What's the difference between X-ray technician and Radiologic technologist?

Its a big difference and NO Technicians and Technologist do NOT make the same amount of money. Not sure what state you're in but in California that 1 year or (10 month) program you're talking about is the Limited X-ray Technician program. As a Limited Technician, Yes you'll be doing X-rays but youre limited to only doing Chest, Torso-skeletal, and Extremities ONLY. The pay range for Limited X-ray Technicians in Cali is about 15 bucks an hour. Ive seen jobs range from 13 to 18 bucks for that and as a Limited Tech you can only work in Clinics and Doctors offices NOT hospitals. Usually with being a Limited Tech youll also be trained as a Medical Assistant. Those doctors offices want you to be able to do both Medical Assisting and X-rays. Your license will say X-ray Technician on it, it will not say Radiologic Technologist. That sums up TECHNICIAN for you. Theres nothing wrong with being a Technician if youre comfortable making that amount of money, but you wont make more then that pay range I gave you. Now for Radiologic Technologist which is the 2 year program ( really 4 years adding the pre-reqs) Youll be working in a Imaging Center or a Hospital. As a Technologist youll also be doing X-rays but you're not Limited to certain exams like a Technician is. A Technologist, besides Chest, Torso-skeletal, Extremities, can also x-ray the Skull, Abdomen, Stomach, Gall-bladder, Colon-Small bowel, Esophagus, and the list goes on and on, a Technologist can X-ray everything there is. Technologist will also do Special procedures and Barium studies such as IVP's, Barium Enamas, Esophagrams, and other studies that require you to work side by side with the Radiologist during the procedures. Those procedures require usage of a Flouroscopy x-ray unit. As a Technologist you will be assisting in Surgerys in the Operating Room while using a Portable Flouroscopy unit that is called a C-Arm. You will be using this to take X-rays during the Surgery. You will also be using another Portable unit, that is used to take to the different units of the hospital to take X-rays of patients while they are still in there room in bed, that Portable is also used to be taken to the ER to take X-rays there also. As a Technologist you can branch off into doing other things that will increase your pay such as Cat Scans, MRI's, Mammo-grams. Others can also branch off into Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Therapy. You can only learn those things after you get your Radiologic Technologist license. Now im sure you're waiting for me to talk about pay so here it is, and this of course depends on what state you live in. Radiologic Technologist make about 25 bucks an hour, but ive seen Full-time ranges from about 23 to 30 an hour starting off, and a Per-Diem or Registry Radiologic Technologist will make about 35 bucks an hour. ( Per-Diem / Registry ) means Part-time NO Benefits thats why the pays higher. Cat Scan/Technologist makes around 30 to 35 an hour. MRI/Technologist makes about 30 to 40 an hour, ive seen some make 45 an hour Registry rate. I have both a TECHNICIANS AND A TECHNOLOGIST license and they are 2 different licenses. My advice to you is to stick with the Technologist program and leave that other 10 month program alone, trust me. Dont short-cut your education, get as much out of this Radiology field as you can. Im getting trained on MRI's right now, so my pay rates jumping from 30 to 40 an hour in a couple months from now. Good Luck with your career and welcome to the Radiology field. Enjoy

hi Radiologic technologists and technicians perform diagnostic imaging examination. Radiologic technicians perform imaging examinations like x rays while technologists use other imaging modalities such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and mammography and perform more complex imaging procedures. When performing fluoroscopies, for example. and that is why takes more time about 24m about your Q why shouldn't I go for x-ray tech if it takes less time and makes same money? Actually it is up to you.