Are there too many radiologic technologists in the field currently?

Question

I have noticed that the graduating class at the local community college is having trouble finding jobs at the area hospitals. Also, there are no job listings for X-ray techs, CT techs, or MRI techs in my area. Is this a common theme in other regions? Are other rad tech schools still pushing through as many techs as possible even with the apparent downturn in postions due to CR and DR? Has anybody else witnessed this and is it just a cyclical occurrence? Thanks for any responses.

Answer 1

as of right now, there is a glut of technologists across all modalities except CT and MRI techs because of the school pumping out too many students just for money really. They only hire CT and MRI techs if you have experience on it but hey you may get lucky if you go to school for it same as other modalities if you have a good network. Don't believe the BLS, find the real information from the technologists themselves. Is it cyclical, yes but as long as schools are too greedy to only care for themselves, the field will go down as the other modalities. It is pretty unethical really to lie to those students whether it is radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, radiography or ultrasound school. Funny thing is that the ASRT or SNMT was made to support those techs but they just want to get their organizations richer themselves instead of doing something about it like the nurses' organization do for them.  

Answer 2

I think there are.  The waiting list at my local community college was 9 years for this program, if that gives you any idea of just how bad they shuck students through there like cattle.  There was also an older woman at my work who had her certification in rad tech.  She tried to get a job a one of the local hospitals and was told not to bother because they generally only hire younger kids, just out of school.  I, like you never see any job postings for this field, but I could be looking in the wrong place(doubt it.)