Radiology technicians, or radiographers are healthcare professionals who use medical imaging to diagnose medical problems, examine internal conditions, and recommend appropriate treatment options. They prepare patients for radiologic examination and also prevent unnecessary exposure to x-ray radiation. To become an accredited radiologic technician, you will need to have undergone accredited formal training.

When searching for radiologist technician institutions, look for programs that specialize in radiology and offer hands-on training with cutting edge medical technology. There are numerous pathways to entry into radiology profession offered in technical colleges and universities. Students willing to pursue this course may earn certificates, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in radiology as a requirement for employment in the U.S. There are different types of radiologist technicians programs offered at medical and health institutions.

Certificate Program

Radiologic certificates can be earned through programs offered at medical institutions and hospitals. Programs can be full time or part time depending on the institution and your schedule. The time required to complete a certificate program as a radiologist technician depends on the program. Generally, it takes 1-2 years to complete a certificate program. Students undergo both classroom and clinical training.

The training equips the student with the necessary technical knowledge and skills for entry level position in radiology technology. Individual certificates programs may between 6 to 18 months. Courses may include patient care, introduction to radiology equipment, biology of radiation and image processing. Before admission into a certificate program, the student must undergo training in computer information technology and basic courses such as anatomy and medical terminologies. A student must at least maintain 2.0 GPA in order to earn a certificate of completion.

Associate’s Degree Program

For students to be eligible for admission into this program they must have a high school diploma. Associate’s degree training in radiography generally takes two years to complete. The students undergo classroom instructions and clinical training. In addition, the program also incorporates general education in life science and health care communication courses. Students undergoing this program can be found in community colleges and technical institutions. Course work may include imaging procedure and analysis, radiation protection, patient care, cross-section anatomy and radiographic physics.

Bachelor’s Degree Program

Various technical colleges and universities offer Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science programs. To be eligible for admission a student must pass Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT). A student must also have a minimum cumulative grade point ratio (CGPR) of 2.50 from the previous institution and two letters of recommendation that attest to the student’s character and ability to prosper academically. To attain this degree the student must attend accredited 4-year training program in college or university. The programs equip students with knowledge and skills in diagnostics and imaging technology necessary for career in health facilities. Course work includes radiological imaging, specialized radiography procedures and pathology. After completion of the coursework, students look for a one year internship program and begin their careers as radiology technicians.

Licensure

In order for radiology technicians to practice their specialization, they must obtain state licensure. Requirements for licensure are determined by the states’ health boards, which basically include passing of a licensing exam. For specific requirements for licensure contact your states’ health board.

Certification and Other Qualifications

The America Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) usually offers voluntary certification for radiologic technicians to show competency in the occupation. In addition, numerous states use ARRT examinations for licensing purposes. Certification requirements include completing an accredited formal training and passing a primary certification examination. ARRT also offer a variety of programs in radiology technology such as sonography and cardiac intervention. Many employers prefer to hire ARRT certified radiologic technologists. ARRT certification requires 24 hours of continuous training every two years in order to maintain it.

December 17, 2011 at 4:27 pm | No comment

An Optometrist, also known as a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) specializes in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with eye illnesses other than major surgical procedures of the eye, or the so-called visions care. This means that minor eye surgeries like eye cleaning fall squarely on the domain of an Optometrist, while major eye procedures are sent to Ophthalmologists, who are Doctors of Medicine (M.D) specializing in ophthalmology. Some of the eye conditions that an Optometrist focuses on include; Nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, astigmatism, glaucoma, retinal diseases, cataracts, color blindness, and eye illnesses caused by diabetes and diabetes. An optometrist may prescribe contact lenses, eyeglasses, or eye medications such as vision therapy, eye drops, low-vision rehabilitation to name but a few.

Step 1: Get Excellent Grades in High School

Knowing how to become an optometrist is the normally first step towards kicking off a career in optometry. The second step is not only finishing high school but most importantly, getting excellent grades in Math, English, physics, Biology, and sciences. This is because good grades in these subjects will immensely assist you in the optometry school.

Step 2: Get an Undergraduate Degree

The next step towards a career in optometry involves obtaining a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from a reputable institution, which should also focus on Biology, Math English and Physics, and Sciences. Other than excelling in these subjects, you should acquire an average of at least 3.0 GPA to be competitive in your applications to optometry schools.

Step 3: Get Into Optometry School

A typical optometry program from colleges accredited by the Association of Optometric Association (AOA) normally takes four years to complete. A few of the nineteen accredited colleges in USA, two in Canada and one in Puerto Rico, include: Ferris State University, Illinois College of Optometry, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and Pacific College of Optometry among others. However, even after attaining excellent grades in the preceding Bachelor of Science, one has to pass the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) in any of the accredited colleges in order to get an admission. The program normally takes four years after which one has an option of continuing to take a specialty in optometry by taking a one year residency. Alternatively, one can seek a license right after the four year optometry program instead of taking the one year specialty.

Step 4: Get Your Post-Graduate Certification

Optometry specializations include geriatrics, vision therapy, pediatrics, and contact lenses to name but a few. Getting a practicing license in optometry also require passing the state’s National Board of Examiners (NBEO) in Optometry exam.

Because of the long and stringent requirements that are needed before one can qualify to practice as an optometrist, the optometry field has remain largely uncharted, this combined with the expected rise in vision care needed in an aging population in our society means that demands for optometrists are going to rise. This is one of the most important steps that one ought to know in order to know how to become an optometrist.

December 15, 2011 at 2:47 pm | No comment

Optometry is a potentially lucrative field. In the United States, it generally requires around eight years to become an optometrist. The time may be well worth it, however, as optometrists can expect to make around $100,000 a year, on average.

Undergraduate Education for Optometry

The first step in becoming an optometrist is to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate institution. The time required for this stage can vary. Some are able to obtain a bachelor’s degree in three to five years, although four years is the expected time of completion. It can take longer than 4 years, but generally this occurs when double-majoring, poor planning, or switching majors.

Applying to Optometry School

After receiving a bachelor’s degree, you must then take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). This standardized test is required by all optometry schools in the United States. It covers the natural sciences, reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, and physics. Your scores will help determine how competitive your application to optometry school will be. Applying to these schools is very competitive, and around 65% of applicants are not accepted. There are only 20 optometry schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico that are approved by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).

Completing Optometry School

If you are accepted to optometry school, you can expect to spend about 4 years studying. The course of study involves classroom courses along with practical applications of optometry. After completion of these 4 years you will obtain a Doctor of Optometry degree. You will not yet be ready to practice, though. All optometrists must take the National Board of Optometry exam and any necessary state licensing exams to be licensed to practice.

If well-planned and executed the entire training period for an optometrist can be around 8 years. This is assuming one can pass the required exams on the first attempt. Eight years may seem like a long period of preparation to some, but there are significant advantages that come with a career in optometry. One is the salary. The median income of optometrists in 1998 was $96,320. The outlook for job opportunities for optometrists is also very good. Due to the low number of applicants that are accepted to optometry school (and the limited number of schools), there is a perpetual demand for optometrists in the United States. It is expected that around 8,000 new positions will be created between 2008 and 2018. Having an optometry degree also provides one with an opportunity to start his or her own practice and be self-employed.

Challenges as an Optometrist

As long as you enjoy the work, the only downside to optometry is the investment of time and money required to earn a degree. Costs for optometry school are similar to that required for an undergraduate degree, but essentially this doubles the cost associated with your education (undergraduate degree + optometry degree). This investment may well be worth it due to the salary involved with practicing optometry. The course work and testing requirements are also rigorous, but again these hardships will pay dividends in a profitable and secure job for the future.

December 14, 2011 at 2:47 pm | No comment

First and foremost, there is a need to differentiate ophthalmologists and optometrists. How are these two different?

Optometrist Average Salary

The only downside lies in the salary ranges. Realistically speaking, ophthalmologists earn more compared to optometrists. This is because the former is able to gain extra training and education, not to mention more opportunities to advance and research on their expertise in various areas of eye specialization. Optometrists, on the other hand, may opt to earn another master’s degree in order to increase their wages.

According to present statistics, optometrists may earn as much as $110,000 per year. This amount only applies to those who are on salary. Those who are looking to work with an hourly value may be able to depend on the mean wage, which can be as much as $60 per hour. California has the most optometrists in the US, so people who are aspiring to work in this field may choose to work in other places that may be in dire need of specialization. These places include Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming.

What an Optometrist Does

To put it simply, ophthalmologists are responsible for the diagnosis and the treatment of various diseases of the eye. In case of eye injuries, they are the ones who are rushing to the rescue in order to perform surgeries and other types of operations. On the other hand, optometrists provide people with basic health care when it comes to normal problems with their visions. People go to optometrists whenever the need for a yearly checkup arises. In other words, both occupations involve a degree and a license, but there is still a difference in terms of salary.

Optometrists usually work in their own offices. Their regular working period takes about 40 hours per week. Some work during the weekends and even on evenings in order to maximize their availability for patients. In the year 2004, this field can hold as much as 34,000 jobs. For example, a person with a degree in eye specialization may choose to work in a clinic or even in a vision center. The good news is that the employment rate for optometrists is expected to grow faster by the year 2014. Since there is a huge growth in population during the last decades, it is expected that these people are to become old enough to have their eye checked. This proves how much attention is now being given to this field.

December 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm | No comment

Becoming an optometrist is a career move that is preferred by many, but it does indeed have both advantages and disadvantages. Optometry is the study of the eye and the diagnosis of problems such as stigmatisms and far/near sightedness. Duties also include providing correctional treatment and prescriptions to patients for both glasses as well as contact lenses.

Optometry is a very precise science indeed and as a career it is one that you should choose if you have an eye for detail and extreme precision. Most optometrists work in general practice but some choose to specialize, and whichever career path you wish to choose, there is a lot of study and hard work involved.

The Pros of Being an Optometrist

High salary

Obvious advantages of choosing this as your career are the high wages as well as good working hours. Conducting eye examinations is something that is done generally only carried out in working hours and can therefore be seen as a great career that you can happily combine with family life.

Working with people

If you enjoy working with people, then once again this is a good choice. Throughout your career you will meet patients of all ages and from all walks of life and you will receive a certain degree of self-satisfaction by helping your patients improve the quality of their visual life.

More demand

Another advantage of taking this career path is that the profession is steadily growing. More and more people are wearing glasses, and many are opting for laser surgery for vision correction. More and more appointments are made each year for vision examinations.

The reason for the increase of the number of patients wearing glasses can indeed be put down to a few factors; one disturbing one is the number of children who have vision problems after spending far too many hours playing video games. Another reason for the increase work load for optometrists is indeed simply because the life expectancy for adults is increasing each year, and almost one hundred percent of elderly people wear glasses.

The Cons of Being an Optometrist

Cost of education

There are also of course some cons to choosing a career as an optometrist. As it is a very prestigious and popular career, you may find it difficult to be accepted to study the profession. The actual time span to become qualified is quite reasonable with four years in a specialist school of optometry, but this will of course cost you in excess of one hundred thousand dollars in fees and expenses.

Hard to advance

A starting salary of around $80,000 a year is quite good, but on the other hand, there is little scope for increment once you are qualified and practicing. You need to realize that although there are rewards for choosing this for your job, your day to day life can become extremely repetitive.

Sitting in a darkened room

Working as an optometrist will involve sitting in a darkened room in the same surgery, five or more days a week. There is little scope for travel and although you can interact with your patients each day, the job could at sometimes be compared to a boring desk job, but with no nice view out of the window. Optometry is a great move for those who seek a reasonably high salary in a profession where they will be of help to others, but should not be chosen by those who wish to discover the world or the chance to move up and up a career ladder and enjoy huge increments in their annual wage packet.

December 12, 2011 at 2:47 pm | 1 comment

Optometrists are the core providers of vision care. Their job entails diagnosing eye problems and providing appropriate treatment for the same. They prescribe corrective glasses and contact lenses for specific eye disorders. Furthermore, they refer their patients to other physicians for specialized treatment if they are experience other problems. In addition, they prescribe medication for a diagnosed eye problem. If you are willing to pursue such a rewarding career, then carefully look at the optometrist education requirements you will require to fulfill to become a qualified optometrist.

Undergraduate Education

Students aspiring to pursue Doctor of Optometry (OD) must undergo a minimum of three years of undergraduate education at an accredited college or university. Undergraduate students study Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, English and Biology. These subjects lay a good foundation for advanced training in school of optometry.

Doctor of Optometry Degree

This program takes four years to complete at a school or college of optometry that has been accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the America Optometric Association. To gain admission into Doctor of Optometry Degree program, you must have undergone a 3 year training undergraduate education in sciences, mathematics, and English. Applicants must also take Optometry Admission Test (OAT), a standardized exam which measures scientific comprehension and whether you can succeed academically. The examination tests you on all branches of science, reading comprehension, and your quantitative reasoning skills. Most applicants take the OAT test after their sophomore year in college, giving them a chance to take the test again and raise their score.

Doctor of Optometry program include classroom training and laboratory study of health and vision science. Students also undertake clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye problems. Furthermore, training in courses such as optics, biochemistry, pharmacology and systemic diseases is offered. Note that each institution has its own specific undergraduate prerequisites; therefore all applicants should contact the school of their choice for specific requirements.

Post Graduate Studies

Graduates from school of optometry can choose to pursue clinical residency programs. The graduates study advanced clinical competence within a specialization of optometry. Residency programs include pediatric optometry, vision therapy and rehabilitation, geriatric optometry, refractive and ocular surgery, low vision rehabilitation, ocular diseases and primary care optometry. Each of these programs takes one year to complete. These specialized programs are available at different schools and colleges of optometry.

Licensure

It is a requirement in U.S. that all qualified optometrists be licensed. To obtain a license, applicants must have a Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited school or college of optometry. The graduates must pass written National Board examination and national, regional or state clinical examination. Usually, both examinations are taken during student’s academic career. Most state requires license applicants to sit and pass examination on relevant state laws. It is a requirement that the license must be renewed every 1-3 years.

Other skills

Completing the above mentioned optometrist education requirements is not enough. An individual must also possess skills that will help them advance in optometry. Skills such as business acumen, managerial skills, excellent communication, self-discipline, and ability to deal with patients are important.

Advancement

Optometrists who choose to teach or undertake research may proceed to study a master’s degree and eventually Ph.D in specialized areas such as physiological optics, health information and communication, public health or neurophysiology.

December 11, 2011 at 2:47 pm | No comment

A chiropractor is a care physician who treats ailments of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system using natural and manual manipulations of the joints, bones and muscles. They provide drugless and non-surgical health treatments and also recognize other factors affecting health like heredity, exercise, environment, health and diet. A career as a chiropractor can be challenging and yet very rewarding, however, there are specific things you need to know on how to become a chiropractor.

Step 1: Set Your Goals

When working on how to become a chiropractor you need to be very goal-oriented. The desire for success can be very crucial due to the fact that a chiropractic field can be very challenging. A chiropractor spends longer and regular hours when treating their patients unlike other medical fields. Therefore, it is very important for a chiropractor to have good communicational skills. As a chiropractor your work involves a lot of body contacts, confidence and being very professional will determine the number of patients who come back for a second visit. Other skills needed in order to be a good chiropractor is being a good listener and observer to be able to identify the patients’ pain and physical abnormalities. Manual and coordination skills are also very essential because chiropractors work with their hands.

Step 2: Get Your Chiropractic Credentials

A chiropractor needs to obtain a degree from an accredited chiropractic school. It is typically an eight year program but could vary in length from person to person. It entails courses on anatomy, biology, pathology, biochemistry and physiology. Lab and clinical training are also components of chiropractic education. In order to be able to practice on a national level licensure is required. You get this by passing a four part test by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Depending on the state you are working in you may be required to take specific courses every year in order to keep your chiropractic license; it’s very important keep up with what is required of you in order to get trust from your patients.

Step 3: Keep Yourself Up-To-Date

After learning on the basics on how to become a chiropractor, you need to be able to have a practice that is considered very high standards. You can only obtain this by investing your energy and time into purchasing the most comfortable equipment to use while giving care to your patients. A successful chiropractor should always understand the expectations of the target audience, therefore keeping yourself updated on the developments on chiropractic treatment may make a big difference on your success. The best way to do this is by attending chiropractic seminars and volunteering in chiropractic hospitals that will help you attain the desired level of competency and staying informed in your profession.

Although chiropractic school may be very expensive, successful chiropractors earn a very good salary. Due to very stressful lifestyles, the demand for chiropractors is due to increase. Your decision on conducting research on how to become a chiropractor is definitely the right one because finding a job will be easy. Above all, in order to become a successful chiropractor a scientific mind and the passion to help others are essential.

December 10, 2011 at 2:32 pm | No comment

A chiropractor focuses on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal system disorders, especially of the spine. Chiropractic medicine is considered an alternative medicine, as opposed to traditional medical care. Due to the limited scope of chiropractic medicine, becoming certified and licensed to practice in this field is not as time intensive as other medical fields. Becoming a chiropractor requires an education time commitment of an average of eight years plus additional time in practice and to retain ongoing certification.

Education, Training, and Certification

To receive a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) designation in the United States, a student must complete:
• A Bachelor’s degree in a complimentary field prior to entering chiropractic school, typically in biology, psychology, chemistry or anatomy.
• A minimum of 4,200 student to teacher contact hours, equivalent to a four-year college degree that combines classroom, laboratory and clinical training.
• At least 1,000 hours supervised clinical training as part of the degree program.
• A 12-month clinical internship.
• Successful completion of state or national certification board examinations.

Once a chiropractor is fully licensed and able to practice, most states require the practitioner to complete 12 to 50 hours of continuing education on an annual basis in order to retain licensure.

Specialization

In addition to the standard education requirements, additional specialties in chiropractic medicine are available. Postdoctoral training in chiropractic neurology, sports injuries, nutrition, orthopedics and so forth are available for students wishing to increase knowledge or areas of expertise. After completion of supplemental courses, students may take examinations to obtain additional certifications or licensures.

Benefits as a Chiropractor

There are numerous benefits to becoming a chiropractor. The field is growing in popularity and acceptance as patients look for alternative treatments to musculoskeletal issues. The number of chiropractors practicing continues to grow annually and is expected to increase at a rate as high as or higher than other medical specialties. Many insurance companies now consider chiropractic treatment a viable alternative and cover more of the diagnostic and treatment costs. While chiropractors still must carry malpractice insurance, the limited scope of treatment also limits the exposure to potential claims. Many chiropractors report feeling a sense of satisfaction at being able to help patients relieve pain or discomfort without resorting to medication or invasive surgery.

Challenges as a Chiropractor

However, there are some challenges in the field of chiropractic. Educational requirements are similar to those in other areas of the medical field yet chiropractors do not have the same privileges as medical doctors. In most states, chiropractors are unable to prescribe any medications or order certain diagnostic tests. Instead, if a condition requires medication or advanced diagnoses, a chiropractor must refer a patient to an orthopedist or other medical professional. At the same time, a chiropractor is not licensed to perform major surgery, so again, if a patient requires further medical care, a referral is required. Finally, most chiropractors are unable to gain university or hospital privileges. This limits their ability to perform advanced diagnostic tests on behalf of their patients.

Becoming a chiropractor requires significant commitment of both time and resources. The level of education required ensures those licensed in the chiropractic field are well-prepared to treat patients within their field. As standard medical care advance and becomes more expensive, alternative treatments like spinal adjustments appeal to many patients seeking simple and effective relief. Those considering a career as a chiropractor should be fully aware of the requirements of the profession.

December 9, 2011 at 2:32 pm | No comment

Chiropractic doctors identify and analyze any type of problem which is related to muscular and skeletal parts of the body. Consequently, these experts give ample treatment to these difficulties and at the same time, provide relief to other health issues than an individual may encounter. The chiropractic discipline is primarily founded on the idea that a person’s spinal alignment has everything to do with the central-nervous system and if the condition cannot be treated as soon as possible, it may greatly diminish wellness and/or cause other complications.

Chiropractor Salary

The salary of a chiropractor depends on whether he is practicing solo or he is employed at a medical clinic. The income of freelance chiropractic physicians are generally not that high at the beginning of the practice, but once experience and clientele expands, salary will in turn increase. On the other hand, the average hourly rate of for an employed individual is $32.53 but there are also those who are earning as low as $15.74 in contrast to those established professional chiropractors who can earn as high as $72.39 on an hourly rate.

Biomedical Scientist Salary Bonuses

A regular bonus which an employed chiropractor can receive on a yearly basis is a minimum of $20,000. This amount varies depending on your length of employment and on the capacity of your employer to provide the same. Annual paid vacation leaves are also provided in this profession but most employers require that you first complete at least twelve months of being employed. The medical clinic can give you at least 14 days off from work.

Advantages and Drawbacks of Being a Biomedical Scientist

As compared to other medical professions, chiropractic medicine is a lot better because this is a 9 to 5 job and you are not required to work beyond those hours except when there is an emergency with one of the patients. In other words, your daily duty is not that stressful and you can even have the weekends off. Furthermore, the length of training required is relatively shorter and you can complete the degree program in just a span of 3 years. However, there are some parts of the country which require their chiropractic students to finish a bachelor’s degree for this profession.

There are some drawbacks in being a chiropractor and one of which is continuous exposure to radiation because you will be dealing with X-rays all the time. For this reason, you must take the necessary precautionary measures.

December 8, 2011 at 2:32 pm | No comment

Chiropractic is considered an allied medicine with an emphasis on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disorders of the musculoskeletal system. With the prevalence of pain and other debilitating diseases these days, it has become a popular career and as an alternative medicine, ranking third among the largest area of medicine. A chiropractic career usually requires 2 to 4 years of study, including subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and other related courses. The career could be taken off or on campus. To most, becoming a chiropractor is rewarding however like any career, it has its own disadvantages. Here are some of the pros and cons of being a chiropractor.

The Pros of Being a Chiropractor

Nature of Work

• Graduates of chiropractic may have their own clinic. As long as they are regulated, they can be able to deliver independent care to their own patients in their own clinic. They may have their own physical therapists and nurses to work under their supervision.
• Bulk of work is easier compared to other forms of medicine because they usually do diagnosis with the use of their stethoscope. Their physical therapists do most of the muscle manipulation.
• In most cases, this career deals with rehabilitation of individuals who have histories of sport accidents, pains and other disabilities which are either inborn or not.

Job Outlook

• They have great opportunities to work locally or going abroad. With the demand of the career worldwide, chiropractors have a greater chance of going out of their own country to seek a more robust career overseas.
• Chiropractors are among the professionals with decent pay. An average chiropractor receives an average of more than $130, 000 annually. However, the pay depends on the educational attainment of the chiropractor and field of expertise as well. Those with master degree or doctoral degree are assigned higher salaries and incentives.

The Patient

• Patients may like to always go back to their chiropractor because the therapy relieves pain quickly and is affordable. Compared with other methods, the manipulation offers a fast relief of discomfort.
• Patients prefer treatment which are non-invasive. Chiropractors do not use any invasive procedures or instruments for their patients.

The Cons of Being a Chiropractor

Self-Fulfillment

At times, a chiropractor finds it frustrating not to extend help to other patients because they are confined in their specialization of chiropractic medicine. This is contrary to a general practitioner who can tend to patients with illnesses other than physical pain relating to muscles, joints and surrounding tissues, and the spine. Another con is that chiropractors become frustrated if they find out that their method is not effective in some of their patients. This is most especially if the patient had been going through therapy with them for a long time.

Physical Stress

Some chiropractors complain they are also stressed after attending to their patients. Manipulating muscles and joints requires much energy and stamina.

December 7, 2011 at 2:32 pm | No comment