The Fast-Track to Becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California

We meet so many students that are interested in becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California each week. After asking them a few questions, we find most are having trouble getting into a CRT Program at Junior Colleges. Those that get past the initial enrollment hurdles, face a 4-5 year wait to get into the Radiologic Technologist Program. Furthermore, the initial CRT Program wait is plagued by more fighting to get into prerequisite classes.

Most aspiring Certified Radiologic Technologists don’t know that you can fast-track your career path by becoming an X-Ray Technician in California first. While this may sound crazy at first, most people agree that a 5-year wait just in order to start your Radiology education sounds much worse! Let’s walk through some of myths of becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California and how you can skip the long waits, get certified in more skills and begin an earning income quickly. If becoming a Certified Radiologic Tech is your goal, then let’s look at a logical workaround to impacted programs.

Becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California Means Sitting on a 5-Year Wait-List at the Junior Colleges

The worst part about becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California is the program’s wait time. Junior Colleges in Orange County that offer a Radiologic Tech Program generally have a 4-5 year waiting list. This means that you will wait 4-5 years of your life, even before you begin your Certified Radiologic Technologist training. Now we don’t know about you, but a lot can happen in that time-frame!

For example, if you’re 24 years old and want to become a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California, you may be 29 or 30 before you’re accepted into the Radiologic Technology Program. After acceptance, you also have to ensure you’ve got your prerequisite classes done and that’s another uphill battle. All the while, you’ve got bills, rent to pay and your daily expenses and necessities. It’s no wonder so many Radiology Tech students may get discouraged before they even begin.

Impacted Prerequisite Classes for Becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California

If you want to become a Radiologic Tech, you’ve also got to complete your pre-req courses. Most junior colleges in Orange County and California have impacted pre-requisite classes to boot. Another benefit to becoming an X-Ray Technician in California first is that your pre-requisites are included as part of the curriculum.

Furthermore, we offer Medical Assistant Certification as part of our X-Ray Technician Program. This is why so many X-Ray Technicians are finding employment and clock more hours than CRT’s. Once you’ve got your X-Ray Technician Certificate, the process is simple. You simply work a year in the field as an X-Ray Technician, then attend a private Radiology School. This way, you not only skip the 5 year wait for the Radiology Program in California, but earn money and a living along the way.

Becoming an X-Ray Technician in California First, Means More Opportunities and Less Competition

If becoming a Radiologic Technologist in California is your goal, we don’t want to sway you. In fact, we love helping people achieve their dream of becoming a CRT! We do however love helping people reach their dreams quickly. Another thing to consider before signing a wait-list for CRT Program in California, are opportunities.

Radiologic Techs work in large hospitals and emergency rooms. If you’re like us, then you probably haven’t seen many new hospitals built in the last decade. Here in Southern California, we’ve actually seen 2 major hospitals close, and that’s troubling for CRT’s.

While there are a lot of Certified Radiologic Technologists graduating ever year, there aren’t many new places to find work. Furthermore, the current Radiology Techs are fighting for seniority at most hospitals. This means that as a new CRT, you’ll probably either get less hours, and plenty of graveyard shifts in the ER.

X-Ray Technicians on the other hand work in small clinics, urgent cares, digital imaging labs, physical therapy offices and orthopedic offices. There’s been a surge of new urgent care clinics being built throughout California in the last decade. With less X-Ray Technician programs and graduates in Orange County and California, odds are you’ll probably find work quickly. Now add your Medical Assistant Certification on top of that and you’ve got a great combo that pleases employers. You’ll not only have more opportunities to choose from, but there’s less X-Ray Technicians to compete with. This is why we’re seeing a trend of raising wages and salaries for X-Ray Techs in California as well.

Becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist After You Get Your X-Ray Technician Certificate!

Our X-Ray Technician School in Orange County offers an 11-Month X-Ray Tech Certificate Program. Once you get your X-Ray Technician Certificate, you can begin working immediately. Employers also love that you’re a Certified Medical Assistant, which not only means job security, but steady hours. Remember, your pre-requisites are covered as part of the X-Ray Technician Program. And now that your bills, rent and necessities are covered, simply take the back-door to becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California.

As an X-Ray Technician, you’ll be required to work for a year out in the field. You can work in a doctor’s office, urgent care, or any of the other places that employ X-Ray Technicians. Once you’ve completed a year working as an X-Ray Tech, apply to a private Radiology School in California, where there are no wait times.

Why Wait 5 Years Just to See if You Even Enjoy Radiology?

At Modern Technology School, we think like regular people. We enjoy learning about our students in our X-Ray Technician Program in Orange County. Some X-Ray students came to us originally wanting to become a CRT, but later realized they’d rather pursue becoming an X-Ray Technician instead.

We ask all incoming students who want to become a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California these questions:

How do feel about working around high-trauma, taking X-Rays in an Emergency Room or being responsible for a patient that is unconscious? Does the sight of blood or broken bones (or any ER scene) affect you negatively?

For some students we meet, this is the stuff their Radiologic dreams are made of! For others, it’s enough to make them think twice about becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California. Since most CRT’s work at the hospital-level and have to compete with other Senior Radiology Techs for hours and placement, you’ll probably see plenty of graveyard shifts in the Emergency Room. You may be responsible for explaining why a patient is unconscious or what injuries they’ve suffered, when seconds count. Sometimes the patients may be children, which can be even more trying for even the most seasoned Radiologic Technologists.

The point of all of this isn’t to discourage you from becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California. It’s simply to put things in perspective. Why sit for 5 years on a wait-list (not counting impacted pre-requisite courses), simply to see if you even enjoy working in a specific field?

Modern Technology School Helps Students Achieve their Dreams of Becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California

Our 11-Month X-Ray Technician Program is a great back-door to becoming a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California! We cross-train you as Certified Medical Assistant and your pre-requisite courses are included in the curriculum! Modern Technology School offers Financial Aid to those that qualify and we’re approved for the Veterans/GI Bill.

Modern Technology School is best X-Ray Technician School in Orange County and have the track record dating back to 1981 to prove it! We’ve helped countless students become a Certified Radiologic Tech in California by becoming an X-Ray Technician first! We also have an in-house Career Center that is devoted to our X-Ray Tech students’ job placement needs!

Our simplified approach to becoming a CRT in California isn’t for everyone. For one reason or another, some students may want to wait it out, and take separate pre-req courses, simply because they are set on attending a junior college for Radiology Classes. What we offer is a way to get you educated and working as an X-Ray Technician in Orange County while pursuing your dreams of becoming a Radiologic Technologist in California.

Let’s take another look at the benefits of the fast-track method:

  • Skip the 5-Year Wait for Radiologic Technology Programs at Junior Colleges
  • Complete Your Pre-Requisite Classes as Part of the X-Ray Tech Program
  • Earn a Living While Studying to Become a Certified Radiologic Technologist in California
  • No Competition with Senior CRT’s at Scarce Hospital-Level Jobs
  • More Small Clinics & Opportunities for X-Ray Techs Means Rising Wages
  • You Don’t Have to Wait 5 Years to See if You Want to Work in Radiology

Contact Modern Technology School to Fast-Track Your Goals!

Our friendly Admissions Team is here to help walk you through our combined X-Ray Tech / Medical Assistant classes in Orange County.

Give us a call at 714-418-9100 or send us a message and we’ll reach out to you in order to answer all your questions and walk you through our simple enrollment process!

  • Come take a Free Tour of our X-Ray Technician School in Orange County and meet with us to get your questions answered today!
  • Click Here to Explore Careers in Radiologic Technology via ASRT