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You are here: Experts > Education > Votech Education > Medical Support Careers > radiography
Expert: James Reeves
Date: 7/3/2008
Subject: radiography
Question
What is the difference between radiography and radiology? Isn't one where you just take the x-rays, and the other one interprets it? Can you do both? Take the x-ray AND interpret it or do you have to choose one or the other?
I'm asking this because I'm planning to attend a community college and they have a career program for radiography. It includes extensive clinical experience done at various local hospitals. It seems like a great opportunity because I'm not sure other community colleges offer this. so would it be good for me to do it?
My only problem with this is that I will only have an associates degree when i'm finished. This doesn't seem like enough for me though. I want to do something better adn gain more knowledge so I kind of wanted to attend a grad school. What would you suggest? I don't want to limit myself and just stop after I have an associates.
Also a random question, what kind of doctors do CT scans, MRI's and such? Do radiologists do this or someone else?
Thanks for the help!
Answer
hi mark...to start, when you talk about radiography, that means you are talking about taking x rays. the word radiology means you are talking about all imaging procedures, x rays, mri, ct, ultrasound, pet scans, etc. no, you cannot take x rays and interpret them. they are interpreted by a radiologist, who is a dr. specializing in that field. they are trained to interpret all imaging cases done, like in the word radiology. for the community college you mentioned, it needs to have a good to outstanding reputation in the community. so what you do is, you call over to hospitals that have no involvement with the school, and get the lead tech or chief tech on the phone, and ask them if they have anyone working from the college you talked about. if no, ask if they have ever heard of it and if so, what have they heard? the last thing you want to do is get in with a college that turns out to be a loser. you dont dive into water until you first know how deep it is, or else you may break your neck. the most important thing, above all is, the radiography program must be accredited. dont take their word that they are accredited; ask for proof of that. you also need to call the hospitals, all those where you will do your clinical training, and ask the supervisor if they use x ray film or are they using digital radiography. if they tell you they use film, they are living in the caveman age; if they say they use digital, then thats very good and the best you can get. and when you get out of school, expect to be under very high stress; this is the 3rd highest stress rate in the medical field and has a high burnout rate and a lot of problem drinkers took to the bottle because of the stress they are under. so you say an associates degree is not enough. if you want to, you can go as high as a masters, but unless you are out teaching, and making LESS money doing it, a masters will get you nothing. the drs. who interpret ct and mri scans are also the radiologists. basically, we do the scans and the radiologist reads or interprets them for the dr. who ordered them in the first place. another thing is, when you are out of school and working, and some radiologist does not like you, then you can be assured your time of employment in the place can be counted in days. its a popularity contest most of the time, so be aware of that fact. most of the time, hospitals are very anxious to hire people fresh out of school because they are younger and get paid less; they are not interested in people who have experience, because they dont want to pay for experienced people. i hope this has helped you make a decision or at least look into it more, but i wanted to warn you about the stress and popularity contests you will face every day you go to work. i know upfront the school is looking for tuition money, and they are going to paint a wonderful glossy picture for you about the field; they may have phamphlets of pretty girls in nice clean uniforms smiling at someone; something to give you the impression its easy and you smile and you get pretty girls to work with. i think that would be wonderful if that was really the way it is, but its not; its actually opposite of that. because you are new at looking into this, i wanted you to be aware its no cake with icing or a bed of roses; its hard work and high stress to go with it. clearly, you are an intelligent young man and i admire you for these kinds of questions!
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