Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Texas

The radiologic technologist and technician schools in Texas offer education and training in a broad array of practice areas, including mammography and diagnostic radiology. Online schools offer programs in a flexible format that may suit your educational and career goals. Read about the difference between radiology technologists and radiology technicians. Below you will find more information about radiologic technology schools in Texas and career options for graduates, including a table of rad tech programs and a list of nationally accredited radiologic technology programs as well as student reviews.

Quick Facts

• There are 44 colleges and universities with radiologic technology degree programs in Texas.¹
• 21 schools offer a certificate program in radiologic science.¹
• 39 schools offer an associate’s degree in radiologic science.¹
• 5 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science.¹
• 3 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in radiologic science.¹
• 30 schools have medical imaging programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).²
• 18 schools have medical imaging programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).³
• 4 schools have medical imaging programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).⁴

For not-for-profit schools with radiologic technology programs.

Table of Contents

Texas Medical Imaging Schools Comparison

Select Schools in Texas with RT Programs

How to Become an RT in Texas

Texas RT Salary and Job Outlook

Student Reviews

Texas Medical Imaging Schools Comparison

We have designed the following table to allow you to easily compare all of the not-for-profit radiologic technology and medical imaging programs in Texas on a variety of factors. You should check with the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to ensure that the program you are considering will meet licensure requirements.

• — indicates none.
• N.Av. indicates no data available.

Select Schools in Texas with Radiology Technologist Degree Programs

Houston Community College

Houston Community College (HCC) is home to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Radiography. This JRCERT-accredited program prepares graduates to meet the certification requirements of the ARRT and licensure requirements in the state of Texas. Courses include Basic and Advanced Radiographic Procedures; Advanced Medical Imaging; Sectional Anatomy for Medical Imaging; and Radiographic Pathology. Students also complete clinical practica as well as a capstone course that combines theory, practice, and professionalization in the field of radiography. HCC also offers an AAS in Nuclear Medicine Technology and an Enhanced Skills Certificate in Radiography: Computed Tomography, which can help those who are currently certified by the ARRT and state of Texas add to their practice modalities. HCC offers competitive tuition and provides many incoming students with financial aid packages, which may be based on academic merit or financial need.

North Central Texas College

North Central Texas College’s full-time, two-year radiography program at the Gainesville campus leads to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Radiologic Technology. Prior to beginning radiologic technology coursework, skills labs, and clinical rotations, students must first complete 14 credit hours of prerequisite courses in algebra; grammar and composition; and anatomy and physiology. Students will complete a clinical rotation each semester of the program in addition to coursework covering medical imaging, radiography pathology, radiographic procedures, and radiation protection and biology. The highly selective program only admits 20 applicants a year. Prospective applicants must attend a mandatory advising session prior to applying for the program.

South Texas College

Graduates of South Texas College’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Radiologic Technology program will be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam. The two-year, full-time program combines radiologic technology coursework, work in the on-campus laboratory, and clinical rotations to prepare students to begin working in entry-level radiology technologist positions. Students will become proficient in radiographic positioning and in using both traditional and digital radiography equipment. Applicants to the program must submit their application materials by the end of May with those offered a seat in the program beginning their studies in the fall semester.

Tarrant County College

Tarrant County College confers the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Radiologic Technology to students who successfully complete the two-year, full-time radiography program. A combination of radiologic technology coursework and clinical rotations prepare students to take the ARRT certification exam upon graduation. Program coursework covers patient care, radiographic imaging, radiographic pathology, and radiographic procedures. Students must also complete a series of clinical rotations to fulfill degree requirements. Prospective applicants must complete and receive a passing C grade in two prerequisite courses in anatomy and physiology. Applications for the selective program are due March 1 of each year.

How to Become a Radiology Technologist in Texas

The Texas Medical Board (TMB) oversees Medical Radiologic Technologist (MRT), Medical Physicist (MP), and Radiologist Assistant (RA) licensure in the state. The TMB also offers a Non-Certified Radiologic Technician registration (NCT) that allows techs who have completed an acceptable education program to perform limited imaging under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. The steps to become a radiologic technologist in Texas will vary by specialty, but the general steps are as follows:

1. Earn a diploma, certificate, or degree in your chosen modality. Be sure that the program you choose is appropriately accredited.
2. Pass the ARRT exam. If you are applying for the MRT, you should pass the appropriate ARRT exam (or Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) exam, for nuclear technologists) for your chosen modality prior to applying for a license.
3. Submit an application. The TMB provides application forms and instructions for each license type. Be prepared to send certified transcripts and official verification of your professional ARRT or NMTCB certification.
4. Pass the Texas Medical Jurisprudence (JP) exam. RTs, NCRs, and MPs must all pass an exam that covers Texas statutes and Board rules regarding licensure, scope of practice, and medical ethics. Further information and instructions are available on the TMB website.
5. Receive your license or registration. Once your application has been approved and all supporting documents received, the TMB will issue your license or registration. You can also check the status of your application online.
6. Apply for national ARRT certification, if desired. Although the ARRT exam is required for some types of licensure in Texas, national certification is a separate process that can add to an individual’s credentials. Read more about ARRT credentialing here.
7. Maintain your license to practice. The TMB requires all radiologic professionals to complete continuing education in order to renew their licenses. MRTs must complete 24 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle, with at least 12 of those composed of formally designed courses (e.g., not self-study).

The TMB also issues Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist (LMRT) licenses. This limited scope license allows holders to x-ray limited parts of the body under supervision. To qualify as an LMRT, you must complete an approved educational program and pass the Texas JP exam. You must complete a pre-licensure review to receive permission to take the ARRT Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography exam. Once this exam has been passed, you may apply for a full LMRT license.

Texas Radiology Tech Salary and Job Outlook

Projections suggest that radiologic technologists and technicians in Texas will enjoy an estimated 15.5% increase in employment from 2018 and 2028.⁵ That’s considerably higher than the expected job growth rate of 9% for radiology techs nationwide in the same 10-year period.⁵ An estimated 16,550 radiologic technologists and technicians were employed in Texas in 2018, with a total of 19,110 radiologic technology jobs predicted in 2028.⁵ An estimated 1,230 average annual job openings for rad techs are expected in Texas, which includes new jobs as well as vacated positions.⁵ Texas has the second-greatest number of radiologic technologist jobs in the nation, after California.⁶ The BLS does not track occupational data for limited scope x-ray technicians. However, limited scope technicians typically earn less than fully-licensed radiologic technicians due to the lower educational requirements and work responsibilities. Radiologic technologists and technicians frequently find employment at hospitals, medical facilities, imaging centers, and private doctors’ offices. Some of the largest employers that hire radiologic technologists and technicians in Texas include Christus Health, West Houston Medical Center, Scott and White Healthcare, Mission Region Medical Center, East Texas Medical Center, and MC Anderson Cancer Center.

Texas Radiologic Technologist Salary by Metro Area

*2018 data used as 2019 data is not available.⁷

Student Reviews

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Kilgore College
1100 Broadway Blvd
Kilgore, TX 75662
(903) 983-8209
https://www.kilgore.edu/

Student Review: “I thoroughly enjoyed the radiologic technology program I attended. The two ladies who teach the program have been teaching for years, and the head of the program has actually been involved in writing the registry for technologists. In our program, the entire first semester is spent learning all the positioning a student will use in a clinical setting. There is also a course on Patient Care and Transportation, along with radiation safety. Clinicals were by far the best part of the entire program. My school made a point to rotate each student through a large hospital, a facility with a moderate amount of business, and a smaller clinic setting so you get a nice variety of the types of jobs out there and places to work once you graduate. I also appreciated that the class and testing portions of the program were varied. Some test scores would come from actual tests, others would come from research papers or presentations. I’m not a great test-taker so having other options to succeed in different ways was nice. Another positive, toward the end of the program, the teachers helped make sure we had great resumes written, and helped us get all the right paperwork and know all the due dates for forms needing to be sent in to take the Registry exam. There are two schools that offer an RT(R) degree within a 45 miles radius, and I know the other school doesn’t help their students with signing up for the Registry and it can be difficult and confusing for some students. Cons would be, one of my teachers wasn’t very prompt on posting assignments and grades, so you didn’t really know where you stood, grade-wise, until right at the end of the semester. So if you were straddling the pass/fail line, it was too late to do anything. All in all, I really enjoyed the crazy, grueling, fun, fast-paced couple years that is a Rad Tech program. I would definitely do it again at the same school.”
-Student at Kilgore College

St. Philip’s College
1801 Martin Luther King Dr
San Antonio, TX 78203
(210) 486-2000
https://www.alamo.edu/spc/

Student Review: “I really enjoyed the classes for radiology. The classes and the clinicals help students build their confidence and their experience that they will need in this career. Once out of the program the school does a great job at helping to find permanent positions for us. When applying I felt the background check was very extensive and unnecessary. I also felt like advising did not do a great job at setting up a good schedule of prereqs before entering the program. Overall I feel that this program is very successful and something that would be enjoyed and quick and easy. It took 2 years to get this degree and I believe it is the best decision of my life.”
-Student at Kilgore College

Tarrant County College
1500 Houston St
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 515-8223
https://www.tccd.edu/

Student Review: “Tarrant county college really prepared me to enter the workforce as a successful radiologic technologist. The professors were all very personable and would try to solve any problem you may have had been dealing with. The clinical sites were all busy hospitals where I was exposed to many different exams and different working areas of the hospital such as diagnostic x-ray, portables, surgery, and trauma. The curriculum was also taught well and the textbooks and study material provided were very helpful. I passed the registry on my first try with a 92. I have come across techs from other programs who were not as prepared as I was or who did not get exposed to different working environments like I was able to. My program also rotated us through outpatient clinics and children hospitals. Overall it was a great experience.”
-Student at Tarrant County College

Texas A&M University
400 Bizzell St
College Station, TX 77843
(979) 845-3211
https://www.tamu.edu/

Student Review: “Attending the Texas A&M Radiology program was a positive experience for me. The classes I took were mostly relevant to my major and helped prepare me for a career after I left school. The administration provides a great network of support, including office hours from professors, career counseling and tutoring centers to help those that need a little extra help. The classes were varied enough so that you could narrow down your interests and take classes relevant to whatever that may be. The labs that were assigned to supplement the classes gave interesting practical applications to concepts that were covered in lecture. Some classes featured intelligent guest lectures that went more in-depth about their particular areas that were insightful and gave us a more detailed look at what sort of responsibilities we would have after entering our field. I would like to see a little more conciseness in the degree plan as some classes felt like filler. Overall I would highly recommend pursuing the Radiology degree at A&M.”
-Student at Texas A&M University

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Program Effectiveness Data: https://www.jrcert.org/program-effectiveness-data/
3. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs: https://www.caahep.org/Students/Find-a-Program.aspx
4. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology: https://www.jrcnmt.org/programs/
5. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292034.htm
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm