Top 12 Radiologic Technologist Skills to Put on Your Resume
In the fierce world of radiologic technology, your resume has to work harder than a lead apron on a long day. The right skills, clearly shown and relevant to modern practice, can tilt the table in your favor. Below are twelve core skills worth highlighting—technical strength, safety mindset, smooth workflow, and human care all woven together.
Radiologic Technologist Skills
- PACS
- DR Systems
- Fluoroscopy
- MRI
- CT Scanning
- Ultrasound
- Mammography
- RIS
- Digital Radiography
- Interventional Radiology
- Radiation Safety
- Quality Control
1. PACS
PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is the backbone of medical imaging—storing, retrieving, distributing, viewing, and protecting diagnostic images and related data across the enterprise.
Why It's Important
PACS keeps images flowing, clinicians aligned, and patient care timely. Fast access, fewer bottlenecks, and consistent records lead to better diagnoses and smoother teamwork.
How to Improve PACS Skills
Modernize the environment: Keep workstations, GPUs, and storage right-sized for modality volume and 3D datasets; calibrate diagnostic monitors regularly.
Boost network throughput: Ensure robust bandwidth (1–10 GbE where needed), prioritize imaging traffic, and reduce latency for remote reads.
Tune the workflow: Use hanging protocols, auto-routing, prefetch, and rules-based worklists; integrate with RIS/EHR via DICOM, HL7, and FHIR where available.
Harden security: Role-based access, multi-factor authentication, audit logs, encryption in transit/at rest, reliable backups, and tested disaster recovery.
Train and standardize: Short tip sheets, quick videos, and periodic refreshers on new viewer features, measurement tools, and 3D/advanced visualization.
Quality oversight: Perform image quality spot checks, monitor study turnaround, and standardize priors matching for continuity.
Small wins stack up—faster load times, fewer clicks, and fewer delays.
How to Display PACS Skills on Your Resume
2. DR Systems
DR Systems (Digital Radiography) capture X-ray images directly to digital detectors, pushing speed, consistency, and dose efficiency far beyond film.
Why It's Important
DR shortens workflows, limits repeats, and usually lowers radiation, all while preserving detail. Faster answers, safer patients.
How to Improve DR Systems Skills
Master exposure indices: Track EI/DI and maintain departmental targets; investigate outliers and reduce variability.
Technique charts that breathe: Maintain patient-size–specific charts (adult/peds), including grid vs. non-grid and portable adjustments.
Positioning precision: Use immobilization, clear instructions, and laser alignment to trim repeats and motion blur.
Post-processing savvy: Know when to adjust LUTs, edge enhancement, and noise smoothing—without hiding pathology.
Care for detectors: Regular calibrations, bad-pixel maps, and gentle handling to avoid artifacts and downtime.
Reject analysis: Track causes, share trends, and tune protocols to drive repeat rates down.
How to Display DR Systems Skills on Your Resume
3. Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy creates real-time X-ray imaging to guide diagnostics and interventions. Live anatomy, moving tools, decisive moments.
Why It's Important
Procedures depend on it—precise device placement, dynamic evaluation, and immediate feedback for the care team.
How to Improve Fluoroscopy Skills
Use pulsed fluoro: Lowest pulse rate compatible with the task; keep beam-on time trimmed.
ALARA always: Collimate tightly, maximize distance, raise kVp when appropriate, use shielding, and avoid magnification unless needed.
Exploit last image hold: Review without additional dose; save key frames rather than re-exposing.
Track dose metrics: Watch air kerma, DAP, and fluoro time; announce thresholds, document, and report outliers.
Position smart: Keep the image receptor close to the patient and the tube as far as possible; mind patient size and angulation.
Equipment readiness: Routine QC and service keep image quality consistent and dose efficient.
Keep learning: Refresh on device-specific features like roadmap, subtraction, and dose-preserving filters.
How to Display Fluoroscopy Skills on Your Resume
4. MRI
MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency energy to produce richly detailed images of soft tissue, joints, brain, vessels, and more—without ionizing radiation.
Why It's Important
It reveals what X-ray and CT often miss: subtle soft-tissue contrast and complex anatomy, with unmatched diagnostic depth.
How to Improve MRI Skills
Safety first: Thorough screening for implants and devices, ferromagnetic detection, hearing protection, and SAR/thermal awareness.
Positioning and comfort: Padding, breath coaching, and communication headsets reduce motion; consider motion-correction and respiratory gating when needed.
Parameter tuning: Balance SNR, resolution, and time using parallel imaging, optimized TR/TE, and tailored FOV and bandwidth.
Artifact control: Use metal artifact reduction sequences (e.g., SEMAC/MAVRIC), swap encoding directions, and apply fat suppression wisely.
Protocol hygiene: Maintain indication-based protocols; prune redundant sequences and leverage abbreviated protocols for specific questions.
Emergency readiness: Know quench procedures, code response in the MR suite, and safe patient transfer.
How to Display MRI Skills on Your Resume
5. CT Scanning
CT combines X-rays with computer reconstruction to generate cross-sectional and 3D images, exposing intricacies of organs, vasculature, and bone with speed.
Why It's Important
Fast, detailed, and versatile—CT guides emergent decisions, complex planning, and follow-up with consistency.
How to Improve CT Scanning Skills
Protocol optimization: Use patient-size–based techniques, automatic tube current/kV selection, and iterative or deep-learning reconstruction to lower dose while preserving detail.
Master positioning: Center at isocenter, arms up when possible, immobilize gently, and scout cleanly to avoid repeats and dose creep.
Contrast safety: Screen renal function, allergy history, and extravasation risk; time bolus smartly with test bolus/bolus tracking.
Dose management: Apply ALARA, track CTDIvol and DLP, use organ-based modulation, especially for pediatrics; review outliers.
Leverage technology: Dual-energy/spectral CT for material characterization, virtual monoenergetic images, and metal artifact reduction when available.
Communication: Clear pre-scan instructions (breath-hold, stillness) and compassionate coaching reduce motion and repeats.
How to Display CT Scanning Skills on Your Resume
6. Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves for real-time imaging—safe, portable, and surprisingly revealing when technique is sharp.
Why It's Important
No ionizing radiation, immediate results, and dynamic assessment of vessels, organs, and fetal development. It’s a workhorse.
How to Improve Ultrasound Skills
Preset discipline: Choose the right transducer and exam preset; adjust frequency, depth, focus, and gain with intention.
Image optimization: Fine-tune TGC, use harmonic and compound imaging, and maintain proper Doppler angle (≈60° or less) for velocity accuracy.
Technique practice: Patient positioning, gentle probe pressure, and methodical sweeps; save cine loops when motion or flow matters.
Ergonomics: Neutral wrist positions, monitor at eye level, and varied stance to prevent strain—your career will thank you.
Quality checks: Phantom testing and regular equipment maintenance to keep contrast resolution and uniformity on point.
How to Display Ultrasound Skills on Your Resume
7. Mammography
Mammography uses low-dose X-rays to visualize breast tissue for screening and diagnosis. Positioning finesse and patient comfort matter as much as the hardware.
Why It's Important
Early detection changes outcomes. High-quality mammograms guide timely decisions and reduce callbacks.
How to Improve Mammography Skills
Positioning mastery: True CC and MLO with full posterior tissue, good pectoral muscle visualization, and minimal skin folds; consistent markers and annotations.
Compression done right: Adequate compression to reduce dose and motion while respecting comfort; communicate throughout.
Tomosynthesis (DBT): Use DBT for dense tissue and complex cases; tailor protocols to cut artifacts and keep dose reasonable.
Quality control: MQSA-compliant daily/weekly/monthly QC, AEC performance checks, and monitor calibration maintain diagnostic consistency.
Patient experience: Clear expectations, warming pads, and gentle coaching—less anxiety, fewer repeats.
How to Display Mammography Skills on Your Resume
8. RIS
RIS (Radiology Information System) orchestrates scheduling, orders, tracking, reporting, and data flow across imaging services.
Why It's Important
Clean data and smooth workflow mean fewer delays, accurate records, and on-time results—foundations of dependable care.
How to Improve RIS Skills
Tailor the build: Use exam templates, standardized names, and protocol picklists; automate status updates and critical-result alerts.
Data quality: Validate demographics, laterality, and procedure codes; reduce free text and fix root causes of mismatches.
Interoperability: Strengthen DICOM Modality Worklist, HL7, and FHIR integrations with PACS and EHR; enable single sign-on where possible.
Dashboard visibility: Track backlog, turnaround times, rejects/repeats, and no-shows; act on trends.
Downtime resilience: Maintain paper/electronic downtime forms and a quick recovery plan; test at least annually.
Ongoing training: Short refreshers for schedulers and techs; publish quick guides for updates and new features.
How to Display RIS Skills on Your Resume
9. Digital Radiography
Digital Radiography captures images directly to digital sensors for immediate review, consistent quality, and easy archiving—no cassettes, no chemistry.
Why It's Important
It speeds care, trims dose, and delivers repeatable results. Less waiting, more clarity.
How to Improve Digital Radiography Skills
Exposure discipline: Use the lowest kVp/mAs that maintains diagnostic quality; monitor EI/DI and standardize across rooms.
Grid decisions: Know when to use grids (body habitus, scatter-heavy views) and when to use virtual grid/software tools to avoid dose jumps.
Detector calibration: Routine flat-fielding and artifact checks; handle detectors carefully to avoid drops and pressure damage.
Processing finesse: Apply appropriate LUTs and noise reduction; avoid over-processing that obscures findings.
Pediatric focus: Size-based charts, tight collimation, immobilization, and shielding policies tailored to kids.
Reject/repeat program: Track trends by view/technique and coach toward fewer repeats and better first-pass quality.
How to Display Digital Radiography Skills on Your Resume
10. Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology uses imaging guidance to perform minimally invasive procedures—diagnostic and therapeutic—with precision.
Why It's Important
Shorter recovery, less pain, targeted treatments. IR changes the equation for many patients.
How to Improve Interventional Radiology Skills
Sterile excellence: Strict aseptic technique, instrument familiarity, and tray setup that anticipates steps.
Radiation vigilance: Optimize pulse rate, collimation, and positioning; monitor air kerma/DAP and communicate thresholds in real time.
Equipment fluency: C-arm angles, roadmapping, subtraction, cone-beam CT, and table controls—operate smoothly, think ahead.
Patient monitoring: Vitals, sedation support per policy, contrast reaction readiness, and post-procedure checks.
Team choreography: Closed-loop communication with the radiologist and nurse; anticipate device needs and next steps.
Simulation and debriefs: Practice uncommon events, review cases, and turn lessons learned into protocol tweaks.
How to Display Interventional Radiology Skills on Your Resume
11. Radiation Safety
Radiation Safety means protecting patients, staff, and the public from unnecessary dose while still getting the diagnostic answer—ALARA in action.
Why It's Important
Ionizing radiation has risks. Good habits, good shielding, and tuned techniques reduce exposure without sacrificing image quality.
How to Improve Radiation Safety Skills
Time, distance, shielding: Shorten exposure time, maximize distance from source, and use lead barriers and PPE consistently.
Technique optimization: Collimate tightly, choose higher kVp/lower mAs when appropriate, avoid unnecessary magnification, and verify AEC performance.
Pregnancy and pediatrics: Follow screening policies; adapt protocols aggressively for children with size-based settings.
Dosimetry discipline: Wear and read badges, investigate high readings, and adjust workflows accordingly.
Equipment QA: Regular calibration, leakage checks, and filtration verification keep dose predictable and safe.
Education and drills: Annual refreshers, incident reviews, and clear signage keep safety top of mind.
How to Display Radiation Safety Skills on Your Resume
12. Quality Control
Quality Control is the routine, documented set of tests and checks that ensure images are diagnostic, equipment is reliable, and dose stays where it should.
Why It's Important
QC catches drift before it becomes a problem—fewer artifacts, fewer repeats, and safer care day after day.
How to Improve Quality Control Skills
Structured schedules: Daily/weekly/monthly QC by modality—constancy tests, phantom imaging, AEC checks, monitor calibration (DICOM GSDF), and reject/repeat analysis.
Physics partnership: Work closely with medical physics for annual testing, kVp accuracy, mAs linearity, HVL, and dose output verification.
Documentation that breathes: Log results, flag failures, track corrective actions, and verify closure—auditable and clear.
Standardize protocols: Keep master protocol books updated; remove outdated sequences/views and align naming conventions.
Feedback loops: Peer review, case conferences, and image-quality rounds feed continuous improvement.
How to Display Quality Control Skills on Your Resume
