Medical Radiation Therapists

Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) are important health care professionals who use x-rays and electromagnetic energy techniques which are vital in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of many illnesses and diseases. They can choose to work in a variety of disciplines, including:

  • medical radiological technologists
  • radiation therapists
  • medical resonance technologists
  • nuclear medical technologists
  • electroneurophysiology technologists

MRTs perform diagnostic imaging used to examine and diagnose diseases and injuries, and are responsible for the accurate placement of patients for ensuring a quality diagnostic image. They also plan and administer radiation therapy treatments, ensuring the delivery of the lowest radiation dose possible during the examination or treatment. MRTs education and training includes anatomy, patient positioning, examination techniques, equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection, and basic patient care.

MRTs may work with a broad variety of procedures and specialties which include plain film, radiography mammography, angiography, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT or CAT scans). Many of these examinations and procedures require the MRTs to work closely with physicians, other technologists, nurses, and non-medical personnel.

To find out more about working as a medical radiation technologist in Alberta, visist the links below:

Working as a Medical Radiation Technologist in Alberta

If you would like more detailed information about working as a MRT such as duties, working conditions, salaries, educational requirements, and personal characteristics, you can read the each of career profiles for medical radiation technology on the Alberta Learning Information Service’s occupational information website, OCCinfo.

In Alberta, medical radiation technologists may choose to specialize in a few different disciplines:

  • Medical Radiological Technologists produce structural images of the body for diagnostic purposes using variety of radiological (x-ray) procedures and specialties including plain film radiography, mammography, angiography, fluoroscopy, and computerized tomography (CT or CAT scans).

  • Radiation Therapists are integral members of cancer treatment teams – they administer prescribed targeted treatments for cancer patients that involve using ionizing radiation, such as focusing beams of radiation to destroy tumours, while ensuring minimal harm to healthy tissue.

  • Medical (Magnetic) Resonance Technologists operate medical diagnostic equipment that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of the body. This technique is especially useful in detecting tumours in the brain and spinal column, as well as studying the cardiovascular system and soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons or arteries. Magnetic Resonance Technologists are also known as Magnetic Imaging Technologists. 

  • Nuclear Medicine Technologists operate specialized equipment that maps the distribution of radioactive tracers (radioactive drugs) creating images which pinpoint the nature of disease and how it is affecting the body, in order to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

  • Electroneurophysiology Technologists use sensitive electronic diagnostic equipment to record and evaluate the electrical activity of patients' central and peripheral nervous systems in order to assist physicians in diagnosing neurological disorders, diseases, injuries, and abnormalities.  They are also known as Electroencephalogram (EEG) Technologists and Electromyography (EMG) Technologists.   

Medical Radiation Technologists are also known as X-ray Technologists, Health Care Technologists, Medical Technologists, Therapists, Health Care Technologists, and Magnetic Imaging Technologists.

Medical Radiation Technologists work in and are employed by:

  • hospitals
  • community clinics
  • private clinics
  • cancer clinics
  • doctors' offices
  • government agencies
  • public health agencies
  • industrial medical service units.

With experience and additional training, MRTs may move into:

  • teaching
  • information systems
  • administration
  • specializations (including neuroradiology, cardiac radiology, computed tomography, angiography, bone densitometry, or mammography).

You can also read the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists’ description of a career as an MRT, in such disciplines as Magnetic Resonance Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiation Therapy, Radiological Technology, and Electroneurophysiology.

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Registration and Licensing

Medical Radiation Technology is a regulated profession in Alberta.The Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic & Therapeutic Technologists (ACMDTT) is the regulatory body for the five distinct specialties within two distinct professional groups called Medical Radiation Technologists and Electroneurophysiology Technologists.  The five specialties consist of Radiological Technologists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Magnetic Resonance Technologists, Radiation Therapists, and Electroneurophysiology Technologists.

Registration with the ACMDTT is mandatory in order to provide professional services directly to the public, teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession, or supervise registered members who provide services to the public. Furthermore, a valid practice permit is required in order to legally practice within the designated specialty. Registered members of the College are responsible and accountable to the public for ensuring that their practice meets the legislative requirements and standards for the profession. As this is a regulated profession, it is mandatory that members meet identified competency requirements and undergo continued competency training.

For more information regarding ACMDTT, membership and registration contact the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic & Therapeutic Technologists (ACMDTT).

Internationally educated MRTs need to register with the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic & Therapeutic Technologists in order to practice in Alberta. For more information please review the registration information package for internationally educated MRTs.

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Remuneration

Medical radiation technologists in all disciplines work in unionized and non-unionized environments. The private centres are non-unionized and the public centres (e.g. hospitals) are unionized.  For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, medical radiation technologists earned an average annual salary of $60,287 to $68,358, with the minimum rate of compensation of $27.18 per hour and the maximum rate of $42.71 per hour.

Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses unrelated to production and other forms of compensation.

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Searching for a Job

To look for a position as a Medical Radiation Technologist in Alberta, you can search using the Working in Alberta tool, or search through HealthJobs, Alberta Health Services' career website.

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Continuing Education

Alberta offers a few different programs in medical radiation technology. The following institutions offer medical radiation technology programs:

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton offers:

  • A 21-month diploma program in Medical Radiologic Technology.The last 13 months of the program are spent at sponsoring hospitals and clinics in Alberta under the supervision of registered radiological technologists. During this period, students take distance education courses and periodically return to the institute for class days. They may be scheduled to work clinical rotations that include weekdays, statutory holidays, evenings and weekends.
  • A 20-month diploma program in Magnetic Resonance Imaging which also includes practicum experience. 

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary offers:

  • A co-operative two year diploma program in Nuclear Medicine Technology. The first 10 months of academic study are followed by 12 months of practical experience at one or more hospitals, clinics and associated facilities in Edmonton, Calgary or Red Deer. Practicum locations are determined upon acceptance to the program.

No formal training program for electroneurophysiology technologists is offered in Alberta. The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby, British Columbia offers:

Some Alberta hospitals meet the requirements for training technologists set by the Canadian Board of Registration of Electroencephalograph Technologists (CBRET) and the Board of Registration of Electromyography Technologists of Canada (BRETC).

Usually, electromyography (EMG) technologists have completed post-secondary courses in anatomy, physiology or electronics before they are accepted for training on the job. For information about post-secondary programs that include related courses, see the Kinesiologist and Registered Nurse occupational profiles. Admission requirements vary but generally include a high school diploma.

The program combines classroom teaching with practicum experience. The entrance requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent education with courses in algebra, physics, and chemistry. Graduates must take further training before they are eligible to take examinations conducted by CBRET for registration in electroencephalography (EEG) or BRETC for registration in electromyography (EMG).

For current information about programs, admission requirements, and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

The ACMDTT has information regarding ongoing professional development for medical radiation technologists. The College also requires regulated members to complete an annual Continuing Competence Program (CCP) to ensure and enhance a regulated members’ competence and provision of professional services.

In order to receive a full practice permit to work in Alberta, international MRT candidates may be required to undergo upgrading and cross-bridging (additional examination, testing, assessment, training, or education) as recommended by the ACMDTT Registration Committee.

NAIT also offers the following distance learning refresher/bridging programs for:

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More Resources

Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists (ACMDTT) website has resources and posts job ads on their website. 

Alberta Health Services

Alberta Learning and Information Service (ALIS) is the provincial gateway to help Albertans plan and achieve educational and career success! It provides information for career planning, post-secondary education and training, educational funding, job search, labour market trends, and workplace issues.

  • EDinfo: Information about programs of study and distance learning programs offered by post-secondary educational institutions in Alberta.
  • OCCinfo: Information about occupations (types of work) in a format called occupational profiles. There are more than 500 occupational profiles in OCCinfo. Each profile presents information about an occupation under the following headings: Duties; Working Conditions; Personal Characteristics; Educational Requirements; Employment and Advancement; Salary and Other Sources of Information. 

AuntMinnie.com provides the first comprehensive community Internet site for radiologists and related professionals in the medical imaging industry.

Canadian Association of Electroneurophysiology Technologists (CAET) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to advance and promote the science, knowledge, technology, and technical standards of electroneurophysiology in Canada.

Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists is Canada’s national certifying body and professional association for medical radiation technologists and therapists across the country.

Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) is a labour union representing more than 14,000 paramedical technical, professional, and general support employees in the public and private health care sectors of Alberta.

International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists is recognized as the international representative of radiation medicine technology.

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Date Updated: May 05, 2011
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