LESSON 6
Section I. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN MILITARY
AND CIVILIAN ENVIRONMENTS
6-1.
INTRODUCTION
a. Continued Training Crucial. The
field of
radiological technology is an
ever-
changing and expanding one. As a radiological technologist, you cannot afford to stand
still while the profession moves forward. It is, essentially, your responsibility to pursue
the necessary course of education to keep abreast of developments in your field. A real
professional that is serious about moving up the career ladder will continually
investigate opportunities for career mobility, both in terms of assignments and
educational opportunities.
b. Early Career Planning. If you are seriously interested in getting ahead in
your career, you must examine your priorities, assess your individual capabilities and
interests, and check out all opportunities. This is not something that you can do later on
in your career. You must have a long-term plan from the beginning, so that you will get
where you want to go career-wise, rather than be the pawn of chance and
circumstance. In this lesson, long-term and short-term training programs available to
you, both in the civilian and military sectors are explored.
6-2.
SHORT-TERM CIVILIAN TRAINING ENTRY LEVEL AND BEYOND
a. Entry Level Training. The majority of entry-level civilian radiologicl
technology training programs are approximately two years in length. At the conclusion
of this entry-level training, a candidate is awarded an Associate of Arts degree and
makes application to one of the certifying agencies to become a registered technologist.
b. Specialization. It might take an additional two years of formal education to
specialize in certain modalities, with course work required in one of the following areas:
computer tomography, nuclear medicine, special procedures, ultrasonography, or
6-3.
LONG-TERM TRAINING (CIVILIAN ENVIRONMENT)
a. Two-and-a-Half to Eight Years. Long-term training can range from two and-
a-half to eight or more years of formal training. The candidate enrolled in a 4-year
program will be working toward a Bachelor of Sciences (BS) in management,
administration, education, or computer science. Other training will follow as described
below.
MD0064
6-2