Radiology technologist job description template: modality, setting, ARRT and state license lines, and radiation safety
On this page
"Rad tech needed, ARRT required, all shifts." Technologists scanning postings want four things that line does not give: which modality and setting, whether the job includes portables, the OR and the emergency department or only scheduled outpatient exams, what call looks like, and whether the license line matches their state. A general diagnostic technologist working nights in a trauma center has a different job from one in an orthopedic clinic, and both differ from a CT or MRI technologist. A useful radiology technologist job description names the modality, setting and exam mix, the credential and state license in exact terms, any permits such as fluoroscopy or mammography, the shift and call pattern, and the radiation safety program. Below are the seat types, the credential lines with sources, a copy-ready template, screening and scorecard rows, and common mistakes. For the phone screen, use the radiology technologist screening questions.
Not legal advice. The credential and licensing points below were checked against the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the California Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch as of October 2026. State licensure rules differ; confirm with your state radiation control or licensing agency before posting.
Name the modality and the setting
| Seat | What the shift looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital general diagnostic | ED and inpatient exams, portables on the floors and ICU, OR C-arm, trauma | Portable and trauma positioning; C-arm and any fluoroscopy permit the state requires |
| Outpatient imaging center | Scheduled exams, high volume, patient prep and screening forms, steady hours | Pace and accuracy on routine exams; strong patient communication |
| Orthopedic or urgent care clinic | Extremity and spine imaging, often a single technologist, sometimes cross-trained duties | Working alone; any limited-scope permit rules in your state |
| CT | Contrast studies, stroke and trauma protocols, IV access, dose awareness | Post-primary CT credential or a training plan; contrast reaction response |
| MRI | Screening for implants and metal, long exams, safety zones | Post-primary MRI credential or a training plan; MRI safety screening discipline |
| Mammography or interventional | Screening and diagnostic mammograms, or IR and cath lab procedures with sterile technique | Mammography or vascular-interventional credential and any state certificate |
Then settle with the imaging manager: exam volume per shift (as an estimate), the mix of portables, OR and ED work, whether technologists rotate into CT, the call requirement and response time, and the equipment. A technologist who knows the shift includes four hours of OR C-arm work and a 30-minute call response will self-select accurately.
Credential and license lines
Education and licensure. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for radiologic and MRI technologists (last modified August 27, 2026) says an associate's degree is the education typically required, that most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified, and that employers typically require or prefer certification even when the state does not.
ARRT certification. Under ARRT's primary eligibility pathway, a candidate must earn an associate's degree or higher, complete an ARRT-approved educational program in the same discipline as the credential, meet the ethics requirement and pass the exam. Technologists who add CT, MRI or mammography later often do so through ARRT's post-primary pathway. ARRT requires most registered technologists to complete 24 approved continuing education credits each two-year biennium, alongside annual renewal. Verify through ARRT's online credential verification; ARRT says it does not issue paper credential cards.
State license, certificate or permit. State rules sit on top of ARRT and vary widely. California's Radiologic Health Branch issues diagnostic and therapeutic radiologic technology certificates, a separate mammography certificate and a separate fluoroscopy permit; a technologist certified in diagnostic radiology still needs the fluoroscopy permit to operate fluoroscopy there. Write the state term ("California CRT with fluoroscopy permit") rather than "licensed."
Radiation safety and health questions. Describe the dosimetry and protective equipment you provide. Do not ask about pregnancy or health status in the posting or interview; pregnancy is a protected characteristic under the laws the EEOC enforces, and medical questions belong after a conditional offer. See pre-employment medical exams and the ADA.
The radiology technologist job description template
Radiologic Technologist — [General Diagnostic / CT / MRI /
Mammography / IR] — [Hospital / Outpatient Center / Clinic]
[Days / Evenings / Nights], [N]-hour shifts
[Organization], [city, state]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per hour, plus [shift and weekend differentials,
call pay $N per hour on call and callback rate]. [Benefits summary,
if required.]
SUMMARY
You will perform [modality] exams for [patient population] in
[setting], about [N] exams a shift (an estimate), including
[portables, OR C-arm, ED, trauma]. Call: [frequency, response
time]. You will report to the [imaging manager / lead
technologist].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Verify orders and patient identity; screen for pregnancy status,
implants or contrast allergies per protocol.
- Position patients and set technical factors to produce
diagnostic images at the lowest reasonable dose.
- [Perform portable exams and OR fluoroscopy with the C-arm.]
- [Administer contrast and monitor for reactions, per policy.]
- Evaluate image quality and repeat only when needed; send images
to PACS and document in [RIS/EHR].
- Follow radiation safety, infection control and MRI safety rules.
YOU MUST HAVE
- Graduation from an ARRT-recognized [radiography] program.
- [ARRT credential, e.g. R.T.(R)(ARRT); post-primary (CT) / (MR) /
(M) or a training plan.]
- [State license, certificate or permit by exact name, including
fluoroscopy or mammography where required.]
- Current BLS.
- [N] [months / years] in [setting], or new graduates welcome with
[orientation].
NICE TO HAVE
- Cross-training in [CT / MRI] or interest in it.
- Experience with [equipment vendor], [PACS].
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
SAFETY
Dosimetry badges and protective equipment are provided. Our
radiation safety officer reviews exposure reports.
[EEO STATEMENT]
To request an adjustment to apply or interview, contact [contact].Pay and EEO
Post the hourly range, differentials and how call is paid (standby rate and callback rate). The BLS profile linked above publishes pay data; this page does not quote figures. Close with a short EEO statement and an accommodation contact.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credentials and permits | "Which ARRT credentials and state licenses or permits do you hold, and when do they renew?" | Not scored: verified with ARRT and the state | Exact credentials, including fluoroscopy or mammography where relevant |
| Exam mix | "On your last shift pattern, how much was portables, OR and ED work, and how many exams a shift?" | Experience match | Concrete numbers and an exam mix close to yours |
| Patient safety | "You arrive for a portable chest on the wrong patient's wristband. What do you do?" | Patient identification | Stops, does not image, resolves with the nurse and the order before proceeding |
| Dose and image quality | "A lateral spine image is underexposed on a large patient. Talk me through the repeat." | Technical judgment | Adjusts factors deliberately, collimates, explains why, avoids unnecessary repeats |
| Contrast or MRI safety (modality seats) | "A CT patient develops hives and throat tightness after contrast. What happens next?" | Emergency response | Stops the injection, calls for help, follows the reaction protocol, stays with the patient |
To source by credential and modality, see the boolean search strings for radiology technologists. If the seat is sonography, the ultrasound technician screening questions fit better. For panel rounds, use the interview guide for healthcare roles.
Common mistakes in radiology technologist job descriptions
"ARRT required" with no discipline
ARRT certifies many disciplines. Name the one the seat needs: radiography, CT, MRI, mammography or vascular-interventional.
Leaving out the state permit
In states with separate fluoroscopy or mammography permits, a certified technologist may still be unable to do part of the job. Name the permit.
Hiding call and portables
Call frequency, response time and the share of portable and OR work decide whether a technologist accepts. Say them up front.
Asking about pregnancy
Describe the radiation safety program instead. Pregnancy questions create legal risk and tell you nothing about skill.
Before you publish
- Modality, setting, exam mix and volume are in the summary.
- The ARRT credential and state license or permit lines are exact.
- Call frequency, response time and call pay are stated.
- The radiation safety program is described; there are no pregnancy or health questions.
- Pay, EEO statement and accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
Should a radiology technologist posting require ARRT certification?
Most do, and many states build their license on it. BLS says most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified, and that employers typically require or prefer certification even where the state does not. ARRT's primary pathway requires an associate degree or higher, an ARRT-approved program in the same discipline, an ethics review and the exam. Name the credential you need, such as R.T.(R)(ARRT) for radiography.
How do we verify an ARRT credential?
Use ARRT's online verification directory, which ARRT describes as its official source for certification and registration status and updates daily. ARRT does not issue paper credential cards, so a card is not proof. Verify the state license separately with the state agency.
Does a technologist need a separate permit for fluoroscopy?
In some states, yes. California, for example, issues a radiologic technologist fluoroscopy permit separately from the diagnostic certificate, along with a separate mammography certificate. If the job includes fluoroscopy, C-arm work in the OR or mammography, write the exact state permit or certificate it requires.
Can we ask whether a candidate is pregnant because of radiation exposure?
No. Pregnancy is a protected characteristic under federal EEO law, and the posting and interview should not ask about it. Describe the radiation safety program, dosimetry and protective equipment you provide, and handle any declared pregnancy under your radiation safety policy after hire.