Continuing education is an important part of any career in the medical field. By its very nature, the business of diagnosing, treating and preventing illnesses and injuries is a rapidly changing field. Because significant developments take place literally every day, medical professionals accept that ongoing training and education is a necessity for anyone working within the health care arena.
For radiology technologists, continuing education is necessary to ensure that job skills and knowledge are consistent with the latest findings and developments within the field and to ensure compliance with current industry best practices. Advancements in medical imaging are ongoing; and new diagnostic equipment is constantly being developed. Without ongoing training, a radiology technologist’s skills would quickly become obsolete.
Continuing your education also demonstrates a commitment on the part of the radiology technologist to providing the best possible care to patients and the most effective services to the medical community. This education is emphasized and required by two of the nation’s largest accrediting bodies and is a key component in upholding their jointly endorsed Code of Ethics. In fact, some states require technologists to complete a mandatory number of radiology continuing education courses each year in order to maintain their licenses.
So what can radiology continuing education do for you? Quite simply and most importantly, continuing your education in radiology will ensure that you are equipped to do your job. Without up-to-date skills and training in how to use the latest medical imaging equipment, you would quickly become a liability to your employer. Were you to lose your job, your outdated skills could render you non-hireable within your own field of expertise.
Radiology continuing education may also help to better position you for advancement within your current company. If you are unhappy in your current role, continued education may help you to find a better job elsewhere. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment in the field of radiology is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate in the coming years, and continued education or advanced training may help you to increase your earning power and secure a position at the upper end of the pay scale.
There is a wide variety of options available for radiology continuing education, including hospital training and college degree programs. If you prefer a self-paced program, online or university correspondence courses may be the best options for you. Online programs are generally less expensive than other options and in most cases may still be counted toward state continuing education requirements for radiology technologists. Should you wish to pursue further training in order to advance your career, a continuing education loan may be available to help you manage the costs associated with your courses.