Top 12 Radiology Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume

A strong radiology technician resume blends sharp technical know‑how with calm, patient‑first finesse. Put the skills that matter up front. Make them unmistakable. Hiring teams scan fast; the right mix of imaging expertise and safe, efficient workflow can tip the scales your way.

Radiology Technician Skills

1. PACS
2. MRI
3. CT Scanning
4. Digital Radiography
5. Fluoroscopy
6. Ultrasound
7. Mammography
8. X-ray
9. RIS
10. Radiation Safety
11. Angiography
12. PET/CT

1. PACS

PACS, or Picture Archiving and Communication System, stores, retrieves, manages, and shares medical images and reports across the enterprise. It’s the backbone of how imaging moves.

Why It's Important

PACS centralizes images and reports, speeds access for care teams, reduces repeat exams, and preserves image quality—driving faster decisions and better patient care.

How to Improve PACS Skills

Make PACS hum and the whole department runs smoother:

1. Regular training: Short refreshers on search tools, hanging protocols, worklists, and advanced viewing. New features roll in quietly—stay current.

2. Tight integration: Ensure clean handoffs with EHR/RIS, single sign‑on, and accurate patient/visit matching to crush duplicates.

3. Workflow tuning: Customize worklists by modality, priority, and location. Predefined hanging protocols reduce clicks and errors.

4. Data hygiene: Enforce correct patient identifiers, study descriptions, and laterality. Bad data breaks everything downstream.

5. Security: Role‑based access, encrypted traffic, and audit trails. Lock it down without slowing care.

6. Maintenance: Routine updates, storage health checks, and tested downtime procedures. No surprises mid‑clinic.

7. Feedback loop: Quick path for techs and radiologists to flag issues and request tweaks; small changes, big wins.

How to Display PACS Skills on Your Resume

2. MRI

MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create crisp, high‑contrast images of soft tissue and organs—without ionizing radiation.

Why It's Important

MRI reveals detail other modalities miss, guiding diagnosis and treatment while avoiding radiation exposure. Precision matters; so does patient comfort.

How to Improve MRI Skills

Sharper images, calmer patients:

1. Screen thoroughly: Implants, devices, prior surgeries, and renal status. Safety first, always.

2. Patient prep and positioning: Explain the plan, reduce anxiety, use pads and coils correctly, center carefully, immobilize when needed.

3. Optimize parameters: Tune TR/TE, flip angles, bandwidth, FOV, and matrix to the anatomy and clinical question. Lean on protocol libraries but think critically.

4. Artifact control: Use motion‑reduction strategies, PROPELLER/BTFE/GRAPPA/SENSE, appropriate NEX, and fat suppression methods suited to field strength.

5. Coil selection: Right coil, right coverage. Check channels and positioning to boost SNR.

6. Contrast and safety: Follow GBCA policies, screen for contraindications, document dose and timing.

7. Quality control: Daily/weekly phantom checks, uniformity, geometric accuracy, and artifact logs.

8. Keep learning: New sequences (DWI, perfusion, Dixon, compressed sensing). Build proficiency and update protocols.

How to Display MRI Skills on Your Resume

3. CT Scanning

CT (Computed Tomography) creates cross‑sectional images using X‑rays and computer processing, revealing anatomy and pathology quickly and in fine detail.

Why It's Important

CT is fast, precise, and widely available. It’s vital for trauma, stroke, oncology, and countless acute decisions.

How to Improve CT Scanning Skills

Clarity without excess dose:

1. Protocol optimization: Adjust kVp/mAs with AEC by patient size and indication. Use iterative or deep‑learning reconstruction to maintain quality at lower dose.

2. Scan range discipline: Collimate to the anatomy needed. No more, no less.

3. Contrast timing: Apply bolus tracking and phase‑appropriate delays; tailor injection rate and volume to access and habitus.

4. Patient communication: Clear breathing and table‑motion instructions reduce repeats and artifacts.

5. Artifact mitigation: Use metal‑artifact reduction, proper pitch, and patient positioning. Consider dual‑energy or spectral CT when indicated.

6. Quality checks: Routine calibration, phantom scans, and dose index monitoring with alert thresholds.

How to Display CT Scanning Skills on Your Resume

4. Digital Radiography

Digital Radiography (DR) replaces film with digital detectors for immediate image capture, review, and transfer—speeding care and supporting dose management.

Why It's Important

DR enables quick imaging, consistent quality, lower repeats, and easier archiving. Better for patients, better for teams.

How to Improve Digital Radiography Skills

Small tweaks, big gains:

1. Exposure accuracy: Use AEC effectively. Watch Exposure Index/Deviation Index; adjust technique charts for body habitus and view.

2. Positioning precision: Center correctly, align tube‑detector, use immobilization, and apply anatomical markers at exposure, not post‑processing.

3. Collimation and grids: Tight collimation improves contrast and reduces dose. Use anti‑scatter grids appropriately; remove for pediatrics and small parts.

4. Post‑processing: Choose proper LUTs, window/level cleanly, and avoid over‑processing that hides detail.

5. Reject analysis: Track repeats by reason, then attack root causes through coaching and protocol fixes.

6. Equipment care: Detector handling, calibration, and cleanliness protect image quality and uptime.

How to Display Digital Radiography Skills on Your Resume

5. Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy delivers real‑time X‑ray imaging to guide diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Why It's Important

Live imaging lets clinicians see devices, contrast flow, and anatomy in motion—crucial for safe, accurate procedures.

How to Improve Fluoroscopy Skills

Less dose, clearer views:

1. Use pulsed fluoro: Lowest frame rate that still answers the question. Lean on last‑image hold.

2. Optimize technique: Select low‑dose modes, collimate tightly, and avoid unnecessary magnification. Raise the tube, lower the table when possible to increase distance.

3. Time awareness: Track fluoroscopy time and air kerma in real time. Communicate if thresholds approach limits.

4. Protection: Shields, thyroid collars, lead glasses, and ceiling‑mounted barriers. Check PPE integrity routinely.

5. QC and maintenance: Scheduled testing keeps image quality high and doses predictable.

6. Team communication: Align on steps before contrast or device deployment; smooth choreography cuts time and exposure.

How to Display Fluoroscopy Skills on Your Resume

6. Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high‑frequency sound waves to create real‑time images of organs, vessels, and soft tissue—no ionizing radiation.

Why It's Important

Safe, portable, dynamic. Ultrasound answers urgent questions at the bedside and in the lab, guiding procedures and diagnoses.

How to Improve Ultrasound Skills

Technique is everything:

1. Transducer choice: Match frequency and footprint to depth and anatomy. Swap when the clinical question shifts.

2. Dial in settings: Depth, focus, gain, TGC, dynamic range, harmonics. Keep the region of interest at the focal zone.

3. Optimize Doppler: Angle correction (ideally ≤60°), appropriate PRF/scale, wall filters, and sample volume size.

4. Artifact savvy: Recognize and use or reduce reverberation, shadowing, enhancement, and mirror artifacts.

5. Patient prep and comfort: Clear instructions, proper positioning, warm gel; fewer movement artifacts, better exams.

6. QC and education: Phantom testing and ongoing training keep images consistent and interpretable.

How to Display Ultrasound Skills on Your Resume

7. Mammography

Mammography uses low‑dose X‑rays to image the breast for screening and diagnosis. Precision positioning and compression are key.

Why It's Important

Early detection saves lives. High‑quality mammography finds subtle changes and guides next steps with confidence.

How to Improve Mammography Skills

Consistency and care:

1. Positioning mastery: CC and MLO views with full posterior tissue, proper nipple profile, and minimal skin folds. Eklund views for implants.

2. Compression technique: Enough to reduce motion and thickness while maintaining comfort. Explain the why; patients tolerate more when they understand.

3. Tomosynthesis protocols: Use when indicated; manage dose with synthesized 2D if available.

4. Quality control: MQSA‑compliant tests, phantom checks, and repeat analysis. Log issues and fix them fast.

5. Communication: Trauma‑informed, clear, and calm. Better cooperation, better images.

How to Display Mammography Skills on Your Resume

8. X-ray

X‑rays visualize bones, lungs, and soft tissue density differences. Fast, foundational, everywhere.

Why It's Important

First‑line imaging for trauma, chest complaints, and skeletal issues. Quick answers that guide care.

How to Improve X-ray Skills

Make every exposure count:

1. Positioning and immobilization: Thoughtful setup, sandbags and sponges, breath‑hold coaching—fewer repeats.

2. Technique selection: Match kVp/mAs and filtration to body part and habitus; use charts and AEC wisely.

3. Collimate tight: Improves contrast and slashes dose. Always include the required anatomy, nothing extra.

4. Markers and alignment: Place lead L/R markers at exposure; check CR and detector centering to avoid cutoff.

5. Image review: Quick quality check before the patient leaves. Catch issues immediately.

6. Maintenance and QC: Regular calibration, detector checks, and reject analysis keep quality high.

How to Display X-ray Skills on Your Resume

9. RIS

RIS (Radiology Information System) manages scheduling, orders, results, and tracking—your workflow command center.

Why It's Important

Fewer errors, faster turnaround, clearer communication. RIS keeps exams moving and data consistent.

How to Improve RIS Skills

Make the system work for you:

1. Streamline workflow: Auto‑populate fields, standardize orderables, and build smart templates for common studies.

2. RIS–PACS–EHR integration: Clean HL7/FHIR interfaces, barcode wristbands, and single patient records reduce mismatches.

3. Standardized protocols: Consistent exam naming, laterality, and procedure codes to prevent confusion.

4. Role‑based access and privacy: Protect patient data while ensuring teams can do their jobs quickly.

5. Dashboards and alerts: Turnaround time, backlog, and critical result flags—visible and actionable.

6. Updates and downtime plans: Scheduled maintenance, tested read‑only workflows, and clear recovery steps.

7. Feedback channel: Collect staff input; small RIS tweaks can remove daily friction.

How to Display RIS Skills on Your Resume

10. Radiation Safety

Radiation safety protects patients and staff by keeping exposure As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) while still getting diagnostic images.

Why It's Important

Ionizing radiation can harm tissue and increase cancer risk. Smart technique and protective measures make imaging safer for everyone.

How to Improve Radiation Safety Skills

Practical, every shift:

1. Time, distance, shielding: Shortest exposure, maximize distance, use barriers and PPE correctly. Inverse square law is your friend.

2. Protocol discipline: Tailor dose to patient size and exam type; avoid unnecessary phases or repeats.

3. Dosimetry: Wear and check badges. Investigate spikes, adjust practices, document actions.

4. Equipment QC: Routine testing and calibration maintain predictable output and image quality.

5. Pregnancy and pediatrics: Extra care—tight collimation, lower kVp/mAs, shielding when appropriate, alternative modalities when feasible.

6. Culture of safety: Speak up about dose concerns, signage for controlled areas, and regular refresher training.

How to Display Radiation Safety Skills on Your Resume

11. Angiography

Angiography visualizes vessels with contrast under X‑ray (often with digital subtraction) to diagnose and guide treatment of vascular disease.

Why It's Important

It shows stenoses, occlusions, aneurysms, and flow in real time—information that drives life‑saving interventions.

How to Improve Angiography Skills

Precision under pressure:

1. Room readiness: Sterile setup, contrast and power injector checks, emergency meds available, and imaging protocols preloaded.

2. Radiation stewardship: Lowest reasonable pulse/frame rate, tight collimation, judicious magnification, and vigilant time/air‑kerma monitoring.

3. Contrast strategy: Right agent, dose, and injection profile; watch for reactions and document totals.

4. Roadmapping and DSA: Optimize timing and subtraction; coach breath‑holds to reduce motion.

5. Team communication: Clear cues with the interventionalist and nurse; anticipate next steps to cut procedure time.

6. Equipment care: Catheters, wires, and hemostasis devices organized and within reach; QC on the C‑arm is non‑negotiable.

How to Display Angiography Skills on Your Resume

12. PET/CT

PET/CT fuses metabolic imaging (PET) with anatomical detail (CT). One study, two perspectives—function and form.

Why It's Important

Critical for cancer staging, treatment response, and detecting recurrence. Also powerful in infection and some neurology use cases.

How to Improve PET/CT Skills

Standardize like a pro:

1. Patient prep: Confirm fasting, glucose levels, rest, and warmth during uptake to limit brown fat uptake and false positives.

2. Injection quality: Check for extravasation; consistent uptake time before scanning supports reliable SUVs.

3. Positioning and motion control: Comfortable supports, clear instructions, and respiratory coaching or gating when available.

4. Protocol tuning: Select low‑dose vs diagnostic CT appropriately; set slice thickness, pitch, and reconstruction to match the clinical task.

5. Attenuation and artifacts: Be mindful of metal and contrast effects; verify correction with non‑attenuation images if findings look odd.

6. QC and calibration: Daily normalization/blank scans, cross‑calibration with dose calibrators, and SUV consistency checks.

How to Display PET/CT Skills on Your Resume