i have been making a few threads recently on my future. i have been contemplating studying an access course in health studies and going into radiology, but does anyone here have experience of this career? what are your opinions of radiology?
I think possibly you are confusing Radiology with Radiography.
Radiologists are qualified doctors who specialise, after 7 years training, in Radiology (either diagnostic or therapeutic imaging). You would then need approx. another 5 years or so to make Consultant grade. Radiologists interpret X-rays/MRI/CT etc as well as interventional work.
Radiographers are the technicians who take the X-rays etc. I think you need 3-4 A levels (mainly in Science subjects). The degree course takes 3 years - I think its combined Uni with hospital placement.
I think possibly you are confusing Radiology with Radiography.
Radiologists are qualified doctors who specialise, after 7 years training, in Radiology (either diagnostic or therapeutic imaging). You would then need approx. another 5 years or so to make Consultant grade. Radiologists interpret X-rays/MRI/CT etc as well as interventional work.
Radiographers are the technicians who take the X-rays etc. I think you need 3-4 A levels (mainly in Science subjects). The degree course takes 3 years - I think its combined Uni with hospital placement.
sorry, yeah, i meant radiography. do you have experience in this area, hilary?
I've been looking into it and it sounds interesting.
I'm not a radiographer but my sister is- what do you want to know?
She enjoys it, and is now a CT specialist. Been a radiographer for 16 years. If you have the drive there are areas to specialize in an ongoing training once you qualify. can be subject to shift work and on calls. I guess as far as most jobs go it's pretty varied, unless you get stuck doing barium enema's all day She's also a reporting radiographer so can give the ok for someone to be released from hospital care, for example, if someone comes in with a suspected broken arm, she can give them the ok if it's not broken.
In addition to the advice that's already been given above to Mikey293, there's some NHS career information below about the two types of radiography - diagnostic and therapeutic:
From what's been said above, Mikey293's interest seems to lie in the diagnostic side of things. Perhaps it might be worth asking if he can see what precisely the work entails by visiting and spending some time at his nearest diagnostic therapy unit if they can accommodate such requests. That way, he'll be more informed about what the job entails.
The universities hold regular open days / evenings. You will be able to talk to the lectures and get an idea for the subject and how much effort is involved as well as entry level qualifications.
My mrs is just finished studying for a NHS course. Access course was online and took just under 2 years to complete, you may be able to do it quicker as she had family commitments as well as studying. Basically paid £50 a month till she qualified.
Then 2 years for her uni course for which she had to complete something like 3,000 hours practical study at the hospital additional to the time spent at lectures. She got paid a small amount (around £3k) for the time at the hospital plus her course fees where covered by NHS.
The universities hold regular open days / evenings. You will be able to talk to the lectures and get an idea for the subject and how much effort is involved as well as entry level qualifications.
My mrs is just finished studying for a NHS course. Access course was online and took just under 2 years to complete, you may be able to do it quicker as she had family commitments as well as studying. Basically paid £50 a month till she qualified.
Then 2 years for her uni course for which she had to complete something like 3,000 hours practical study at the hospital additional to the time spent at lectures. She got paid a small amount (around £3k) for the time at the hospital plus her course fees where covered by NHS.
Hi Mike
I'm a registered (with the HCPC) band 6 radiographer (hence my user name lol), have been since 2007. I no longer do it full time as I work mostly in the radiation protection sector (I also worked as an industrial radiographer but that requires specialised training independent from the NHS). It is a rewarding job as you can really make a difference to people's lives and like you're thinking of, I did a one year access course first (I was a mature student). The good thing is there are no course fees (paid by the NHS) and I also got a bursary of around £400 a month whilst at uni. The 3 year degree course was about 50/50 on the job training and academic study.
I qualified as a therapeutic radiographer as opposed to a diagnostic radiographer so it involves cancer treatment as opposed to diagnostic work (diagnostic means using CT, MRI, ultrasound, SPECT, PET or X-ray scans to obtain images), but for therapeutic you still have to know pretty much all the diagnostic stuff but not the other way around!
Another thing to bear in mind, diagnostic radiographers tend to work on a 24/7 basis as they need to cover A&E etc, therapy radiographers only tend to work Monday to Friday dayshifts, but there is a weekend on call rota for emergency treatments (such as spinal cord compression, superior vana cava obstruction etc) but even then it's during the day only. Apparently, loads of overtime available to the diagnostic rads, so it depends what you want, I never really considered the diagnostic route, you really get to know the patients during cancer treatment as some are on treatment for up to 7 weeks.
The course involves lots of physics and human anatomy and physiology.
I'm a registered (with the HCPC) band 6 radiographer (hence my user name lol), have been since 2007. I no longer do it full time as I work mostly in the radiation protection sector (I also worked as an industrial radiographer but that requires specialised training independent from the NHS). It is a rewarding job as you can really make a difference to people's lives and like you're thinking of, I did a one year access course first (I was a mature student). The good thing is there are no course fees (paid by the NHS) and I also got a bursary of around £400 a month whilst at uni. The 3 year degree course was about 50/50 on the job training and academic study.
I qualified as a therapeutic radiographer as opposed to a diagnostic radiographer so it involves cancer treatment as opposed to diagnostic work (diagnostic means using CT, MRI, ultrasound, SPECT, PET or X-ray scans to obtain images), but for therapeutic you still have to know pretty much all the diagnostic stuff but not the other way around!
Another thing to bear in mind, diagnostic radiographers tend to work on a 24/7 basis as they need to cover A&E etc, therapy radiographers only tend to work Monday to Friday dayshifts, but there is a weekend on call rota for emergency treatments (such as spinal cord compression, superior vana cava obstruction etc) but even then it's during the day only. Apparently, loads of overtime available to the diagnostic rads, so it depends what you want, I never really considered the diagnostic route, you really get to know the patients during cancer treatment as some are on treatment for up to 7 weeks.
The course involves lots of physics and human anatomy and physiology.
wow, thanks for this in depth information on radiography.
do you know how competitive radiography degrees are, and which how much voluntary work experience the university admissions would require?
I have also heard that not a lot of men work in radiography, is this true?
the physics is the only subject that worries me. I have never studied physics or even calculus. Is there a lot of help towards studying physics?
wow, thanks for this in depth information on radiography.
do you know how competitive radiography degrees are, and which how much voluntary work experience the university admissions would require?
I have also heard that not a lot of men work in radiography, is this true?
the physics is the only subject that worries me. I have never studied physics or even calculus. Is there a lot of help towards studying physics?
The diagnostic courses are more in demand as there's something like 15 diagnostics to every therapeutic radiographer. On my course, there was 12 of us (2 men, 10 women), but the diagnostic was something like 50 (about 70/30 women to men I'd estimate). A lot of the lectures are shared, especially in the first year as a lot of the theory is the same (how X-rays are made etc)
I had no work experience before starting my degree, I just did a year Access to Nursing course (the uni told me access to nursing would suffice for radiography lol), then started the 3 year degree in the September. Each university will have an affiliation with several local-ish teaching hospitals, I did training in four in total.
Yeah, there's definitely more female rads in my department, out of about 90-odd in total, there's off the top of my head 10 males.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the physics, the courses provide plenty of extra tutorials if necessary, after all, they want you to pass!
Everyone I graduated with got a job at various hospitals around the country, it's pretty much guaranteed with radiography.
The diagnostic courses are more in demand as there's something like 15 diagnostics to every therapeutic radiographer. On my course, there was 12 of us (2 men, 10 women), but the diagnostic was something like 50 (about 70/30 women to men I'd estimate). A lot of the lectures are shared, especially in the first year as a lot of the theory is the same (how X-rays are made etc)
I had no work experience before starting my degree, I just did a year Access to Nursing course (the uni told me access to nursing would suffice for radiography lol), then started the 3 year degree in the September. Each university will have an affiliation with several local-ish teaching hospitals, I did training in four in total.
Yeah, there's definitely more female rads in my department, out of about 90-odd in total, there's off the top of my head 10 males.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the physics, the courses provide plenty of extra tutorials if necessary, after all, they want you to pass!
Everyone I graduated with got a job at various hospitals around the country, it's pretty much guaranteed with radiography.
okay, thanks for the insight. I do like the sound of radiography and will look into it more. I have just found out today that apparently a lot of colleges are now asking for GCSE's instead of providing the equivalents that they used to, so this might mean i'll have to go back and retake my GCSE's, which is kind of a bummer as i already have my equivalent grades and wanted to try get on an access course this September.
I was looking at the healthcare/nursing access course (similar to what you studied) and was optimistic about it all, but this is another set back. I think this rule has only recently been implemented because a lot of access students were dropping out of university and their access courses.
I am looking at self study if i can't get a place on the GCSE course this year, though, then sitting the test independently next year. Very frustrating.
anyway, sorry to ramble on, but thanks for the advice. that was quite fortunate that someone working in radiography happened to be a member on this forum
okay, thanks for the insight. I do like the sound of radiography and will look into it more. I have just found out today that apparently a lot of colleges are now asking for GCSE's instead of providing the equivalents that they used to, so this might mean i'll have to go back and retake my GCSE's, which is kind of a bummer as i already have my equivalent grades and wanted to try get on an access course this September.
I was looking at the healthcare/nursing access course (similar to what you studied) and was optimistic about it all, but this is another set back. I think this rule has only recently been implemented because a lot of access students were dropping out of university and their access courses.
I am looking at self study if i can't get a place on the GCSE course this year, though, then sitting the test independently next year. Very frustrating.
anyway, sorry to ramble on, but thanks for the advice. that was quite fortunate that someone working in radiography happened to be a member on this forum
you don't need GCSE to do access to learning and many places its done remotely so you can fit it in when you can. Here is an example which specifically mentioned Radiography and states you don't need A levels or GCSE
Comments
Radiologists are qualified doctors who specialise, after 7 years training, in Radiology (either diagnostic or therapeutic imaging). You would then need approx. another 5 years or so to make Consultant grade. Radiologists interpret X-rays/MRI/CT etc as well as interventional work.
Radiographers are the technicians who take the X-rays etc. I think you need 3-4 A levels (mainly in Science subjects). The degree course takes 3 years - I think its combined Uni with hospital placement.
sorry, yeah, i meant radiography. do you have experience in this area, hilary?
I've been looking into it and it sounds interesting.
(Sorry OP, I know nothing, I just saw your title and had a lovely rush of nostalgia!)
She enjoys it, and is now a CT specialist. Been a radiographer for 16 years. If you have the drive there are areas to specialize in an ongoing training once you qualify. can be subject to shift work and on calls. I guess as far as most jobs go it's pretty varied, unless you get stuck doing barium enema's all day
If you have the technical ability, go for it!
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/allied-health-professions/careers-in-the-allied-health-professions/radiographer/
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/allied-health-professions/careers-in-the-allied-health-professions/radiographer/entry-and-training/
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/courses/?area=49993&qualification=&hours=&uni=®ion=&DoSearch=Find+courses
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/courses/?area=49994&qualification=&hours=&uni=®ion=&DoSearch=Find+courses
From what's been said above, Mikey293's interest seems to lie in the diagnostic side of things. Perhaps it might be worth asking if he can see what precisely the work entails by visiting and spending some time at his nearest diagnostic therapy unit if they can accommodate such requests. That way, he'll be more informed about what the job entails.
The universities hold regular open days / evenings. You will be able to talk to the lectures and get an idea for the subject and how much effort is involved as well as entry level qualifications.
My mrs is just finished studying for a NHS course. Access course was online and took just under 2 years to complete, you may be able to do it quicker as she had family commitments as well as studying. Basically paid £50 a month till she qualified.
Then 2 years for her uni course for which she had to complete something like 3,000 hours practical study at the hospital additional to the time spent at lectures. She got paid a small amount (around £3k) for the time at the hospital plus her course fees where covered by NHS.
Hi Mike
I'm a registered (with the HCPC) band 6 radiographer (hence my user name lol), have been since 2007. I no longer do it full time as I work mostly in the radiation protection sector (I also worked as an industrial radiographer but that requires specialised training independent from the NHS). It is a rewarding job as you can really make a difference to people's lives and like you're thinking of, I did a one year access course first (I was a mature student). The good thing is there are no course fees (paid by the NHS) and I also got a bursary of around £400 a month whilst at uni. The 3 year degree course was about 50/50 on the job training and academic study.
I qualified as a therapeutic radiographer as opposed to a diagnostic radiographer so it involves cancer treatment as opposed to diagnostic work (diagnostic means using CT, MRI, ultrasound, SPECT, PET or X-ray scans to obtain images), but for therapeutic you still have to know pretty much all the diagnostic stuff but not the other way around!
Another thing to bear in mind, diagnostic radiographers tend to work on a 24/7 basis as they need to cover A&E etc, therapy radiographers only tend to work Monday to Friday dayshifts, but there is a weekend on call rota for emergency treatments (such as spinal cord compression, superior vana cava obstruction etc) but even then it's during the day only. Apparently, loads of overtime available to the diagnostic rads, so it depends what you want, I never really considered the diagnostic route, you really get to know the patients during cancer treatment as some are on treatment for up to 7 weeks.
The course involves lots of physics and human anatomy and physiology.
Ah, yes, Moila
I don't think it was REALLY a radiographer tho! Lol!
wow, thanks for this in depth information on radiography.
do you know how competitive radiography degrees are, and which how much voluntary work experience the university admissions would require?
I have also heard that not a lot of men work in radiography, is this true?
the physics is the only subject that worries me. I have never studied physics or even calculus. Is there a lot of help towards studying physics?
The diagnostic courses are more in demand as there's something like 15 diagnostics to every therapeutic radiographer. On my course, there was 12 of us (2 men, 10 women), but the diagnostic was something like 50 (about 70/30 women to men I'd estimate). A lot of the lectures are shared, especially in the first year as a lot of the theory is the same (how X-rays are made etc)
I had no work experience before starting my degree, I just did a year Access to Nursing course (the uni told me access to nursing would suffice for radiography lol), then started the 3 year degree in the September. Each university will have an affiliation with several local-ish teaching hospitals, I did training in four in total.
Yeah, there's definitely more female rads in my department, out of about 90-odd in total, there's off the top of my head 10 males.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the physics, the courses provide plenty of extra tutorials if necessary, after all, they want you to pass!
Everyone I graduated with got a job at various hospitals around the country, it's pretty much guaranteed with radiography.
okay, thanks for the insight. I do like the sound of radiography and will look into it more. I have just found out today that apparently a lot of colleges are now asking for GCSE's instead of providing the equivalents that they used to, so this might mean i'll have to go back and retake my GCSE's, which is kind of a bummer as i already have my equivalent grades and wanted to try get on an access course this September.
I was looking at the healthcare/nursing access course (similar to what you studied) and was optimistic about it all, but this is another set back. I think this rule has only recently been implemented because a lot of access students were dropping out of university and their access courses.
I am looking at self study if i can't get a place on the GCSE course this year, though, then sitting the test independently next year. Very frustrating.
anyway, sorry to ramble on, but thanks for the advice. that was quite fortunate that someone working in radiography happened to be a member on this forum
you don't need GCSE to do access to learning and many places its done remotely so you can fit it in when you can. Here is an example which specifically mentioned Radiography and states you don't need A levels or GCSE
http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/a2health.php