully complete this course, you must develop your own schedule and habits for completing assignments, tasks, and course materials.

This may be very challenging as you may be used to studying in a community and thus avoid accountability.

However, in this case, where you are required to manage yourself and your own time, it is imperative that you create a schedule for yourself.

You are in control of the pace at which you study.

This requires discipline and commitment toward your goals.

Students should set out clearly defined goals for completing the online course.

This involves managing time and organizing time so that goals can be achieved and the course may be completed within due time.

2. Foster strong relationships

There is a lot that goes into managing your own pace and study time.

Unlike the convenience of a brick-and-mortar establishment where you will be studying with other students and have direct access to your educators, this is not always the case with online studying.

These courses are challenging and understanding the terminology may pose some problems.

By fostering strong relationships with peers and your educators, you will be able to address an online community with any questions, doubts, or concerns that you have regarding the course material or any subject in the material.

Most online programs have forums that the students can sign up for and speak with other like-minded students on the subject matter.

Students should make a point of building relationships in the online forums to gain the most out of this experience and to be able to get quick responses to questions.

3. Understanding technology

Learn how to operate the online platform on which the course will be offered, which may be Google Class, Skype, or Zoom.

Make sure you are using the best possible search engine and that your PC screen, internet access, and audio are all working optimally.

Understanding that you are now operating in a different realm is the key to mastering online learning.

You will not always have the same resources that you have in a classroom setting, such as direct access to your educator and peers, but the technology for online classrooms is designed to help you better connect with your peers.

The sooner you understand how technology works and how to use it, the sooner you will draw benefits from online classes.

Get comfortable with using the platform and try to enter the platform a few times before the actual classes to prevent any technical issues which may inhibit you from accessing the online classroom.

4. Choose the right school

As previously stated, not all schools offer an online program.

Make sure to choose the right school that will cater to your needs as an online student and will also meet state requirements.

This is possibly the most important step in preparing for your online course.

You must select the appropriate course before starting your studies.

Each state has different requirements. Familiarize yourself with the requirements of your state before selecting a school.

Choosing the right blended program that offers sufficient support and guidance is key.

In addition, your state may require that the school you select be accredited by the appropriate accrediting bodies.

Furthermore, ensure that upon completion of the course, you will be eligible to sit for the national examination.

Not all schools offer programs that qualify students to sit for the national exam.

Conclusion

There are very few schools that offer this course completely online due to the hands-on nature of this job and the training requirements of this course.

It is imperative to select the appropriate school and to be sure that the school is fully accredited.

Prepare for your course by understanding the course materials and how to study online without supervision.