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Radiography assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Imaging support worker

Radiography assistants help radiographers with their day-to-day duties.

Average salary (a year)

£18,813 Starter

to

£23,761 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become a radiography assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

College

You may find it useful when applying for jobs if you've got a college qualification, for example:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Support Services
  • Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care
  • Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More information

Apprenticeship

You could complete an intermediate apprenticeship as a healthcare science assistant.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More information

Work

You could start as a healthcare assistant and work your way up through training and promotion. You may be able to study on the job for a qualification in clinical imaging support.

Volunteering and experience

You may have an advantage if you've worked or volunteered in a health or social care role.

You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice. Do-it also has information on voluntary opportunities in your area.

Direct application

You could apply directly to work as a radiography assistant. There are no set requirements, although many employers will ask for GCSE in subjects like maths, English and science.

Some employers may also prefer you to have a qualification in healthcare or health and social care.

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join The Society of Radiographers for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can get more advice about working as a radiography assistant from Health Careers.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • sensitivity and understanding
  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with others
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • knowledge of medicine and dentistry
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties could include:

  • providing reassurance to patients
  • giving information
  • taking patients to and from other wards
  • helping to maintain equipment and reporting any faults
  • assisting with procedures like biopsies
  • clerical tasks

Working environment

You could work at a hospice or in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

You could join the Society of Radiographers to help progress your career.

With experience and further study, you could go on to be an assistant practitioner or fully qualified radiographer. 

You may be able to do this on a secondment basis with financial support from your employer.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a radiography assistant right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Healthcare Support Services Apprenticeship (Intermediate, Advanced Level 3)

  • Provider: Blackburn College
  • Start date: 01 August 2020
  • Location: BLACKBURN

CG DIPLOMA IN HEALTHCARE SUPPORT SERVICES - LEVEL 3

  • Provider: EXETER COLLEGE
  • Start date: 20 April 2020
  • Location: EXETER
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