How Long Does It Take to Become a Radiologic Technologist? (2026)
Becoming a radiologic technologist typically takes about two years for an associate degree or about four years for a bachelor’s degree, plus a few additional months for the ARRT certification exam and state licensing. Hospital-based certificate programs, which are less common now, often run about two years as well. Most students also need to complete prerequisite courses before admission, which can add a semester to a year at the front end. The associate degree is the most common entry credential, and the timeline varies by program and by state.
Radiologic Technologist Timeline at a Glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Most common route | Associate degree in radiologic technology, typically about two years after prerequisites |
| Bachelor’s route | Typically about four years, including prerequisites |
| Hospital certificate | Often about two years, offered by some hospitals, sometimes for students who already hold a degree |
| Certification exam | ARRT Radiography exam, taken after completing an accredited program |
| State step | Licensure or certification in most states; requirements vary by state |
The Short Answer
For a student starting from scratch, a realistic timeline is about two and a half to three years from the first prerequisite course to a state license via the associate degree route, and about four to four and a half years via the bachelor’s route. The program itself is the fixed part. Radiography programs are structured cohorts with a heavy clinical component, and accreditation standards set the amount of supervised practice students must complete, so there is little room to shorten the program once enrolled.
What you can influence is the front end (prerequisites and admission timing) and the back end (how soon you sit for the ARRT exam and file for a state license after graduation).
Training Routes and Typical Timelines
| Route | Typical length | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Associate degree | Typically about two years after prerequisites, varies by program | Radiographic positioning, radiation physics and protection, patient care, image evaluation, pathology, and extensive supervised clinical rotations in hospitals and imaging centers |
| Bachelor’s degree | Typically about four years, varies by program | Same clinical core plus additional general education and coursework in advanced imaging, management, or education |
| Hospital-based certificate | Often about two years, varies by program | Focused radiography coursework and clinical training in a hospital setting; some programs admit only students who already hold a degree |
| Degree-completion program | Often one to two years for certified technologists, varies by program | Upper-level coursework, often online, that upgrades an associate degree to a bachelor’s without repeating clinical training |
Programs should hold accreditation from a recognized accreditor such as the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), or be part of a regionally recognized institution that meets ARRT’s requirements; verify the program’s status with the school before enrolling. ARRT requires graduation from an approved educational program to sit for its exam.
The bachelor’s route does not change the ARRT exam or the entry-level scope of practice. It is mainly useful for technologists who want to move into management, education, or advanced modalities later, and some employers prefer it for lead or supervisory roles.
What Adds Time
- Prerequisites. Most programs require anatomy and physiology, college math, English, and often medical terminology before admission. Completing these can take a semester to a year.
- Competitive admission. Radiography programs are often oversubscribed. Some use a points system or wait list, and applicants who are not admitted usually wait a full year.
- Cohort sequencing. Courses are taken in a fixed order. Failing or withdrawing from one course can mean waiting until it is offered again.
- Clinical competency requirements. Students must document a set list of completed procedures. Slow clinical sites or limited case variety can delay completion.
- Exam scheduling. The ARRT exam is offered at testing centers on a rolling basis, but application processing and center availability can add weeks.
- State licensing. Most states license or certify radiologic technologists. Background checks and application review add time after you pass the ARRT exam.
What Can Shorten It
- Transfer credit for prerequisites. Science and general education credits from another college often satisfy prerequisites, reducing or eliminating the front-end year. Each school evaluates transfer credit differently.
- Prior degree. Applicants who already hold a degree may be eligible for hospital-based certificate programs or for programs that waive general education requirements.
- Prior imaging or healthcare experience. Experience as a radiology aide, transport tech, or in another patient-care role does not shorten the program, but it strengthens an application and may reduce time lost to rejection cycles.
- Applying to multiple programs. Because admission is competitive, applying to several programs in the same cycle reduces the chance of waiting an extra year.
- Degree-completion programs. For certified technologists, a bridge program is a shorter route to a bachelor’s degree than starting over.
There is no route that skips the clinical training. Programs that appear unusually short usually assume prerequisites are already done or serve students who already hold a degree.
After Training: Exams and Credentials
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) administers the Radiography certification exam. Candidates must graduate from an ARRT-approved program, meet ethics requirements, and document completion of required clinical competencies. Passing the exam earns the R.T.(R)(ARRT) credential, which must be renewed periodically with continuing education and, on a longer cycle, a continuing qualifications requirement.
Most states require a license or state certification to practice, and many rely on the ARRT exam as the qualifying test. Some states have no licensing requirement for radiographers, and employers in those states usually require ARRT certification anyway. Licensing requirements vary by state; check your state’s radiation control or health department before choosing a program.
After initial certification, technologists can add post-primary credentials in modalities such as CT, MRI, mammography, or interventional radiography, each with its own clinical experience and exam requirements. Those add months to years of training but are not part of the entry timeline.
Pay and Job Outlook
| Occupation | BLS median (May 2025) | Projected growth 2024-34 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034) | $80,110 | 4.3 percent | About 12,900 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 for wages; BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 for growth and openings. The lowest 10 percent of radiologic technologists earned less than $55,980 and the top 10 percent earned more than $118,660. Technologists with additional modality credentials or in high-cost metro areas often sit toward the higher end. Pay varies by employer, location, experience, and credentials; individual outcomes may vary.
Related Guides
- Radiology Technician programs
- Radiology Technician programs by location
- Radiologic Technologist career guide
- Radiology Technician vs MRI Technologist
- Radiation Therapy vs Radiology Technician
- How long does it take? All program timelines
FAQs
Is radiology tech school two years or four?
Both routes exist. The associate degree, typically about two years after prerequisites, is the most common entry credential. The bachelor’s degree takes about four years and leads to the same ARRT exam. Length varies by program.
Can you become a radiologic technologist in one year?
Not from scratch. Accreditation standards require a substantial amount of supervised clinical training, and entry-level programs typically run about two years. One-year programs generally exist only for people who already hold a related credential and are adding a modality.
How long after graduation can you take the ARRT exam?
Graduates can apply as soon as the program verifies completion. Most sit for the exam within a few weeks to a few months of graduation, depending on application processing and testing center availability.
Do you need a state license in addition to ARRT certification?
In most states, yes, and many states use the ARRT exam as their licensing exam. A few states do not license radiographers. Licensing requirements vary by state; check your state’s licensing agency.
Does the timeline include CT or MRI training?
No. The entry timeline covers radiography only. CT, MRI, mammography, and other modalities are added after initial certification through additional clinical experience and separate ARRT exams.
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