The RA or radiologist assistant is similar to a radiography technician, though they have completed additional certifications and requirements. They are able to accomplish advanced imaging jobs and will work under the supervision of a radiologist. A radiologist assistant will oftentimes be someone that works under a licensed physician rather than a radiologist.

Today, the field of radiologist assistant is a relatively new one, with fewer than fifty courses available to take around the United States at last count. As the RA field becomes more widely expected, more courses are expected to follow. More universities today are offering radiologist assistant courses than in the previous years. The courses and the material involved are new, so they are still under development.

In order to become a radiologist assistant, you will be required to complete a radiology assistant course that has been recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT).

As of 2010, there are a total of 11 programs being offered in the RA field. These confer degrees at either the Bachelor’s degree or the Master’s degree level. In the radiology field, it is impossible to obtain a degree lower than a Bachelor’s.

In order to become a radiology assistant, you are required to complete the course and graduate in good standing in your class. Accredited RA programs are out there, but they will only accept those who already have several years as a technician under their belt.

If you choose to embark on this course you will find that it requires about two years of your time, and a study of ethics, pharmacology, testing, diagnosis, radio-biology, and clinical radiology.

If you choose to go with the Master’s Degree level, then you will need to write a master’s thesis before graduation. Even when you have been certified, you might find that you need to carry our some continuing education.

Aside from the graduation of an accredited degree program for your profession, the radiologist assistant must also take and pass an examination in order to practice. Though not every state requires any state licensing, some accrediting institutions will require it. Only a fraction of the states now require a state license to practice.

The ARRT offers an examination, and this examination needs to be completed if you wish to obtain your Registered Radiology Assistant certification.

While you are only a Radiology Assistant, the ARRT still requires that you become certified in Advance Cardiac Life Support which is a certification provided by the American Heart Association just like other medical profession such as nurses and physician assistants.

Your radiologist assistant licensing and registration must be renewed each year and you must maintain your radiology technician certification by renewing it every two years.

This annual renewal will ensure that you keep your job. Renewal fees must also be paid for your technician certification every two years. In order to be a radiologist assistant, you will need to obtain certification as a radiologic technologist.

You will find that many of the procedures you perform as a radiologist assistant will be the same as that which is done by a full fledged radiologist. These duties will of course include performing MRI’s, fluoroscopy, x-rays, and a number of other items. A radiologist assistant will generally carry out these tests, and the results will need to be reported to the licensed radiologist on site.

As the work for standard radiologists grows in the next decade, the need for RA’s will grow exponentially, says the ASRT. Right now there is a huge calling for radiologists and radiologists assistants, but that need is not being met. There are a number of people out there who need diagnostic testing, and as a result, the field will grow considerably over the next few years.

Currently the American Medical Association (AMA) – in reports published in 2009 and 2010 offered that radiologist assistants are becoming more popular. They further state that as of 2008, the licensed radiologist assistant can expect to receive about $100,000 USD per year in compensation for this employment position, depending on the geographic area in which they are practicing.