Radiology Technician Classes Near Me in Washington
Radiology technicians in the Washington, DC area earn a median of $97,390 a year, well above the national median for the field, according to May 2025 BLS data. For most imaging jobs in the District, the credential employers look for is certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), which takes an associate degree or higher plus an ARRT-approved radiography program. Washington, DC does not separately license or register radiologic technologists, so ARRT certification is the credential that matters most here. The city's imaging work is concentrated in a dense cluster of teaching hospitals, from MedStar to Children's National. Comparing programs by cost, format, and schedule is the practical first step.
Key Points
- Radiology technicians in the Washington, DC area earn a median of $97,390 a year according to May 2025 BLS data.
- The standard national credential is ARRT certification, which takes an associate degree or higher plus completion of an ARRT-approved radiography program.
- Washington, DC does not license or register radiologic technologists, so employers rely on ARRT certification as the standard credential.
- Most training runs about two years and includes in-person clinical rotations at DC hospitals and imaging centers.
- Employment of radiologic technologists is projected to grow about 4% nationally from 2024 to 2034 according to BLS.
Radiology Technician Salary in Washington, DC
Radiology technicians in the Washington, DC area earn a median of $97,390 a year according to May 2025 BLS data, one of the higher metro medians for the field in the country. Nationally, employment of radiologic technologists is projected to grow about 4% from 2024 to 2034 according to BLS.
Pay varies by employer, experience, and imaging specialty. Many technologists expand their earning potential over time by adding advanced modalities such as CT, MRI, or mammography through additional ARRT certifications.
If those numbers fit your plans, you can compare radiology tech programs in the DC area on Dreambound by length, format, and schedule.
What to Expect from Radiology Tech Programs in the DC Area
Radiography training in the DC area commonly takes about two years and combines classroom instruction with in-person clinical rotations. Many programs lead directly to an associate degree, while some use a certificate-plus-degree structure that still meets ARRT's requirements. To qualify for ARRT certification, you complete an ARRT-approved radiography program and meet ARRT's associate-degree requirement; JRCERT accreditation is one widely recognized route, but not the only pathway ARRT accepts.
The clinical portion cannot be completed fully online. Some didactic coursework may be offered online, but supervised imaging hours happen in person at a hospital or imaging center, which is where you build the hands-on skills the ARRT exam and employers expect.
Dreambound is a free marketplace for comparing healthcare and vocational training, so you can line up DC-area radiography programs side by side by format, length, and schedule instead of checking each school one at a time. Dreambound's 2025 Student Choice and Interest Report ranks radiology technician the fourth most-saved program of 2025, with 1,126 saves, which tells you imaging is a path a lot of career changers are actively weighing.
Radiology Technician Licensing in Washington, DC
No. Washington, DC does not require radiologic technologists to hold a district license. The DC Department of Employment Services points to ARRT certification as the standard credential instead, and most DC employers expect it.
ARRT certification takes an associate degree or higher, completion of an ARRT-approved radiography program, and passing the ARRT exam. Technologists then renew their registration each year and complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to stay current.
Where Radiology Technicians Work in Washington, DC
The District's imaging jobs are concentrated in its large teaching hospitals and health systems. MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, Howard University Hospital, Children's National Hospital, and Sibley Memorial Hospital, part of Johns Hopkins Medicine, all run major imaging departments in the city.
Beyond hospitals, radiology techs work in outpatient imaging centers, orthopedic and cardiology practices, and urgent care clinics across DC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gets paid more, an MRI technologist or a radiology technician?
MRI technologists usually earn more than general radiologic technologists. MRI is a separate imaging specialty with its own ARRT credential; radiographers can move into it through ARRT's postprimary pathway, and ARRT also offers a primary MRI pathway for those who train in it directly. The added specialization tends to come with higher pay.
What is the quickest way to become a radiology technician?
The most common route is about two years of radiography education leading to ARRT eligibility, then the ARRT exam. ARRT requires an associate degree or higher plus an approved radiography program, but those do not have to be the same credential, so some people pair a radiography certificate with a separate degree. People already working in healthcare sometimes shorten the classroom portion by transferring prior college credits.
Is becoming a radiology tech harder than becoming an RN?
They are different rather than strictly harder or easier. Entry-level radiography and associate-degree nursing programs both commonly take about two years, while bachelor's-level nursing runs about four. Radiography centers on imaging, anatomy, positioning, and radiation safety, while nursing covers a broader range of patient care.
If I get certified in Washington, DC, can I work in Maryland or Virginia?
ARRT certification is recognized across the DC metro, but the neighboring states add their own rules. Maryland requires a state radiographer license through its Board of Physicians, and Virginia requires licensure for radiologic technologists working outside exempt hospital, health-system, and affiliated urgent-care settings. If you take a job across the line, add the state credential that matches where you work.
Choosing Your Radiology Technician Path in Washington, DC
Washington, DC is one of the better-paying places in the country to work as a radiologic technologist, and it does not require a state license, so ARRT certification is the main credential to plan around. Getting that clear before you pick a program keeps your training focused on what DC employers actually expect.
When you are ready, compare radiology tech programs in the DC area on Dreambound by length, format, and schedule to find one that fits your timeline and how you want to train.
