Introductory X-Ray Training

State law requires that individuals using ionizing radiation have a certain core of knowledge about x-ray technology and radiation safety. Material presented in this class allows an excellent understanding of the factors necessary to create a good quality x-ray image in a safe manner. Also included is instruction in quality critique, patient management and all required legal issues related to the use of x-ray. (Please see the “Syllabus” tab.)

Classroom academic material is supplemented by required homework assignments designed to familiarize the student with the equipment in their own office and to provide practice in patient positioning. Patient positioning is demonstrated for spine, extremities, and chest, and students are required to practice in their own offices what is demonstrated in the classroom. Therefore, students must have access to x-ray equipment, and they must do their homework assignments!

Anyone who wants to take x-rays in a chiropractic office or a private medical practice. This course is useful for a technician working in a private healthcare office who needs to know how to take skeletal and chest x-rays that are of good quality and that are produced in a safe manner. It also provides excellent review of x-ray technology for anyone who needs to improve their x-ray quality. Personnel from any health care specialty may attend.

We don’t specifically have that requirement. However, you must have access to x-ray equipment in order to complete the homework assignments, and successfully completing the homework is a required part of the class.

If you know someone at a chiropractic office and can make arrangements to have this kind of access, you’re welcome to register.

Absolutely! Digital — both DR (no cassette) and CR (digital cassettes) — as well as film technology are covered in this class. In addition, whether you collect images on film or via digital detectors, there is a core of common information that needs to be learned. Understanding x-ray energy, exposure calculation, quality critique, radiation safety, and patient positioning apply to both film and digital technology.

No. The course is designed to start from the beginning so that a newcomer can learn the necessary material.

Yes. Experienced techs are universally surprised at what they learn by attending. Many limited x-ray techs function by rote and do not really understand how to control film quality. No one is bored in this class!

48 hours, held over three weekends. You must attend all 48 hours to qualify for the chiropractic x-ray technician license.

In 1991 the Washington state Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (CQAC, the chiropractic licensing board) enacted a 48-hour training requirement for chiropractic x-ray technicians.

The development of seminars to provide training for chiropractic x-ray technicians was necessary to meet the terms of Washington state CQAC law. The 48-hour classes that were developed to provide this required training are the only available source of a condensed course in x-ray technology, short of a full 2-3 year college program.

No, not specifically. X-ray is generic to all of health care, and the course is taught to cover the x-ray needs of all specialties. All necessary material for chiropractic x-ray technicians is covered, however, including upright patient positioning.

The course covers plain film x-ray technology for the skeleton and chest. Other states would term this a “limited permit.” The course has been taught by Dr. Vlasuk for many years and is tightly-packed, highly refined, and covers just the material needed in practical usage. It is amazing what can be learned in just 48 hours if those 48 hours are done well, as they are in Dr. Vlasuk’s seminars.

Classroom academic material is supplemented by required homework assignments designed to familiarize the student with their equipment and to provide practice in patient positioning.

Students must have access to x-ray equipment, and they must do their homework assignments!

In 1991 the Washington Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (CQAC, the chiropractic licensing board) enacted a 48-hour training requirement for chiropractic x-ray technicians. Chiropractic x-ray technicians must complete the entire 48 hours of classroom training and pass a test given at the end of the class.

Washington state law does not currently specify any educational requirements for limited x-ray technicians who work in medical, osteopathic, naturopathic, and podiatric practices.

Hospitals, radiology labs, and some larger group practices require that their x-ray personnel be fully-trained radiologic technologists (minimum 2-3 year college training program) and ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) certified. This is done as a job requirement (and often for accreditation purposes), but not because state law requires it.

Yes.

Yes.

Probably not in most cases. (See above answer on state requirements for x-ray techs.)

This course provides the necessary 48 hours of classroom training in x-ray technology and safety. A certificate of attendance is provided for the actual number of hours attended.

Chiropractic personnel need to be certain to attend all 48 hours and must pass an examination given at the end of the class.

Chiropractic personnel need to submit an application to the WA Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission, after they have their certificate of 48 hours of instruction and their successful test score.

Personnel from fields other than chiropractic need to register with the WA Department of Health.

Students must complete all course homework assignments! These focus on equipment orientation and practice in patient positioning, and are designed to supplement the classroom portion of the course.

X-ray technician.

The term “radiology technologist” (“radtech”) is reserved for individuals who complete a 2-3 year college training program in Radiologic Technology and are ARRT certified.

Yes. Chiropractic x-ray technicians can use any 6 out of the 48 hours for their required continuing education credit; however, Dr. Vlasuk also offers separate 6-hour x-ray CE courses twice each year that are designed for more advanced training.

(Experienced x-ray techs from all specialties, as well as doctors, are welcome to attend the 6-hour Continuing Education courses, but they are not designed for the beginning student.)

Yes. So do the 6-hour x-ray CE courses; however, Dr. Vlasuk also offers separate 12-hour courses specifically designed for doctors.

All of these seminars are automatically approved for Washington and Oregon.

All of these seminars are applied for and approved each year for Alaska.

Yes. So do the 6-hour x-ray CE courses.

This introductory course is offered every January, May, and September. Dates are announced a year in advance and are listed on the seminar calendar.

Make sure you’ve joined our email list, to stay updated about the seminar schedule. We also post seminar information on our Facebook page.

While these courses are designed for beginners, it helps reduce the burden of learning a large amount of new material in the short period of 48 hours if a prospective student first reviews skeletal anatomy, familiarizes himself/herself with the x-ray equipment in the office, and observes x-rays being taken in the office. This is not an absolute prerequisite, but it just makes it easier on the student.