6 free templates by setting: general, imaging center, urgent care, orthopedic, limited scope X-ray, and small practice, with the ARRT, state-licensing, ALARA, and HIPAA guidance hospital templates skip. Download as DOCX.
A radiologic technologist produces the diagnostic images that providers rely on, and hiring one well comes down to three things hospital-oriented templates handle generically: the credential, the radiation safety, and the setting. For a small imaging center, urgent care clinic, or orthopedic or chiropractic practice, where the practice manager or owner does the hiring without an HR department, getting those three right in the job description is what separates a qualified, compliant hire from a costly mismatch.
These six templates cover the role across the small-practice settings that actually do this hiring, plus the limited scope X-ray technician variant that the big template libraries ignore. Each leads with the ARRT, state-licensing, ALARA, and HIPAA guidance the role requires. At FirstHR, we build hiring and onboarding tools for small practices. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
A radiologic technologist performs diagnostic X-ray imaging and is hourly and non-exempt under the FLSA, since the role requires an associate degree and ARRT certification rather than an advanced degree. The federal occupation reports a median near $77,660 to $80,110 a year (BLS, May 2024 to May 2025). The credentials, ARRT, state license, and continuing education, plus ALARA radiation safety and HIPAA, are what generic templates skip. Download six templates by setting, including the limited scope X-ray tech variant.
What a Radiologic Technologist Does
A radiologic technologist performs diagnostic imaging, primarily X-rays, to help providers diagnose and treat patients. The core work is positioning patients correctly, operating imaging equipment, producing quality images for interpretation, and following radiation safety standards to protect patients and staff. The work is hands-on, patient-facing, and safety-critical.
The federal occupation is radiologic technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2034), which groups the diagnostic X-ray roles together. In a small practice, the role often extends beyond imaging into clinical and front-office support, which is part of why the setting matters so much when you write the posting.
Technologist, Tech, or Technician?
The titles cause real confusion, so it helps to settle them before you post. Radiologic technologist, radiology tech, and radiology technician usually refer to the same role and are used interchangeably; the federal statistics track them as one occupation.
The Distinction That Actually Matters
Do not get caught up in technologist versus technician as titles. The meaningful split is between a full ARRT-certified technologist, who holds an associate degree and national certification, and a limited scope X-ray technician, who is licensed under state-specific rules to perform a narrower range of X-rays, often without a full ARRT credential. The limited scope role is common at urgent care, chiropractic, and small practices, and it is the one the big template libraries ignore. Decide which one your practice actually needs, then pick the matching template below.
Radiologic Technologist Duties and Responsibilities
Radiologic technologist duties cluster into four areas: imaging and patient care, radiation safety, equipment and records, and compliance and privacy. A strong job description picks the responsibilities from each area that match the setting rather than listing every possible task.
Imaging and patient care
Perform diagnostic X-ray imaging per orders
Position patients correctly and safely
Explain procedures and reassure patients
Radiation safety
Follow ALARA radiation-safety principles
Use lead shielding and protective equipment
Protect patients, self, and staff from exposure
Equipment and records
Operate and maintain imaging equipment
Work with PACS/RIS systems where used
Keep accurate patient and imaging records
Compliance and privacy
Follow HIPAA privacy standards for imaging
Follow infection control procedures
Maintain ARRT certification and state license
The emphasis shifts by setting: an imaging center leans into scheduled volume and PACS/RIS, urgent care into walk-in flexibility, and a small practice into cross-training. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
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Pick the template by setting and credential level. Five are full-technologist versions for different small-practice settings; one is the limited scope X-ray technician role. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
General Radiologic Technologist
Most practices
The baseline version: ARRT-certified diagnostic X-ray imaging with radiation safety and records. Start here for most settings.
Outpatient Imaging Center
Imaging centers
For a standalone imaging center: scheduled exams, steady patient flow, PACS/RIS work, and a predictable outpatient schedule.
Urgent Care
Walk-in clinics
For urgent care: on-demand imaging for walk-ins, variable volume, and cross-training on clinical and front-office tasks.
Orthopedic / Specialty
Specialty practices
For an orthopedic or specialty office: in-office extremity and joint imaging that supports same-visit diagnosis and treatment.
Limited Scope X-Ray Tech
Lower-credential variant
For practices that need basic X-rays within state scope: a limited scope technician role, common in urgent care, chiropractic, and small offices.
Small Practice (No HR)
Small offices
For a small practice with no HR: a versatile technologist who handles imaging and pitches in on clinical and front-office work.
Match the Template to the Setting
A general practice uses the General template. A standalone imaging center uses Outpatient Imaging Center. A walk-in clinic uses Urgent Care. An orthopedic or specialty office uses Orthopedic / Specialty. A practice needing basic in-office X-rays under state scope uses Limited Scope X-Ray Tech. A small office where the tech wears several hats uses Small Practice. Confirm your state's licensing rules before posting any of them.
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: practice and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, the hourly non-exempt classification, pay, and how to apply, with an EEO statement and the credential layer built in. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, imaging center, urgent care, orthopedic, limited scope, and small practice. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: General Radiologic Technologist
The baseline version: ARRT-certified diagnostic X-ray imaging with radiation safety and records. Start here for most settings.
For practices that need basic X-rays within state scope: a limited scope role common in urgent care, chiropractic, and small offices, often without a full ARRT credential.
We are a small practice hiring a Radiologic Technologist who can wear a few
hats. You will handle our in-office imaging and pitch in on the clinical and
front-office work that keeps a small practice running, working directly with
the owner and a small team.
JOB SUMMARY
[Practice Name] is hiring a Radiologic Technologist to perform our diagnostic
imaging and support the practice day to day. You will produce quality X-rays,
keep patients safe and informed, maintain compliance, and help with the
broader clinical and administrative work of a small office.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Perform diagnostic X-ray imaging per provider orders
•Position patients safely and ensure image quality
•Follow radiation safety and ALARA principles
•Maintain equipment, supplies, and accurate records
•Support clinical tasks and front-office work as needed
•Follow HIPAA privacy and infection control standards
•Help keep the practice organized and compliant
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Associate degree and ARRT certification, or state limited scope license
•State license where required
•Versatile and comfortable wearing several hats
•Current CE credits and radiation safety knowledge
•Dependable, patient-focused, and team-oriented
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_ per hour [+ benefits]
To apply, email __ or stop by.
[Practice Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
ARRT, Licensing, CE, and FLSA
This is the part the generic templates handle generically, and it is the part that protects a small practice: the ARRT certification to verify, the state license that varies by location, the continuing education to track, and the hourly, non-exempt classification. Get these right and your posting attracts qualified candidates and keeps your practice compliant.
ARRT certification is the core credential
The standard credential for a radiologic technologist is certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), which since 2015 requires at least an associate degree from an accredited radiography program. ARRT certification in Radiography is what most diagnostic X-ray roles expect, and additional ARRT credentials cover modalities like CT or mammography. For a small practice, the practical point is to verify the candidate's ARRT certification at hire, confirm it is current, and keep a copy on file. Name ARRT certification clearly in the posting so you attract qualified, credentialed candidates and screen out those who are not eligible for your state license. This is general information, not legal advice.
State licensure varies and must be checked locally
On top of ARRT certification, most states require a state license or permit to practice as a radiologic technologist, and the rules differ by state. Some states recognize ARRT certification directly, others have their own licensing process, and a few have limited requirements. For the limited scope X-ray technician role, the variation is even greater: states define their own limited scope licenses, set which body parts may be imaged, and decide what training is required. Before posting, confirm exactly what your state requires for the specific role, and state it in the job description. Verify the license at hire and track its renewal. This is general information, not legal advice.
Continuing education keeps the credential active
Radiologic technologists must complete continuing education to keep ARRT certification active, typically 24 CE credits every two years, and states may add their own CE requirements. This is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time check, so a practice that hires a technologist needs a way to track CE deadlines and renewal dates rather than discovering a lapsed credential during an audit or, worse, after imaging has already been performed. Build CE and license renewal tracking into your records from the first day. Supporting CE, even modestly, also helps a small practice attract and keep good technologists in a competitive market. This is general information, not legal advice.
FLSA: the role is non-exempt and hourly
A radiologic technologist is non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which means hourly and entitled to overtime for hours over 40 in a week. The Department of Labor is explicit that technologists and technicians do not qualify for the learned professional exemption, because the occupation does not require an advanced specialized academic degree as a standard prerequisite; an associate degree plus certification does not meet that bar. A 2007 DOL opinion letter specifically found radiology technologists are not exempt. Because imaging often runs evenings and weekends, plan for shift differentials and track hours carefully. This is general information, not legal advice.
Non-Exempt and Hourly, by DOL Ruling
The Department of Labor is explicit that technologists and technicians do not meet the learned professional exemption, because the role does not require an advanced specialized degree. A radiologic technologist is therefore non-exempt and hourly, owed overtime, commonly with shift differentials for evening and weekend imaging.
Radiologic technologists are paid hourly, with pay varying by setting, region, and experience. Set your range using government data as a baseline, then adjust for your local market.
Median Near $78K to $80K (BLS)
The federal occupation of radiologic technologists and technicians had a median wage of $77,660 a year as of May 2024, rising to about $80,110 a year ($38.52 an hour) in the May 2025 release, with the lowest 10 percent near $52,000 to $56,000 and the highest 10 percent above $107,000 (BLS). Entry-level techs commonly start between $48,000 and $60,000.
Setting / level
Typical hourly
Notes
Entry-level technologist
Around $23 to $29 per hour
New ARRT-certified grads
Experienced technologist
Around $32 to $45 per hour
With experience or modalities
Outpatient / small practice
Around $28 to $38 per hour
Often predictable schedule
Limited scope X-ray tech
Around $18 to $26 per hour
Varies widely by state and scope
Classification
Non-exempt, hourly
Overtime over 40 hours a week
Hospitals generally pay higher base rates with shift differentials than small practices, and pay runs higher in states like California. Because the role is non-exempt, budget for overtime on any evening or weekend coverage, and post a transparent hourly range.
Hiring a Radiologic Technologist for a Small Practice
A hospital hires technologists through an HR and credentialing department. A small imaging center, urgent care clinic, or orthopedic or chiropractic practice does not, and faces three things hospital-oriented templates ignore: the templates assume a hospital, the limited scope variant is the hire small practices often make, and credential tracking falls on the practice.
Most templates are written for hospitals; you run a small imaging center or clinic
Most published radiologic technologist templates are written for large hospitals and health systems with dedicated HR, radiation safety officers, and credentialing departments. But a large share of the people who actually write this posting are practice managers and owners at outpatient imaging centers, urgent care clinics, and orthopedic or chiropractic offices, where the average site is small and there is no HR department. These templates are written for that reality: pick the version that matches your setting, fill in the brackets, and post, without translating a hospital's job description down to a small practice. The imaging is the same; the hiring context is completely different.
The limited scope X-ray tech is exactly the hire small practices make, and templates ignore it
Hospital-oriented templates assume a full ARRT-certified technologist. But urgent care, chiropractic, and small physician offices frequently hire a limited scope X-ray technician instead: someone licensed under state-specific rules to perform basic X-rays, often without a full ARRT credential. This role is cheaper to fill, common at small practices, and almost entirely missing from the big template libraries. The limited scope template here is written for it, with a clear note that state rules vary on scope and licensing. If your practice needs basic in-office imaging rather than a full diagnostic suite, this is likely the role you are actually hiring, so post it accurately.
Credential tracking and onboarding fall on the practice, with no HR to catch a lapse
A radiologic technologist hire comes with real compliance: ARRT certification to verify, a state license to confirm and renew, continuing education to track, radiation safety and HIPAA training to document, and the ordinary new-hire paperwork. In a small practice there is no HR department watching renewal dates. FirstHR fits this people side: e-signature for the offer letter and policy acknowledgments, document management to store and track ARRT certification, the state license, and CE with renewal reminders, training modules for radiation safety and HIPAA onboarding, task workflows for the new-hire checklist, and an onboarding wizard that turns the job description into a plan. The flat monthly price suits a small practice. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a PACS, RIS, or payroll system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those providers. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a credential-heavy onboarding. Because the role involves radiation and protected health information from day one, verifying credentials and training on safety and privacy come before the technologist images a patient. The paperwork comes first: the offer in writing with the hourly, non-exempt terms, the I-9 with documents verified, and the W-4 and state tax forms per the new hire paperwork guide.
Send the offer in writing
Confirm the role, the hourly pay, the non-exempt classification, the schedule and any shift differential, and the start date in writing.
Verify credentials before day one
Confirm ARRT certification or the state limited scope license, check the state license, and store copies with renewal and CE reminders.
Train on safety and privacy
Cover radiation safety and ALARA, equipment, and HIPAA privacy, with signed acknowledgments, before the technologist images a patient.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, the I-9 and tax forms, the certification and license, and CE records organized and audit-ready in one place.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step, and an onboarding template gives the new hire a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures, credential and CE tracking, radiation safety and HIPAA training, and the onboarding workflow in one place so a small practice can manage the full process from one system. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a PACS, RIS, or payroll tool, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A radiologic technologist performs diagnostic X-ray imaging and is hourly and non-exempt under the FLSA, by explicit DOL guidance.
Radiologic technologist, radiology tech, and radiology technician usually mean the same role; the federal data treats them as one.
The real distinction is full ARRT-certified technologist versus limited scope X-ray technician, which is the hire many small practices make.
The federal occupation reports a median near $77,660 to $80,110 a year (BLS, May 2024 to May 2025); the role is paid hourly.
Credentials are central: ARRT certification, a state license that varies by state, and continuing education to track.
Onboarding is where compliance gets handled: credential verification, ALARA radiation safety, and HIPAA training before imaging a patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a radiologic technologist do?
A radiologic technologist performs diagnostic imaging, primarily X-rays, to help providers diagnose and treat patients. The core work is positioning patients correctly, operating imaging equipment, producing high-quality images for the radiologist or provider to interpret, and following radiation safety standards to protect patients and staff. Day to day, a technologist prepares and reassures patients, performs the imaging ordered, uses lead shielding and ALARA principles to minimize radiation exposure, maintains the equipment, and keeps accurate records, often working with PACS and RIS imaging systems. In small practices, the role frequently extends to clinical and front-office support. The work is hands-on and patient-facing, and it requires both technical skill and careful attention to safety and privacy. Radiologic technologists are also called radiology techs or radiology technicians.
What is the difference between a radiologic technologist, a radiology tech, and a radiology technician?
In practice, these terms usually refer to the same role and are used interchangeably. Radiologic technologist is the formal title, typically meaning an ARRT-certified professional with an associate degree who performs diagnostic imaging. Radiology tech is simply the common shorthand. Radiology technician is a more informal term that sometimes implies a less-credentialed or limited-scope role, though many people use it as a synonym for technologist. The federal government tracks all of them under one occupation, radiologic technologists and technicians. The more meaningful distinction is between a full ARRT-certified technologist and a limited scope X-ray technician, who is licensed under state-specific rules to perform a narrower range of X-rays, often without a full ARRT credential. Match the title and the credential requirement to the role you are actually hiring.
Is a radiologic technologist exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
A radiologic technologist is non-exempt, which means hourly and entitled to overtime for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The Department of Labor is explicit that technologists and technicians do not qualify for the learned professional exemption, because the occupation does not require an advanced specialized academic degree as a standard prerequisite for entry; an associate degree plus ARRT certification does not meet that bar. A 2007 Department of Labor opinion letter specifically concluded that radiology technologists are not exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA. In practice, radiologic technologists are paid hourly, commonly with shift differentials for evening, weekend, or overnight work. Because imaging is sometimes needed outside regular hours, employers should track hours carefully and budget for overtime. This is general information, not legal advice.
What certification and license does a radiologic technologist need?
The standard credential is certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, known as ARRT certification, which since 2015 requires at least an associate degree from an accredited radiography program. On top of ARRT certification, most states require a state license or permit to practice, and the rules vary by state: some recognize ARRT certification directly, others have their own process. Technologists must also complete continuing education to keep certification active, typically 24 CE credits every two years. For a limited scope X-ray technician, the requirements are different and set entirely by the state, which defines the license, the permitted imaging, and the training. Before hiring, confirm exactly what your state requires for the specific role, verify the credential at hire, and track renewal and CE deadlines. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is a limited scope X-ray technician, and when should I hire one?
A limited scope X-ray technician performs a restricted set of diagnostic X-rays under a state-specific license, often without a full ARRT credential. States define the limited scope license, including which body parts may be imaged and what training is required, so the role varies significantly by location. It is common in urgent care clinics, chiropractic offices, and small physician practices that need basic in-office imaging rather than a full diagnostic suite. Hiring a limited scope technician can be a practical, lower-cost option for a small practice whose imaging needs are straightforward, but you must confirm that the role and the licensing match your state's rules and the imaging you actually need. If your practice requires a broad range of imaging or advanced modalities, a full ARRT-certified technologist is the better fit. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a radiologic technologist make?
Radiologic technologists are paid hourly, with pay varying by setting, location, and experience. The federal occupation of radiologic technologists and technicians had a median wage of $77,660 a year as of the May 2024 data, rising to about $80,110 a year, or $38.52 an hour, in the May 2025 release. The lowest 10 percent earned around $52,000 to $56,000, and the highest 10 percent earned over $107,000 to $119,000. Entry-level technologists typically start between $48,000 and $60,000, while experienced techs and those with additional modality certifications earn more. Hospitals generally pay higher base rates with shift differentials than outpatient centers or small practices. Pay also runs higher in states like California. Benchmark your hourly range to your setting and local market, and post it. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do small practices hire radiologic technologists?
Yes. While most radiologic technologists work in hospitals, a meaningful share work in small, non-hospital settings: outpatient imaging centers, physician offices, urgent care clinics, and orthopedic and chiropractic practices. These sites are often small, frequently with fewer than 50 employees and no dedicated HR department, where a practice manager or owner does the hiring. Imaging centers in particular tend to be small establishments, and urgent care and specialty practices routinely employ in-house technologists or limited scope X-ray technicians. For these small employers, the hiring and compliance work, verifying ARRT certification and state licensing, tracking continuing education, and documenting radiation safety and HIPAA training, all falls on the practice rather than an HR team, which is exactly where a structured onboarding process helps most.
What should a radiologic technologist job description include?
A strong radiologic technologist job description names the setting up front, whether imaging center, urgent care, orthopedic practice, or small office, and includes a short practice overview, a job summary that captures the diagnostic-imaging focus, and responsibilities grouped into imaging and patient care, radiation safety, equipment and records, and compliance and privacy. It should state the credential requirement clearly, ARRT certification and any state license, or the limited scope license where that applies, along with continuing education expectations. State the hourly, non-exempt classification, the schedule including any shift work, and a pay range. The additions hospital-oriented templates skip are the most valuable for a small practice: the limited scope variant, state-licensing variation, ALARA radiation safety, HIPAA for imaging, and PACS/RIS familiarity. Close with an equal opportunity statement and apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
