HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
The typical pathway can vary by province and employer. In many cases, students complete a college program or a related university program in medical radiation technology or a similar field, followed by any workplace onboarding or required registration where applicable. Some provinces note that registration is required to practise, while other requirements may differ by location. Students interested in this career should focus on science courses, especially biology and physics, and build strong communication and computer skills. Clinical training is often part of preparation, since the job depends on safe equipment use, patient care, and teamwork.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Operate X-ray, radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment, computerized tomography (CT) scanners, mammography units and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce radiographs or anatomic images of the human body for the diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury
- Record and process patient data
- Perform basic verification and quality control checks on radiographic and film processing equipment
- Provide appropriate care for the patient during the radiographic examination
- Apply radiation protection measures
- May train and supervise student radiographers or supervise other radiological technologists.
- Radiological technologists may specialize in areas such as computerized tomography, angiography, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, interventional radiology, dosimetry, stereotaxy or brachytherapy.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
What a day can include
A radiological technologist’s day may start by checking the schedule and preparing imaging rooms and equipment. During the day, they welcome patients, review information, position people carefully, and perform imaging exams based on the request from the health-care team. They watch for image quality, repeat steps when needed, and make sure radiation safety measures are followed. Between patients, they process data, complete records, and check equipment performance. The work can be busy, especially in hospitals, and the technologist may work with radiologists, nurses, and other health professionals to make sure patients receive timely imaging care.
SKILLS TO BUILD