Northwestern University
Renowned for being an all-around great school, Northwestern University is a prime example of what an academic facility should be, and their radiology technician program is no exception. What makes Northwestern’s 21-month long education unique among the other radiology technician schools in Illinois is that it is based out of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Students will be immersed in nearly every facet of being a radiology technician, learning from board-certified radiologists, physicians and staff to operate highly-technical machinery while maintaining proper patient care.
As a top school, Northwestern’s program is not for the lazy or complacent. They only accept 10 students per year, which allows them to provide a more focused learning program. As such, exceptional grades, discipline, and dedication are a requirement for being successful in the program. At 500 hours of lab training and 1,600 hours of instruction, it’s definitely not the easiest of the radiology technician schools in Illinois.
Kishwaukee College
While not as universally well-known as Northwestern, Kishwaukee College offers a radiology technician program that rivals any other in the country. Students will find themselves training for a two-year A.A.S. degree to fully prepare them for a medical career in radiology. The foundation of this program lies in training at hospitals and trauma clinics in the surrounding area. This is further expanded upon with classroom training and development of critical skills.
The entire Kishwaukee College program, as with most radiology technician schools in Illinois, aims to prepare students to pass the ARRT exam. This certification is a requirement to practice as a radiology technician in Illinois and throughout the United States. Kishwaukee in unique in that is allows students to easily transition into more advanced radiology programs if the student desires.
Southwestern Illinois College
Another top choice for education is Southwestern Illinois College, or SWIC for short. SWIC offers programs that focus heavily on safety and superior training in use of radiology and x-ray equipment. The program lasts for two-years, and requires 73-credit hours of training which includes hands-on work at hospitals and health care facilities. Among radiology technician schools in Illinois, SWIC is also unique in that it provides mentoring programs that include in-depth job shadowing.
While the academic requirements only specify that students maintain a C average, the program is still very competitive. This is due to a limited class size and that fact that SWIC is one of the most highly acclaimed radiology schools in Illinois. The program is not easy, but the experience is top-notch. Regardless of the school you choose, however, you can stand proud at the end knowing that you graduated from one of the best radiology technician schools in Illinois.
