As a medical radiation or ultrasound technologist you would use radioactive chemicals and equipment for diagnostic, x-ray and therapeutic purposes. You would aslo specialize in one of a number of different areas including radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and digital imaging of the body's internal parts. Radiation therapy technologists administer ionizing radiation to treat such diseases as cancer. Nuclear medicine technologists use measured doses of radioactive materials to carry out tests on patients. Radiographers record body imaging on film and computers and take and process x-ray images. In this profession you would work under the direction of a specialized physician.

WHAT YOU NEED:

To enter this field you need to complete a minimum 22-month program of study, available through some technical institutes, community colleges or hospitals. In order to begin this program, completion of secondary school, with a background in the basic sciences, is generally required. Upon completion of post-secondary training you may write a national certification exam specific to your specialty.

SALARY:
$33,000 to $35,000