Medical Radiation Technologists (NOC 3215)

What They Do Radiological technologists perform some or all of the following duties: Prepare radiopharmaceuticals, such as radionuclides and other materials and administer them to patients or to biological samples Operate radiation detection equipment, such as gamma cameras, scanners, scintillation counters, tomodensitometers and ionization chambers, to acquire data for use by nuclear medicine physicians in the diagnosis of disease Perform diagnostic procedures using radioactive materials on biological specimens, such as blood, urine and faeces Record and process results of procedures Check equipment to ensure proper operation Provide appropriate care for the patient during the examination Apply radiation protection measures May train and supervise student nuclear medicine technologists or supervise other nuclear medicine technologists. Radiation therapists perform some or all of the following duties: Operate linear accelerators, cobalt 60, X-ray and other radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment prescribed by radiation oncologists 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 Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation Assist radiation oncologists and clinical physicists with preparation of radiation treatment plan Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials such as cobalt, radium, cesium and isotopes and the construction of devices such as plaster casts and acrylic moulds to assist with administration of radiation treatment Monitor the patient's physical and psychological well-being during the entire course of treatment Advise the patient regarding side effects of radiation May train and supervise student radiotherapy technologists or supervise other radiotherapy technologists. 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.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Health care and social assistance 96% People in this group work in hospitals, cancer treatment centres, clinics, and radiological laboratories. The unionization rate (75%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Medical Radiation Technologists are found in Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in Manitoba and British Columbia.

Related Occupation(s) Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental) (NOC 321)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating your knowledge Improving interpersonal skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need To be a medical radiation technologist, you need a baccalaureate or two- to three-year college, hospital, school or other approved program in your area of specialization. You may specialize in diagnostic radiography, nuclear medicine technology or radiation therapy. You also need a period of supervised practical training. You may need a licence in the province/territory where you'll work. You must be certified by the national association Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists in all provinces except Quebec, where most technologists are certified by the Ordre des technologues en radiologie du Québec. With experience, you may move up the ranks to become a supervisor or instructor. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Medical Laboratory Technologies (C550) Nursing - Other (C561) Radiography, Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine Technologies (C580) Computer Science (C720) Medicine (MD) (U520) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Business procedures Interpersonal skills		Useful High School Subjects English Math Computer-related courses Biology Chemistry Physics
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an above-average rate. Hourly wages ($24.12) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (1%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate is expected to be above average because of on going trends--a growing and aging population that requires more health services, new diagnosing/treating technologies, and increased government funding for health care. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You'll need to update your skills to handle new imaging technologies. You'll find opportunities in private clinics. You're more likely to succeed if you stay current with the new applications of nuclear medicine.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $18.29 $11.74 25-54 $24.22 $19.76 55+ $27.10 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $24.12 $18.07		Hourly wages ($24.12) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are close to the average for occupations in the health sector and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Below the average
The unemployment rate (1%) is below the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 3% 10% 1992 1% 11% 1993 2% 11% 1994 2% 10% 1995 1% 10% 1996 1% 10% 1997 3% 9% 1998 1% 8% 1999 1% 8% 2000 2% 7% 2001 0% 7% 2002 1% 8% 2003 1% 8% 2004 1% 7%

% of Part-time work is above average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 79% 81% Part-time 21% 19%		There were 16,900 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 31% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (21%) is above the 2004 average (19%) and has dropped since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers is 3% compared to the 2004 average of 15%.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 3% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 6% 10% 25-54 84% 72% 55+ 10% 12%		The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average influenced by a similar-to-average age of workers (40).
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Above average
The percentage of women (91%) is above the 2004 average of 48% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 91% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31