Top 12 X Ray Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume
In the specialized world of radiography, a standout resume leans on sharp, relevant skills. Below is a refined list of 12 core X-ray technician skills that boost hiring appeal and speak directly to real clinical work.
X Ray Technician Skills
- Radiography
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Digital Mammography
- Fluoroscopy
- PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System)
- RIS (Radiology Information System)
- Radiation Safety
- Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
- Angiography
- Ultrasound
- Interventional Radiology
1. Radiography
Radiography uses X-rays to generate diagnostic images of the body. It’s the backbone of many imaging departments and a daily craft for an X-ray technician.
Why It's Important
Clear, diagnostic images drive clinical decisions. Good radiography shortens time to diagnosis, supports treatment plans, and protects patients through fewer repeats and safer exposure.
How to Improve Radiography Skills
Sharper positioning, cleaner technique, and relentless learning move the needle. Try these:
Enhance image quality: Master positioning, centering, and beam alignment. Small tweaks, big gains.
Keep learning: Pursue CE credits, advanced modules, and modality cross-training through professional societies like the Radiological Society of North America and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Communicate with patients: Calm, clear instructions reduce motion and repeats. Comfort matters.
Adopt modern tech: Digital radiography, dose monitoring, and post-processing tools can elevate consistency.
Quality control: Routine equipment checks and phantom testing prevent artifacts and downtime.
Radiation safety first: Apply ALARA principles—time, distance, shielding—every single exam.
Better images, safer workflows, happier patients. That trifecta wins.
How to Display Radiography Skills on Your Resume
2. Computed Tomography (CT)
CT combines X-rays and computer processing to produce detailed cross-sectional images. Fast, precise, and central to modern diagnostics.
Why It's Important
It reveals complex anatomy in exquisite detail, guides interventions, and tracks response to treatment. Precision that changes care.
How to Improve Computed Tomography (CT) Skills
Education and credentials: Pursue CT-specific certification and modality-focused CE.
Patient prep and positioning: Explain the plan, secure cooperation, reduce motion. Fewer repeats, sharper studies.
Protocol optimization: Collaborate with radiologists to balance dose and image quality. Tailor by indication, habitually.
Know your console: Fine-tune mA, kVp, pitch, rotation time, reconstruction kernels, and iterative techniques.
Quality control: Perform routine tests to catch artifacts early and maintain consistency.
Radiation safety: Build dose awareness into every protocol. Track, audit, improve.
How to Display Computed Tomography (CT) Skills on Your Resume
3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to visualize soft tissues with striking contrast. No ionizing radiation, immense detail.
Why It's Important
It excels at brain, spine, joints, and organ imaging, catching pathology X-rays can’t see, and clarifying complex cases.
How to Improve Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Skills
Track advances: Software upgrades, new sequences, motion correction—stay current through professional societies and vendor education.
Dial in parameters: Adjust TR, TE, flip angle, bandwidth, slice thickness, and FOV based on anatomy and clinical question.
Position with precision: Comfort and immobilization reduce motion artifacts. Coaching helps.
Use contrast judiciously: Know indications, dosing, and safety screening for gadolinium-based agents.
Collaborate: Learn from MRI technologists; swap tips, refine protocols together.
Patient-centered scanning: Clear instructions, noise counseling, and pacing minimize anxiety and movement.
How to Display Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Skills on Your Resume
4. Digital Mammography
Digital systems capture breast images for detection and assessment, enabling immediate review, adjustments, and streamlined storage.
Why It's Important
Sharper images and post-processing tools support earlier detection and clearer follow-up, directly influencing outcomes.
How to Improve Digital Mammography Skills
Tune exposure and compression: Match technique to breast size and density to balance dose and detail.
Keep skills fresh: Complete mammography-focused CE and competency checks regularly.
Positioning mastery: True CC and MLO views, mindful of pectoral muscle and inframammary fold, minimize callbacks.
Maintain equipment: Daily QC, ACR-aligned testing, and prompt service reduce artifacts.
Patient comfort: Cushioning, timed compression, and empathetic communication improve cooperation and image quality.
Leverage software: CAD and AI decision-support tools can aid detection when used thoughtfully.
How to Display Digital Mammography Skills on Your Resume
5. Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy provides real-time X-ray visualization for dynamic studies and image-guided procedures.
Why It's Important
Live imaging enables immediate adjustments, accurate device placement, and procedural confidence.
How to Improve Fluoroscopy Skills
Positioning counts: Precise alignment trims dose and sharpens detail. Collimate aggressively.
Adjust exposure wisely: Tailor kVp and mA to patient habitus and anatomy. Lowest dose that gets the job done.
Pulsed mode by default: Reduce frame rate and use pulsed fluoroscopy to cut exposure substantially.
Last image hold: Review without re-exposing. It’s there—use it.
Shield and step back: Lead protection, tight fields, and maximizing distance protect everyone in the room.
QC and calibration: Regular physics checks keep systems tuned and artifacts at bay.
Ongoing training: Refresh on device-specific workflows and evolving safety protocols.
How to Display Fluoroscopy Skills on Your Resume
6. PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System)
PACS stores, retrieves, and shares medical images across the enterprise. Film rooms are history; smart workflows are not.
Why It's Important
Fast access to studies and smooth image routing accelerate diagnosis, reduce delays, and improve collaboration.
How to Improve PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) Skills
Training first: Learn advanced tools—hanging protocols, worklists, recon viewers, and annotation workflows.
Hardware matters: Calibrated monitors, sufficient RAM/CPU, and reliable networks keep pace with large datasets.
Streamline workflow: Standardize naming, accessioning, and routing rules; cut clicks and rework.
Security hygiene: Strong authentication, role-based access, and audit trails protect patient data.
Augment with AI when appropriate: Triage, measurement assist, and QA alerts can improve throughput when validated.
Feedback loop: Report viewer hiccups and routing issues quickly; continuous improvement is a team sport.
Backup and recovery: Test failover. Practice restores. Downtime plans save days, not minutes.
How to Display PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) Skills on Your Resume
7. RIS (Radiology Information System)
RIS manages patient data, orders, scheduling, and reporting across radiology, tying the clinical thread together.
Why It's Important
Less chaos, fewer errors, clearer tracking. Technicians spend more time imaging, less time chasing paper.
How to Improve RIS (Radiology Information System) Skills
Integrate with PACS: Bi-directional, clean integration reduces mismatches and manual entry.
Train the team: Shortcuts, batch actions, and smart scheduling features save hours weekly.
Tailor workflows: Customize order entry, status updates, and alerts to match local practice.
Data accuracy: Double-check identifiers and laterality; build verification steps into routine.
Scheduling finesse: Optimize slot lengths by modality and prep requirements to cut wait times.
Feedback and fixes: Encourage user feedback; small RIS tweaks pay large dividends.
Compliance and security: Keep systems patched, permissions right-sized, and logs reviewed.
Mobile access: Secure mobile tools help techs check schedules and patient info on the move.
How to Display RIS (Radiology Information System) Skills on Your Resume
8. Radiation Safety
Radiation safety means minimizing exposure while securing diagnostic value. The ALARA mindset—always—guides choices.
Why It's Important
Protects patients, protects staff, avoids avoidable harm. It’s a professional obligation and a daily discipline.
How to Improve Radiation Safety Skills
Live ALARA: Reduce time, increase distance, apply shielding. Collimate tightly.
Wear protection: Lead aprons, thyroid shields, lead glasses—fit-checked and inspected.
Optimize techniques: Use pediatric and low-dose protocols; avoid repeats through solid positioning.
Equipment oversight: Regular surveys and maintenance prevent leaks and performance drift.
Track exposure: Use personal dosimeters; review and act on reports.
Educate continuously: Refresh training, run safety drills, and share dose metrics transparently.
How to Display Radiation Safety Skills on Your Resume
9. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
DEXA measures bone mineral density with two X-ray energies, separating bone from soft tissue for precise assessment.
Why It's Important
It’s the standard for diagnosing osteoporosis and monitoring bone health, guiding treatment over time.
How to Improve Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) Skills
Prep patients: Remove metal, review recent contrast or nuclear studies, and confirm supplement use to avoid artifacts.
Position consistently: Follow recognized positioning standards (spine, hip, forearm) to ensure reproducibility.
Calibrate routinely: Perform phantom scans and follow manufacturer QC schedules.
Stay current: Pursue bone densitometry education and competency validation.
Communicate clearly: Set expectations and coach patients to stay still for accurate results.
QA program: Track precision error and least significant change; monitor trends over time.
How to Display Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) Skills on Your Resume
10. Angiography
Angiography visualizes blood vessels using contrast and X-ray imaging. Technicians prep, position, and capture the series that tells the vascular story.
Why It's Important
It reveals stenoses, aneurysms, occlusions, and malformations—information that guides life-saving interventions.
How to Improve Angiography Skills
Optimize exposure: Adjust technique to body habitus; keep dose low without losing detail.
Upgrade your know-how: Maintain education on catheter-based imaging, roadmapping, and subtraction techniques.
Contrast safety: Screen for allergy and renal risk, ensure hydration protocols, and monitor patients closely.
Coach patients: Clear breath-hold and motion instructions deliver crisper runs.
Protect uptime: Regular system checks and maintenance prevent artifacts mid-procedure.
How to Display Angiography Skills on Your Resume
11. Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to image soft tissues and blood flow. No radiation, real-time feedback.
Why It's Important
It complements X-ray by showing structures and motion that ionizing imaging can’t. Fast triage, bedside utility, and broad applications.
How to Improve Ultrasound Skills
Stay current: New presets, Doppler tools, and image processing updates arrive often—learn them.
Tune the machine: Adjust frequency, depth, gain, focus, and dynamic range to the task at hand.
Pick the right probe: Linear for superficial, curvilinear for abdominal, phased array for cardiac—fit the job.
Refine scanning technique: Gentle pressure, deliberate angles, and systematic sweeps reveal hidden findings.
Position patients well: Optimize acoustic windows with proper positioning and breathing instructions.
Quality checks: Clean transducers, update software, and verify calibration routinely.
How to Display Ultrasound Skills on Your Resume
12. Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology (IR) delivers minimally invasive treatments guided by imaging—X-ray, CT, ultrasound—reducing recovery time and risk.
Why It's Important
From biopsies to embolization, IR reshapes care pathways. For technicians, it’s a high-skill arena blending imaging finesse with procedural rhythm.
How to Improve Interventional Radiology Skills
Continuous education: Expand procedural knowledge—devices, access routes, sterile technique, and imaging roadmaps.
Hands-on practice: Simulation, vendor in-services, and proctored sessions build muscle memory.
Safety and QC: Master radiation protection, contrast safety, and equipment checks specific to IR suites.
Patient care: Communication, sedation awareness, and post-procedure monitoring elevate outcomes.
Team communication: Sync with radiologists and nurses; anticipate steps and needs to keep cases flowing.
Stay informed: Track new devices, closure tools, and imaging techniques; iterate protocols thoughtfully.
How to Display Interventional Radiology Skills on Your Resume
