You too may have had an X-ray, MRI or CT scan. During the exam there was a qualified healthcare professional who gave you specific instructions on how the exam takes place, on the posture you must assume and who assisted you during all the phases of the diagnostic procedure. This professional is a medical radiology healthcare technician (abbreviated "TSRM"). He can work both as an employee and as a freelancer in a public or private health facility, but also in the industrial sector that deals with the production and sale of radiodiagnostic and radiotherapy equipment. It can collaborate with both university and extra-university research centers. If you are also interested in this complex but rewarding profession, read on.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: School Requirements
Step 1. Get a baccalaureate
Since the radiology health technician is a professional with a degree in "Techniques of Medical Radiology, Imaging and Radiotherapy" (a three-year degree course), you must first obtain a five-year diploma that allows you to access university courses.
Since it is a scientific faculty, a higher education in scientific subjects is to be preferred over a humanistic or technical education. So if you have attended, for example, a scientific high school, you may have less difficulty during lessons and exams
Step 2. Pass the entrance exam
Like many other medical / scientific courses, the medical radiology course also includes a programmed number of freshmen each year. The test aims to ascertain knowledge of mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry. There will also be questions of general knowledge and logical reasoning.
In many universities, student associations and other bodies organize lectures and courses that help you prepare for the entrance test. Exercises are also often provided using the exam topics from previous years
Step 3. Take the university course successfully
The degree in Medical Radiology, Imaging and Radiotherapy Techniques takes three years and expects to obtain 180 credits (CFU). Attendance at frontal and practical lessons is mandatory and you are not allowed to be absent for more than 30% of the total hours.
- During the three years of the course you will have to pass exams in biology, chemistry, pathology and anatomy. English and computer lessons are also provided.
- Obviously, the study plan is divided into various exams concerning imaging techniques, radio-pharmacology, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.
- Considering the potential danger of radiation, a profound and complete training on health prevention cannot be missing.
Step 4. Every year you will have to carry out a compulsory professional internship with a 100% attendance rate
At the end of the annual internship you will have to face an interview to ascertain the knowledge acquired.
At the end of the three-year period, having passed all the exams required by the study plan, you will have to take the final exam which consists in the discussion of a degree thesis
Part 2 of 4: Enrollment in the Provincial College
Step 1. Once you have graduated, you will need to register on the register
In fact, you can only exercise after registering with the respective provincial college of residence. The provincial colleges are united in the National Federation which is divided into 69 provincial and interprovincial colleges. Currently 21,600 Health Technicians of Medical Radiology are enrolled in the Italian Professional Registers.
Step 2. Fulfill the bureaucratic formalities
In order to enroll in the college you must meet certain requirements and submit documents:
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The requirements are:
- Be an Italian citizen.
- Have full enjoyment of civil rights.
- Be of good conduct.
- Have obtained the academic title and be licensed to the profession.
- Have residence in the constituency of the order or college.
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The necessary documents are:
- Application for registration that can be downloaded on the website of the residence college.
- Two passport-sized photographs.
- Receipt of payment of the Government Concession Tax of € 168.00 (ccp 8003 - Registry Office - specifying the reason: "Registration in the Professional Register of T. S. R. M" tariff code: 8617).
- Receipt of payment of € 65.00 payable to the Professional College of the Province of Residence (including the registration fee and annual fee).
- Photocopy of the tax code or health card.
- Photocopy of the degree certificate.
- Photocopy of the identity card.
Part 3 of 4: Duties
Become a Radiology Technician Step 7 Step 1. Know your possible duties
A radiology healthcare technician can work in several fields of diagnostic imaging. You will collaborate with the radiologist, the radiotherapist, the nuclear doctor and the health physicist and in general with all medical and health professionals related to ionizing radiation. Your work takes place on several fronts.
Become a Radiology Technician Step 13 Step 2. Diagnostic scope
You will implement procedures to take images of traditional radiology (radiographs, mammography, etc.), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance, angiography and nuclear medicine.
It will be your job to prepare the patient, explain the procedures and position him properly for the diagnostic examination. You will also need to make sure you put the appropriate leaded protections on pregnant women and women of childbearing age
Become a Radiology Technician Step 4 Step 3. Nuclear medicine
In this context, it is planned to prepare the radiopharmaceutical to be injected for the carrying out of scintigraphy or positron emission tomography (PET) and to take care of the related activities.
Become a Radiology Technician Step 10 Step 4. Therapeutic area
In this case you will be in charge of implementing the procedures for the radiation therapy. You will need to prepare the patient, explain the procedure and position him properly. It is also your responsibility to affix personalized protective equipment to each patient.
Become a Radiology Technician Step 14 Step 5. Health physics
This part of your work allows you to collaborate with service managers to solve any problems with the radiant equipment and to find increasingly effective techniques to ensure the protection of patients.
In recent years, TSRM has also found a place in the management of RIS-PACS information systems, to the point that some universities have launched specific courses and masters for this role
Part 4 of 4: Alternative Careers
Become a Radiology Technician Step 9 Step 1. Teach
A graduate in "Techniques of Medical Radiology, for Imaging and Radiotherapy" also has the opportunity to teach as a tutor, coordinator or teacher in the same degree course.
Become a Radiology Technician Step 8 Step 2. Become a manager
You can manage the imaging and radiotherapy departments by organizing their resources.
Become a Radiology Technician Step 15 Step 3. Search
This qualification allows you to work in the research department of companies in the technical-scientific and health area.
Advice
- Science and technology are always in constant evolution, every day new discoveries, large or small, are made in the medical field. It is important that you always keep your preparation up-to-date with specialization courses, reading scientific journals and taking advantage of every training meeting that the register, the hospital or the state makes available to you.
- The procedures and costs related to enrollment in the provincial college refer to the legislation in force at the time of drafting the article. Always check with the competent college for your municipality of residence before proceeding with the payment of charges and taxes.
