The list for the best healthcare jobs in 2024 is published this month and radiologic technologist did not make the list. Radiation therapist is listed at number #24.
Trends for the job market arena are an interest that I continually monitor. This list is compiled from the Bureau of Labor statistics and considers the future prospects (30%), wage potential (25%), employment (20%), job safety and stability (15%) and work/life balance (10%) of each profession.
The top five professional jobs are #1 nurse practitioner, #2 physician assistant, #3 speech-language therapist, #4 occupational therapist, and #5 veterinarian. Physical therapist came in at #7, #10 was a registered nurse and #12 was respiratory therapist.
So, where is the radiologic technologist? Completely absent. Additional searching found the listing in the U.S. News & World Report Best Health Care Support Jobs.
In this listing, I found the diagnostic medical sonographer at #6, radiologic technologist at #17, MRI technologists at #18, cardiovascular technologists at #24, and nuclear medicine technologist at #28. In this same listing, medical secretary came in at #20 and nurse’s aide at #23. Along with various other occupations, both these occupations are non-degree and only require high school education. I did find CT technologist on Becker’s Hospital Review in the top 10 listings for signing bonuses.
Have I been asleep for the past 10 years as I have listened to my peers open other medical degree programs up to the Master’s level while entry level radiologic technology has been descending toward the bottom of the line?
My family has a large cohort of medical professionals, and I have had the opportunity to observe the different professional associations and their requirements for education, licensure, continuing professional education and credentialing. We seem to be drifting into a vocational designation which will never get the radiology field the professional recognition we seek and deserve. I hear members of my professional organization say, “I don’t want the education to become unaffordable.” Others say that the cost of RT schools is too expensive for two years, or they mention that now you can finish in 16 months. When physical therapy moved their entry level educational component from a master’s degree to a DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy), tuition consideration was not a primary factor. Now the starting salary of this field has far outpaced that for radiologic technology.
As the entry level radiologic technology coursework descends into high school, it will become vocational training. MetroHealth Hospital, Cleveland boasts of having the first and only high school located inside a hospital. Lincoln West Science and Health High School was established in 2016. Freshmen and sophomores take classes a few blocks away, and junior and senior students get introduced to medical terminology and careers. Upperclassmen get to start working in the field and earn professional certifications.
In March 2021, St Peter’s Boys High School and Staten Island-based medical imaging experts launched Staten Island’s first radiologic technology program through the John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences. The classroom is outfitted with an imaging room with a radiography table so that students can get hands-on experience.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced a nation-wide program in conjunction with major health care systems and selected high schools to train radiologic technicians while still in high schools.
Changes in the Standard Occupation Code System are triggered to reflect changes in the economy and the nature of the work. This Occupation Code places or defines radiologic technology as a technical code instead of a professional code. It is predicted that the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) code revisions could be announced in 2024 for public comment. The indications are that the codes would change in 2028. Notifications of changes in codes are announced in the Federal Register, and dates for public comment are included. It is difficult to imagine that any successful solicitation to change radiologic technology or any imaging modality from the technical rating to a professional rating in the next revision is doomed to failure.
Instead of advancing to the professional category, it seems the field is backsliding further toward technical/vocational and down the career ladder for professional recognition.
