Radiology Technician Classes Near Me in Des Moines
Radiology training around Des Moines runs through hospital-based certificate programs and college associate degrees, and the step most guides skip is the one that actually lets you work: Iowa requires a state Permit to Practice. You earn it by finishing an accredited program, passing the national ARRT exam, and then applying to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Radiologic technologists in Iowa earn a median of about $65,930 a year, and Des Moines anchors much of the state's imaging work through systems like UnityPoint Health and MercyOne. Whether you train on a hospital certificate or a two-year degree, that permit is what turns your certification into a job. Here is how the routes, the costs, and the Iowa permit fit together.
Key Points
- Des Moines-area radiology training comes mainly through hospital-based certificate programs and two-year college associate degrees.
- Iowa requires a state Permit to Practice from the Department of Health and Human Services, on top of national ARRT certification.
- The state runs two tiers: a full General permit for all imaging, and a Limited permit restricted to a short list of routine X-rays.
- A full radiography path takes about 2 years, and radiologic technologists in Iowa earn a median of about $65,930 a year.
- The field is projected to grow about 4 percent through 2034, with imaging jobs concentrated in the metro's hospital systems.
Radiology Training Routes Near Des Moines
Des Moines students have a few real routes into radiography, and the right one depends on your timeline and budget. A hospital-based certificate program runs about 21 to 24 months and tends to cost the least, since it is built around clinical training inside a working hospital. A community-college or health-sciences associate degree takes about 2 years and adds a formal degree. For people who cannot attend on campus, online and hybrid programs pair online coursework with clinical hours at a facility near you.
Whichever route you choose, accreditation is the detail that decides everything after it. Only a program accredited by the JRCERT qualifies you to sit for the ARRT exam, which is the gateway to the Iowa permit, so confirm it before you apply anywhere. To line up local and nearby options, Dreambound's radiology technician classes near you let you filter by cost, length, and format, and its online radiology technician classes cover the routes that fit around a job or a commute.
Do You Need a License in Iowa? The Permit to Practice
Yes. Iowa is a permit state, which sets it apart from places that rely on national certification alone. Before you can operate imaging equipment on patients, you need a Permit to Practice from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which regulates roughly 5,000 radiation-equipment operators across the state. Passing the national ARRT exam is what qualifies you for the full permit, so you certify nationally first, then apply to the state.
Iowa also splits the credential into two tiers, and the one you choose decides what you can image and how far your pay can climb.
| Permit | What you can image | How you qualify |
|---|---|---|
| General Radiologic Technologist | Any body part, all radiography | JRCERT program plus the ARRT exam |
| Limited Radiologic Technologist | Chest, spine, extremities, shoulder, and pediatrics only, no CT or fluoroscopy | Shorter training plus the Iowa limited exam |
The limited permit is a faster on-ramp, but it locks you out of CT, fluoroscopy, and the advanced modalities where pay is highest. If your goal is the full career, the general permit is the one worth planning for, and the limited-scope option is best seen as a quick start rather than a destination. Either permit renews on a 2-year cycle with continuing education, 24 hours for the general permit and 12 for the limited one.
How to Become a Radiology Tech in Des Moines
The path from student to permitted technologist in Des Moines follows 3 steps.
First, finish a JRCERT-accredited radiography program, either a hospital-based certificate or a two-year associate degree, including the clinical rotations that place you inside local hospitals. Second, sit for the national ARRT exam. It runs $225, gives you up to 3 attempts across 3 years, and a scaled score of 75 earns the R.T.(R) credential. Third, apply to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services for your Permit to Practice, which is what legally lets you work in the state. From there, you keep both credentials current on a 2-year renewal cycle.
What Training Costs and What You Earn
Cost depends heavily on the route. Hospital-based certificate programs are usually the most affordable, since much of the training happens inside a working hospital, while private college associate degrees run higher. On top of tuition, budget for the ARRT exam at $225, the Iowa permit, a background check, and supplies. The cheapest and fastest radiology technician programs on Dreambound are the quickest way to see which routes cost the least and finish soonest.
The payoff is steady. Radiologic technologists in Iowa earn a median of $65,930 a year, or $31.70 an hour, as of May 2025, and it moves up as you add experience and specialty modalities like CT or MRI. Demand holds steady too, with the field projected to grow about 4 percent through 2034. In the metro, that hiring runs through the large hospital systems and independent imaging groups covered below.
Where Radiology Techs Work in Des Moines
Des Moines is the imaging hub of central Iowa, and radiologic technologists work across its hospitals, outpatient clinics, and dedicated imaging centers. The largest employers include UnityPoint Health and its Iowa Methodist Medical Center, MercyOne Des Moines and its imaging center, Broadlawns Medical Center, and the VA Central Iowa Health Care System. Independent groups like Iowa Radiology and The Iowa Clinic add outpatient imaging roles across West Des Moines, Ankeny, and the wider metro. That mix of hospital and outpatient settings is part of why Des Moines holds most of the state's radiography jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a radiology tech in Iowa?
About 2 years for the standard route. The ARRT certification that Iowa's permit is built on requires at least an associate degree, so most people finish a two-year program, though some hospital-based certificates run about 21 to 24 months. After you graduate and pass the ARRT exam, applying for the Iowa permit takes a few more weeks, and clearing prerequisites first can push the total closer to 3 years.
Is there a radiology tech program in Des Moines?
Yes. The Des Moines area has both hospital-based certificate programs and college associate degrees in radiologic technology, plus online and hybrid options that combine online coursework with local clinical hours. The one thing to confirm is that any program is JRCERT-accredited, since that accreditation is what makes you eligible for the ARRT exam and the Iowa permit.
Who gets paid more, an MRI tech or a radiology tech?
MRI technologists, nationally. The median for MRI techs is about $88,180 a year, compared with $77,660 for radiologic technologists and technicians. MRI is a specialized modality most people add after starting in general radiography, and that added credential is what lifts the pay, so it is a common next step a few years into the career.
What is the fastest way to become a radiology tech in Iowa?
The quickest routes are a hospital-based certificate, which can run about 21 to 24 months, or the Limited Radiologic Technologist permit, which needs shorter training but restricts you to a set list of routine X-rays. The full general permit takes about 2 years, but it is the one that reaches CT, MRI, and the better-paid roles, so the fastest start is not always the one that pays off most.
Choosing Your Radiology Route in Des Moines
The choice in Des Moines comes down to two questions: which route fits your timeline, and which Iowa permit matches your goal. A hospital certificate or a two-year associate both lead to the general permit and the full range of imaging work, while the limited permit trades scope for speed. Keep the permit in mind from the start, because in Iowa it is the step that turns a finished program into an actual job.
Once you know the route you want, compare radiology programs near Des Moines on Dreambound by cost, length, and format, and confirm your pick is JRCERT-accredited before you commit.
