When German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen invented radiography in 1895, he had no idea the implications it would have on society and the medical field. You see, Roentgen's discovery was an accident. Now, over a 100 years later, with radiographers making a major mark on the health care industry, you can transform Roentgen's mistake into a career that matters.

Techs 'R Us
You may have wondered as a child when you thought you broke your wrist or leg how radiographs of parts of the body get produced. It is the job of a radiographer, or x-ray technician, to produce and administer certain non-radioactive materials within a patient's bloodstream for diagnostic purposes. Not only do radiographers administer the process, they are also responsible for prepping patients, as well as maintaining reports and records. Adjusting, facilitating, and operating the equipment is also a part of the daily routine of a radiographers.

Additionally, radiographers may specialize in complex diagnostic imaging technologies. This includes computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Computerized tomography techs operate scanners to produce cross-sectional images of patients. You may be more familiar with magnetic resonance imaging (also known as MRI). MRI techs operate machines that use strong magnets and radio waves, rather than radiation, to create an image.

Radiography Schools, Simplified
Training for aspiring radiographers varies from one to four years. Once a student has completed a radiography program, he or she will receive a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree. Don't worry -- there are plenty of radiography schools from which to choose. In fact, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology accredited more than 600 radiography programs in 2007. Once an aspiring radiographer is completed with training, he or she must pass a certification exam provided by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Licensure for those who have attended radiography schools varies from state to state, but currently 40 states have some sort of requirement for practicing radiographers.

 In order to keep up with the ever-changing technology in the field of radiography and with those currently in radiography schools, radiographers must take 24 hours of continuing education every two years. This way, radiographers can learn the latest and continue to advance with radiography schools.

Radiography Techs on the Job
The medical field is lucrative and plentiful. As a matter of fact, radiographers held about 196,000 jobs in 2006 alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). More than half of that number worked in hospitals. Employment is only expected to grow -- and faster than the average rate of all occupations through 2016. As the population ages, there will be an increasing demand for diagnostic imaging, hence an increasing demand for radiographers. And, with annual earnings for radiographers averaging $48,170 in 2006, 10 percent earning more than $68,920, radiography schools for this exciting health care field may be one at which to look more closely.