Top 12 Radiographer Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting a compelling resume is crucial for radiographers aiming to stand out in a crowded healthcare market. Blend technical know-how, sharp clinical judgment, and people skills. Show you can think fast, work safely, and deliver images that tell the truth.

Radiographer Skills

1. PACS
2. DR
3. CR
4. MRI
5. CT
6. Fluoroscopy
7. Mammography
8. Ultrasound
9. RIS
10. DICOM
11. Interventional Radiography
12. Quality Assurance

1. PACS

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is the backbone for image storage, retrieval, distribution, and management across modalities like X-ray, MRI, and CT. It stitches imaging into clinical care, fast and secure.

Why It's Important

PACS lets radiographers move images swiftly, compare priors, and collaborate in real time. That shortens time to diagnosis and trims errors—better care, fewer delays.

How to Improve PACS Skills

1. Regular training: Learn new features, shortcuts, and viewer tools. Small gains compound.
2. Workflow tuning: Build smart worklists, hanging protocols, and auto-routing rules to cut clicks and rework.
3. Hardware matters: Use calibrated diagnostic monitors, adequate GPU/CPU, and ergonomic setups for consistent reads.
4. Network and access: Prioritize bandwidth, latency, and secure remote access for off-hours coverage and continuity.
5. Quality control: Schedule integrity checks, reconciliation of mismatched studies, and periodic archive audits.
6. Data governance: Enforce strong permissions, audit trails, and disaster recovery with tested backups.
7. Interoperability: Coordinate with IT on DICOM conformance, DICOMweb support, and HL7/FHIR integration for clean data flow.
8. Feedback loop: Capture user pain points and iterate. Fix bottlenecks fast.

When PACS hums, departments move.

How to Display PACS Skills on Your Resume

2. DR

DR (Digital Radiography) replaces film with digital detectors, delivering images instantly and enabling fine-tuned post-processing.

Why It's Important

Rapid imaging, lower doses, and sharper detail. DR accelerates workflow and boosts diagnostic confidence.

How to Improve DR Skills

1. Keep gear calibrated: Routine QC and detector checks maintain consistent image quality.
2. Optimize technique: Match kVp, mA, exposure time, AEC, and filtration to body habitus and exam needs.
3. Grid discipline: Choose the right grid ratio and alignment to tame scatter without unnecessary dose.
4. Positioning precision: Landmarks, immobilization, and collimation reduce repeats and artifacts.
5. Post-processing: Use proper LUTs, edge enhancement, and noise controls without masking pathology.
6. Reject analysis: Track repeat reasons, attack patterns, and lower the rate month over month.
7. Radiation safety: Shield appropriately, minimize field size, and apply ALARA principles.
8. Communication: Clear breath-hold and motion coaching—small words, big impact.

How to Display DR Skills on Your Resume

3. CR

CR (Computed Radiography) captures images on photostimulable phosphor plates processed by a reader, then displayed digitally.

Why It's Important

CR bridges older workflows to digital, improving efficiency and consistency compared with film while leveraging existing equipment.

How to Improve CR Skills

1. Plate care: Handle cassettes gently, clean regularly, and replace scratched plates to prevent artifacts.
2. Consistent erasure: Ensure complete plate erasure cycles to avoid ghosting.
3. Correct exposure index: Aim for target EI/S-number ranges to keep dose and noise in balance.
4. Reader maintenance: Clean rollers, calibrate, and monitor for line artifacts or lag.
5. Technique refinement: Use proper kVp/mAs, collimation, and grids where indicated.
6. Positioning and immobilization: Reduce motion and repeats; good setup wins.
7. QC and reject audits: Track artifacts to their source—plate, reader, or technique—and fix at the root.

CR thrives on discipline—treat the plates well, and they return the favor.

How to Display CR Skills on Your Resume

4. MRI

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to image soft tissues in exquisite detail—no ionizing radiation.

Why It's Important

MRI reveals subtle pathology in brain, spine, joints, and organs. It guides care when other modalities blink.

How to Improve MRI Skills

1. Rigorous screening: Ferromagnetic checks, implants, and SAR limits—safety first, always.
2. Patient prep: Explain the process, reduce anxiety, use ear protection, and offer comfort measures.
3. Coil and positioning: Choose the smallest, closest-fitting coil; center precisely and stabilize.
4. Parameter craft: Tune TR/TE, FOV, matrix, bandwidth, and slice thickness to the clinical question.
5. Sequence selection: Mix T1, T2, PD, STIR, Dixon, diffusion, and post-contrast when indicated.
6. Artifact control: Apply gating, triggering, PROPELLER/GRAPPA, metal reduction, and breath coaching.
7. Throughput without rush: Build smart protocols and conditional logic to shorten scans while preserving quality.
8. Continuous learning: New techniques arrive fast; keep sharpening.

How to Display MRI Skills on Your Resume

5. CT

CT (Computed Tomography) spins X-rays around the body and reconstructs cross-sectional images for rapid, detailed views.

Why It's Important

Speed and clarity. CT excels in trauma, oncology, vascular imaging, and countless emergencies.

How to Improve CT Skills

1. Centering and immobilization: Correct isocentering improves dose modulation and image uniformity.
2. Dose-smart parameters: Use AEC, adaptive kVp, proper mA, and pitch to balance detail and dose.
3. Iterative reconstruction: Leverage IR or deep-learning reconstruction to lower noise at reduced dose.
4. Protocol finesse: Tailor slice thickness, kernel, and planes to the anatomy and clinical indication.
5. Contrast timing: Match phase timing and injection rates to the target (arterial, portal venous, delayed).
6. Motion mitigation: Coach breathing, use fast helical scans, and apply artifact reduction tools.
7. Metal and beam-hardening control: Apply MAR algorithms and adjust kVp judiciously.
8. QC and dose tracking: Monitor CTDIvol/DLP, benchmark against DRLs, and audit regularly.

How to Display CT Skills on Your Resume

6. Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy delivers live X-ray imaging to guide diagnostics and interventions, capturing motion and function in real time.

Why It's Important

Dynamic visualization means precision—place devices, watch contrast flow, make decisions on the fly.

How to Improve Fluoroscopy Skills

1. Low-dose mindset: Use pulsed fluoro, last image hold, tight collimation, and the lowest acceptable dose rate.
2. Smart positioning: Keep patient and region of interest close to the detector; avoid unnecessary magnification.
3. Time, distance, shielding: Limit beam-on time, step back when possible, and wear protection—aprons, thyroid shields, glasses.
4. Optimize parameters: Adjust kVp/mA for habitus; let ABC help, but verify image adequacy.
5. Contrast strategy: Right agent, right volume, right rate; watch for reactions and renal risk.
6. Track dose: Monitor fluoroscopy time and air kerma; document and review high-dose cases.
7. Equipment QC: Calibrate regularly and document performance.

How to Display Fluoroscopy Skills on Your Resume

7. Mammography

Mammography uses low-dose X-rays to image breast tissue for screening and diagnosis, with digital breast tomosynthesis (3D) now widely adopted.

Why It's Important

Early detection saves lives. High-quality mammograms find cancers when treatment is most effective.

How to Improve Mammography Skills

1. Positioning mastery: CC, MLO, and supplemental views—full pectoral muscle, proper nipple profile, minimal skin folds.
2. Compression quality: Enough compression to reduce motion and dose, while maintaining patient comfort.
3. 3D tomosynthesis: Use DBT to reduce overlap, lower recall rates, and sharpen lesion conspicuity.
4. AEC and technique: Match kVp, target/filter combos, and density controls to breast thickness and composition.
5. Consistent QC: Daily/weekly phantom tests, monitor calibration, and image review meetings.
6. Patient-centered care: Clear explanations, warming pads, and privacy considerations improve cooperation and image quality.
7. Structured reporting support: Familiarity with density categories and audit metrics improves program performance.

How to Display Mammography Skills on Your Resume

8. Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to image soft tissues and blood flow in real time—portable, dynamic, radiation-free.

Why It's Important

From abdomen to vascular access, it guides procedures and diagnoses quickly at the bedside.

How to Improve Ultrasound Skills

1. Presets and probes: Match frequency to depth; set depth and focus precisely for the target.
2. TGC finesse: Balance near and far gain to avoid washed-out or murky images.
3. Probe handling: Small angle changes, steady pressure, and patient positioning reveal hidden anatomy.
4. Doppler accuracy: Correct angle, sample volume placement, and scale; remember aliasing and wall filters.
5. Artifact literacy: Distinguish real findings from shadowing, enhancement, reverberation, and mirror artifacts.
6. Preparation: Proper fasting or bladder filling when required; explain the plan to reduce motion.
7. Equipment care: Clean probes correctly, check cables, and run periodic performance tests.

How to Display Ultrasound Skills on Your Resume

9. RIS

RIS (Radiology Information System) manages orders, scheduling, tracking, reporting, and billing. It coordinates workflow; PACS stores the images.

Why It's Important

RIS keeps exams moving, records accurate data, and connects radiology to the broader clinical system.

How to Improve RIS Skills

1. Integrate deeply: Tight connections with PACS, the EHR, voice recognition, and billing reduce double entry and errors.
2. Smart scheduling: Build templates, slot rules, and overbook logic to cut wait times.
3. Automate routine steps: Use protocoling templates, status updates, and patient reminders.
4. Clean data in, clean data out: Standardize exam names, modifiers, and required fields for reliable analytics.
5. Security first: Role-based access, audit trails, and strong authentication protect patient data.
6. Dashboards and KPIs: Track no-shows, turnaround times, report finalization, and repeat rates—act on trends.
7. Staff training: Short, focused refreshers when workflows change keep adoption high.
8. Feedback channels: Let users flag issues quickly and close the loop with fixes.

How to Display RIS Skills on Your Resume

10. DICOM

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is the standard that governs how images and related data are formatted, stored, and exchanged across systems.

Why It's Important

Without DICOM, interoperability crumbles. With it, images travel cleanly between scanners, PACS, viewers, and hospitals.

How to Improve DICOM Skills

1. Know the anatomy: Tags, UIDs, series/study structure—understand what each field means.
2. Conformance savvy: Read device conformance statements to troubleshoot mismatches and negotiate fixes.
3. DICOMweb awareness: Learn WADO-RS, QIDO-RS, and STOW-RS for modern web-based workflows.
4. Compression and fidelity: Choose lossless vs. lossy judiciously, aligned with clinical needs and policy.
5. Anonymization: Scrub identifiers safely for teaching, research, and cross-site sharing.
6. Error handling: Build habits for resolving header conflicts, orphaned studies, and failed routes.
7. Security: Encrypt transfers where possible and maintain strict access controls.
8. Test with purpose: Use known-good datasets and validate results across viewers.

How to Display DICOM Skills on Your Resume

11. Interventional Radiography

Interventional radiography uses imaging guidance—fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT—to navigate devices for minimally invasive treatments.

Why It's Important

Smaller incisions, faster recovery, targeted therapy. Image guidance elevates precision and safety.

How to Improve Interventional Radiography Skills

1. Room readiness: Checklists for equipment, drugs, contrast, and emergency supplies—before the patient rolls in.
2. Sterile technique: Drape, prep, and maintain a clean field; break the chain of infection.
3. Radiation stewardship: Collimate, drop frame rates, prefer last image hold, and track dose metrics.
4. Ultrasound partnership: Use US for access when possible to shave radiation and improve success.
5. Device familiarity: Catheters, wires, stents, embolics—know their behavior and limits.
6. Contrast management: Dose carefully, watch renal function, and be ready for reactions.
7. Team communication: Closed-loop updates with the operator, nursing, and anesthesia.
8. Complication readiness: Recognize and act on bleeding, dissection, arrhythmia, or contrast extravasation.

How to Display Interventional Radiography Skills on Your Resume

12. Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance (QA) ensures imaging meets defined standards for safety and diagnostic value. It covers equipment checks, protocols, and continuous improvement.

Why It's Important

QA protects patients, preserves image integrity, and reduces repeats and dose. Reliable images, reliable care.

How to Improve Quality Assurance Skills

• Standards and SOPs: Adopt clear protocols for every modality and keep them current.
• Routine QC: Scheduled phantom tests, monitor calibration, and detector checks—logged and reviewed.
• Reject/repeat analysis: Track trends, fix root causes, and celebrate sustained drops.
• Dose oversight: Monitor patient dose metrics and compare against diagnostic reference levels.
• Preventive maintenance: Coordinate timely service to avoid drift and downtime.
• Incident learning: Capture near-misses and issues, then close the loop with tangible changes.
• Downtime readiness: Practice contingency workflows for RIS/PACS outages.
• Education cadence: Short refreshers and competency checks to keep standards alive.

How to Display Quality Assurance Skills on Your Resume