32121 – Medical radiation technologists
32121 – Medical radiation technologists
Medical radiation technologists use radiation and electromagnetism to produce images of body structures for the diagnosis and treatment of injury and disease and use radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment. They are employed in hospitals, cancer treatment centres, clinics, radiological laboratories, colleges and universities. Medical radiation technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.
Profile
Index of titles
Brachytherapy technologist
Chief radiographer
Chief radiotherapy technologist
Computed tomography (CT) technologist
Diagnostic imaging technologist
Diagnostic medical radiation technologist
Diagnostic radiography technologist
Diagnostic radiological technician
Diagnostic radiological technologist
Diagnostic radiology technologist
Dosimetrist
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist
Magnetic resonance technologist
Mammography technician
Mammography technologist
Medical imaging technologist - nuclear medicine
Medical imaging technologist - radiodiagnosis
Medical radiation technologist (MRT)
Medical radiation technologists - Canadian armed forces
Medical radiation technologists supervisor
Medical radiographer
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) technologist
Nuclear medicine chief technologist
Nuclear medicine clinical coordinator
Nuclear medicine clinical instructor
Nuclear medicine supervisor
Nuclear medicine technical coordinator
Nuclear medicine technical director
Nuclear medicine technician
Nuclear medicine technologist
Nuclear medicine technologists supervisor
Oncology technologist
Positron-emission tomography (PET) technologist
Radiation oncology simulator technologist
Radiation oncology technician
Radiation oncology technologist
Radiation technologist - cancer therapy
Radiation technologist - oncology
Radiation therapist
Radiation therapists supervisor
Radiation therapy chief technologist
Radiation therapy clinical coordinator
Radiation therapy clinical instructor
Radiation therapy technical coordinator
Radiation therapy technologist (RTT)
Radiographic technologist
Radiography chief technologist
Radiography clinical coordinator
Radiography clinical instructor
Radiography supervisor
Radiography technical coordinator
Radiography technical director
Radiography technologist
Radiography technologists supervisor
Radioisotope technician
Radioisotope technologist
Radiological technician
Radiological technologist
Radiology technologist
Radiotherapy technician
Radiotherapy technologist
Registered radiology technologist
Registered technologist in nuclear medicine (RTNM)
Registered technologist in radiation therapy
Registered technologist in radiography (RTR)
Senior radiation therapy technologist
Therapeutic radiological technician
X-ray (radiology) technician
X-ray machine operator - medical
X-ray technician
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Radiological technologists
Operate X-ray, radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment, computerized tomography (CT) scanners and mammography units 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 and monitoring of the patient during the radiographic examination
Explain procedures, position patient and equipment and apply radiation protection measures
May train and supervise student radiographers or supervise other radiological technologists.
Nuclear medicine technologists
Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, such as radionuclides and other tracer materials 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 and monitoring of 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
Operate linear accelerators, cobalt 60, X-ray and other radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment prescribed by radiation oncologists
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
Provide appropriate care and monitoring of the patient's physical and psychological well-being during the entire course of treatment
Explain procedures and side effects of radiation
May train and supervise student radiotherapy technologists or supervise other radiotherapy technologists.
Magnetic resonance technologists
Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce anatomic images of the human body for diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury
Record and process patient data
Perform verification and quality control checks on magnet equipment
Safety screen all patients for contra-indicators present that could harm the patient or would exclude the patient from having the examination
Provide appropriate care and monitoring of the patient during the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination
Administer and follow the necessary safety precautions for entry to the magnet room to protect themselves, the patient, their colleagues, other members of the health care team and any other individuals who may be present
May train and supervise student magnetic resonance technologists or supervise other magnetic resonance technologists.
Employment requirements
Completion of a two- to three-year college or other approved program in diagnostic radiography or magnetic resonance imaging (for radiological technologists and magnetic resonance technologists), nuclear medicine technology (for nuclear medicine technologists) or radiation therapy (for radiation therapists) or a bachelor of health sciences in radiography, nuclear medicine or radiation therapy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
Magnetic resonance technologists require completion of a graduate certificate program in magnetic resonance imaging.
Licensure with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Membership with a provincial association is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Northwest Territories.
Certification by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists is required in all provinces except Quebec and British Columbia.
Additional information
Experience as a medical radiation technologist is required for supervisors and instructors.
Magnetic resonance technologists are included in radiological technologists in Quebec.
Radiation therapists may specialize in areas such as dosimetry, stereotaxy, computed tomography (CT) simulation or brachytherapy.
Radiological technologists may specialize in areas such as computerized tomography, angiography, mammography or interventional radiology.
There is no mobility between the four types of medical radiation technologists without further training.
Exclusions
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123)
Medical laboratory technologists (32120)
Medical sonographers (32122)
Other medical technologists and technicians (32129)
Pharmacy technicians (32124)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (32103)
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104)
LINK:
https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/NocProfile?objectid=L3cmI6rFYo53u0TmdDVsLzKzEDL5ubrPQj1zWd8WjvU%3D
Previous page: 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
Next page: 32122 – Medical sonographers