Radiography assistant
Radiography assistants help radiographers to take images and scans of patients.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a radiography assistant, you would:
- reassure patients and get them ready for their x-ray or scan
- help to process images
- enter patient data into a computer system
- carry out routine equipment checks and report any faults
- take patients to and from other wards
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
With experience and further training, you could:
- go on to be an assistant practitioner
- study part time to become a radiographer
- join The Society of Radiographers for professional development opportunities
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 anatomy
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
You may find it useful to do a college course before applying for jobs, for example:
- Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care
- Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
- A level in a science
- T Level in Healthcare Science
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
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You could do a Healthcare Science Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This takes between 12 and 18 months to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
You could start as a healthcare assistant and work your way up through training and promotion.
You might have an advantage when looking for jobs if you have volunteering experience in a healthcare setting.
You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.
You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience from working in a healthcare setting. Some employers may ask for a qualification in healthcare and GCSE subjects like maths, English and science.
Career tips
You'll be expected to show an understanding of the NHS values when applying for jobs and apprenticeships.
Further information
You can get more advice about working as a radiography assistant from Health Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.