Online Radiology Degree Programs: The Complete 2023 Guide

Radiology is an essential part of the healthcare industry. Helping to both diagnose and treat illnesses, radiology has become a marvel of modern medicine. Since working with radiation comes with inherent risks, skills and knowledge are vital. All procedures must be done with the highest level of safety. Workers also need to know how to use the complex and specialized equipment used in this field. Accordingly, people trained with an online radiology degree help make sure the technology is used in a safe, consistent, and reliable manner.

These online radiology degrees can turn you into a highly skilled professional. Radiology programs online can teach you the skills to be a radiologic technologist, radiation therapist, or nuclear medicine technologist. In addition, online radiology degree programs can qualify you for license testing in these valuable careers.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION:

• Online Radiology Degree Levels: Certificate | Diploma | Associate | Bachelor Completion | Graduate Certificate | Master’s | Professional Certificate
• Online Radiology Degree Accreditation
• Can an Online Radiology Degree Meet Licensing Requirements?
• Professional Licensing after an Online Radiology Degree
• What’s the Outlook for Careers with an Online Radiology Degree?
• Expected Salary with an Online Radiology Degree

Certificate

Certificates are available for anyone interested in or working with radiology diagnosis and treatment. These online radiology degree programs allow students to improve and expand their skills in diagnostic technology. Graduates will additionally fulfill continuing-education requirements for their careers. These programs also provide college credits that can apply towards further degrees, such as an associate’s.

Certificates focus on a specific technology or area of diagnosis. For example, many provide training on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The Advanced Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging from MCPHS University is an example. It develops expert knowledge of MRIs and their uses. Applicants must be a licensed professional for enrollment.

Certificates vary in size and time requirements. For example, Fort Hays State University offers radiology certificates ranging from 8 to 17 hours.

Diploma

As people advance in their careers, new technologies will become standard for diagnosis and treatment. Radiologic and nuclear medicine technologists and also radiation therapists can update their skills with diplomas. An online radiology program will cover topics such as computed tomography or positron emission tomography.

Diplomas allow workers to become experts in a specific skill or technology. With a diploma, you could, for example, become a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technologist.

These diplomas require a fairly sizable time commitment though. The Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Technology Diploma from Pitt Community College, for instance, is 42 credit hours.

Associate

This type of online radiology degree is the minimum education for most radiology careers. Radiologic technologists, radiation therapists, and also nuclear medicine technologists all need associate degrees. To start a career in these fields, online radiology degrees are ideal. An associate’s degree takes two to three years to complete with a full-time course load.

While they can start your profession, some online radiology degrees are made for current workers who want to expand their careers. The Associate of Applied Science in Radiography degree from Pima Medical Institute, for instance, takes you from a limited to full-scope radiologic technologist.

Bachelor Completion

These online radiology degrees are for working professionals who want to advance their careers and also increase earning potential. Students will be able to build their skills in radiology diagnostics and treatment. Programs are designed to build on your previous education in this field.

The majority of these online radiology degree programs require an associate’s degree for admission. Many also require current credentialing with a group such as the American Registry of Radiology Technologists or American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.

These programs can offer a quick path to career advancement. The Bachelor of Science in Radiographic Science from Lewis-Clark State College, for example, can be completed in nine months.

Graduate Certificate

Graduate certificates, which can be taken entirely online, help advance your career in radiology. In general, you will need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited radiology-related program to apply.

Coursework will cover topics such as the principles of MRI technology or computed tomography. Graduates qualify to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exam. The programs from California State University-Northridge can be completed in a single year and qualify students to sit for CT and MRI advanced imaging certification tests.

Master’s

Graduates of a bachelor’s program may want to advance their education and career through a master’s degree. Radiology-focused master’s degrees come in a variety of subjects. In general, these online radiology degrees will increase your knowledge of technology or leadership in the field.

A master’s degree takes two to three years to complete in addition to your bachelor’s degree. Encompassing 35 to 40 credit hours, these online radiology degrees will develop your expertise in healthcare management, ethics, and practices. These online radiology degrees also cover skills such as medical dosimetry, the measurement of doses and radiation absorption.

Professional Certificate

Radiologic technologists who are registered with ARRT can enroll in professional certificates. These programs will advance your skills, open new job options, and also increase your earning potential. Certificate programs combine theory with applied learning. They can be completed entirely online.

A professional certificate can be completed in a single academic year. They require 16 credit hours of study. The programs will develop a student’s knowledge in a specific skill, such as MRI technology or tomography. They can result in jobs such as MRI technologist or computed tomography specialist.

Whether you are starting or enhancing your career, your online radiology degree must be accredited. Accreditation is the act of verifying an education’s quality by independent organizations. It is crucial for all degrees and careers. To begin with, there is institutional accreditation, which is done by bodies that accredit entire schools. On the other hand, there is programmatic accreditation, completed by groups that specialize in one industry.

For online radiology degrees, the main accrediting body is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). This group is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education. All in all, this body accredits over 700 educational programs.

It’s essential that your online radiology degree is accredited by a group recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA. It is important to realize that accredited programs ensure a quality education and qualify you for licensing and credentials.

For example, the radiation therapy program from Pitt Community College is accredited by JRCERT. Because of this status, the online radiology degree qualifies graduates for exams from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

Resource:

• JRCERT Certification

Yes, online radiology degrees can in fact qualify you for license testing. For example, the Associate in Applied Science in Radiation Therapy from Amarillo College is another program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Given that, it qualifies graduates for testing to become Registered Radiation Therapists.

The specific license you need for a radiology-based career will vary. A radiologic technologist will need a different license than a radiology therapist. A nuclear medicine technologist needs yet another specific type of license. The licensing and credentialing requirements also vary by state. A technologist in New York, for instance, will have different requirements than a technologist in Indiana.

We should note that state licensing is not the same as ARRT registration. If you want ARRT registration, you must meet that group’s requirements. If you want a state license, you must meet the state’s requirements.

To understand licensing, let’s look at the process for radiologic and MRI technicians in California for example:

1. Firstly, apply to take the test for licensure. ARRT administers the tests in California.
2. Following this, the state will respond to your application to confirm or deny whether you are eligible.
3. Afterwards, you will pay the exam fee and schedule your test appointment. Tests are held at a specific in-person location.
4. Then on test day, arrive at the location and complete the test. You have 3 hours and 50 minutes to take the exam.
5. Finally, to pass, you need a score of 75 or higher on a 1-99 scale. If you pass, you will be eligible to hold a license in the state.

Resources:

• ARRT - State Licensing
• California State Licensing Guide

Radiology careers may not be growing rapidly, but it is a steady and stable field. There is a large job market for people with online radiology degrees. In 2021, there were 264,000 radiologic and MRI technologists in the US. Even more, that number is expected to grow to 281,000 by 2031.

West Virginia has the highest concentration of radiologic technologists, with 2.88 per 1,000 jobs. The next highest states are South Dakota (2.35), North Dakota (2.25), Mississippi (2.19), and Kentucky (2.07).

Rochester, Minnesota, a city of only 121,000 residents, is the metro area with the highest concentration of radiologic technicians, with 6.59 per 1,000 jobs. It makes sense, seeing that this is the home of the Mayo Clinic, one of the largest healthcare facilities in the country.

Resources:

• Employment of Radiologic Technologists and Technicians by State
• Mayo Clinic

If you complete an online radiology degree, you can expect a career with strong earnings. The median salary for a radiologic technologist, for instance, is $61,980 (May 2021). This is an impressive number when you consider that the median salary for all occupations is $45,760, and also that this career only requires an associate’s degree.

For those with an advanced online radiology degree, the earning potential is even higher. The top 10% in this occupation earn over $100,870. Specialized skills can also bring higher salaries. For example, the BLS reports that workers specializing in MRI scans earn a median salary of $77,360.

Other healthcare careers involving radiology can bring strong salaries as well. Most notable is the role of a radiation therapist. This job has a median salary of $82,790, while the top 10% earn over $128,550 a year. Nuclear medicine technologists also have a strong income, with a median annual salary of $78,760. The top 10% in this career earn over $105,000.

While you should keep cost of living in mind, some states offer higher wages for radiology employees. California is the highest-paying state for radiologic technologists. The annual mean wage in this state is $95,170.

Resources:

• BLS - Pay for Radiologic and MRI Technologists
• BLS - Pay for Radiation Therapists

Whether you want to advance your career or are just starting your path to a career in radiology, GetEducated has all the resources and information you need. Submit your information today to find the perfect online degree, certificate, or diploma for your future!