Radiology Technician Classes Near Me in Augusta
To work as a radiology tech in Augusta, you complete an accredited radiography program and earn ARRT certification. Georgia does not license radiographers, so that ARRT credential, not a state license, is what employers look for. In the Augusta-Richmond County metro, the median wage for the role is $64,190 a year, about $30.86 an hour, as of May 2025. Training usually takes about two years. The metro also reaches into South Carolina, which does require a state certificate, so if you plan to work on that side there is one added step.
Key Points
- Georgia does not license radiographers, so ARRT certification is the credential employers look for in Augusta.
- Georgia regulates X-ray facilities and operators, but there is no individual state license for radiology technicians to earn.
- The standard path is an accredited radiography program plus the ARRT Radiography exam, usually about two years of training.
- Radiology technicians in the Augusta-Richmond County metro have a median wage of $64,190 a year, or $30.86 an hour, as of May 2025.
- The metro extends into South Carolina, which requires a state certificate from SCRQSA, and a current ARRT credential qualifies you for it without a separate exam.
Radiology Technician Salary in Augusta
Radiology technicians in the Augusta-Richmond County metro earn a median of $64,190 a year, or about $30.86 an hour. Within that range, pay reflects experience, the employer, the specialty, and the shift you work.
Employment in the field is projected to grow 4% nationally from 2024 to 2034, and BLS ties many openings to retirements and workers changing careers. Major employers around Augusta include Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, Piedmont Augusta, and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, with Aiken Regional Medical Centers on the South Carolina side of the metro.
Online classwork is common, but the clinical hours of an ARRT-eligible program have to be done in person, so a fully remote path is not realistic. On Dreambound, you can compare radiology technician programs by format and schedule to see what fits near Augusta.
Do You Need a License to Work as a Radiology Tech in Georgia?
Georgia does not issue an individual license for radiographers. It regulates the setting rather than the person: X-ray facilities must register with the Georgia Department of Community Health, and only authorized operators may apply radiation to patients. For the individual technician, there is no state credential to earn, so employers set the professional standard, and that standard is ARRT certification in Radiography.
To reach ARRT certification, you earn an associate degree or higher and complete an ARRT-approved radiography program; JRCERT accreditation is one recognized route. Because there is no state license behind you, confirming that accreditation matters, since an ARRT-approved program is what qualifies you to sit for the exam.
One wrinkle comes from the metro's geography. The Augusta-Richmond County metro reaches across the Savannah River into South Carolina, which does require a state certificate to use X-ray on patients. A current ARRT credential qualifies you for it: South Carolina issues its certificate to ARRT-certified technologists without a separate exam, though you still apply to the South Carolina Radiation Quality Standards Association and receive it before practicing on that side.
How to Become a Radiology Technician in Augusta
Getting into the field around Augusta comes down to a few steps:
- Complete an ARRT-approved radiography program with supervised clinical rotations, usually about two years.
- Pass the ARRT Radiography certification exam.
- Apply for radiography jobs. Georgia has no state license to obtain, so if you are working on the Georgia side you are ready once you are ARRT-certified. If you plan to work on the South Carolina side of the metro, apply to SCRQSA for its certificate first, which your ARRT credential qualifies you for.
Because Georgia adds no individual credential step, your timeline is set by the program and the ARRT exam rather than a state application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does radiology tech training take in the Augusta area?
Plan on about two years for an accredited radiography program, which is the core requirement, followed by the ARRT Radiography exam. Allow extra time for testing before you start applying for jobs. Program length varies by school, so it is worth comparing a few before you decide.
What should you look for in a radiology program in Georgia?
Accreditation is the main thing. Because Georgia does not license radiographers, the credential that matters is ARRT, and to sit for the ARRT exam you complete an ARRT-approved radiography program and earn an associate degree or higher. JRCERT accreditation is one recognized route. Confirming a program meets ARRT's requirements is what keeps the exam, and the jobs that ask for it, within reach.
Do radiology techs in Georgia have to complete continuing education?
Georgia does not license radiographers, so there is no state continuing-education requirement for the individual technician. What you keep current instead is your ARRT credential, which ARRT renews on its own cycle, and that is what employers expect you to maintain. Keeping ARRT active is effectively how you stay credentialed in Georgia.
Do the requirements change if you work on the South Carolina side of the metro?
Yes. On the Georgia side there is no state license, so ARRT certification is what employers require. To use X-ray on patients on the South Carolina side, you need a certificate from the South Carolina Radiation Quality Standards Association. A current ARRT credential qualifies you for it without another exam, but you still apply for and receive that certificate before you can practice there.
Getting Certified for Radiology Work in Augusta
Georgia's setup is the piece to plan around: there is no state license for radiographers, so your ARRT certification and an ARRT-approved program are what open the door in Augusta. Confirming a program is ARRT-approved before you start keeps the exam, and the jobs that ask for it, within reach. Augusta's hospitals, from Wellstar MCG Health to Piedmont Augusta, give certified technicians a solid base of places to work, and if you cross into South Carolina, your ARRT credential earns the certificate that side requires. Compare radiology technician programs on Dreambound by format and schedule to find one that sets you up for the ARRT credential.
