Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) are frontline healthcare professionals who perform medical imaging and/or radiation therapy procedures and apply prescribed forms of energy (ionizing radiation or electromagnetism) to patients for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. MRTs play a significant role in B.C.’s healthcare system. They perform millions of procedures each year that contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of health conditions.
Within the medical radiation technology profession, there are four unique disciplines, each with their own national certification. Upon successful completion of the certification requirements, candidates earn the right of appending the appropriate discipline-specific professional designation to their name:
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- Registered Technologist, Radiological Technology, (RTR)
- Registered Technologist, Magnetic Resonance, (RTMR)
- Registered Technologist, Nuclear Medicine, (RTNM)
- Registered Radiation Therapist, (RTT)
Once certified, MRTs can build on their clinical skills by completing additional education and training to obtain a specialty certificate in practice areas such as computed tomography (CT), breast imaging, interventional radiology (IR), positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), dosimetry and more.
Meet Some of B.C.’s Medical Radiation Technologists
…and discover the vital importance of MRTs to the healthcare system.
“I am proud to say that being a Radiological Technologist is very rewarding. I have the best of both worlds – I continuously learn and I help people. This job is never boring. Every day, I assist patients with different diagnostic imaging needs. While it is enjoyable working with advanced imaging equipment and continuously expanding my skills, the best part is caring for patients and making a difference in their lives. It is a great feeling going home each day knowing I served patients in need and provided support to make them as comfortable as possible during their visits.”
There are dozens of community-based clinics across the province where MRTs can be found providing vital medical imaging services to patients.
“A Computed Tomography (CT) scan is often one of the first lines of assessment for a patient who arrives to the emergency room (ER) after experiencing a traumatic injury or other medical emergency. Potentially one of the highest in demand of all medical imaging modalities, CT scanners often run 24/7 and CT Technologists work around the clock to provide urgent scans. I have been working the night shift at Victoria General Hospital for the past year. As the trauma center for Vancouver Island, it is never a dull moment. While my job is very technical and involves working with the latest in medical imaging technologies, patient care also plays a large role, as I see people at their most vulnerable states. I enjoy collaborating with professionals from all different specialties to provide the best care possible for patients.”
In 2021-22, B.C.’s CT Technologists performed 901,256+ CT exams – the most ever in B.C. – making a significant impact on the lives of patients in need of a CT scan.
Learn more about the MRT profession
Computed Tomography (CT) Technologists are expertly trained MRTs who produce cross-sectional images of the body using a CT scanner. The CT Imaging Certificate (CTIC) provided by the CAMRT identifies technologists who have met a nationally recognized standard in their practice of CT.
“What initially attracted me to being a mobile Screening Mammographer was the travel. British Columbia is a beautiful province and I’m grateful to have a career that allows me to see the beauty of our province first-hand as I visit and work in the communities. Now, my favourite part of my job is meeting the locals. They share stories about how their mammographers put them at ease during their visits or how their mammogram detected their breast cancer – or the breast cancer of a loved one – early. I have a fulfilling career as a mobile mammographer because I have a positive impact on so many people. I make an important medical service accessible to communities that otherwise would not have access to breast screening.”
B.C.’s mobile screening mammographers visit more than 170 rural communities and help improve access to breast screening services in the province.
Learn more about the MRT profession
Breast Imaging Technologists (or mammographers) are expertly trained MRTs who produce images of the breast. The Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic (CBID) and Certificate in Breast Imaging – Screening (CBIS) provided by the CAMRT identifies technologists who have met a nationally recognized standard in their practice of Breast Imaging.
“As an Interventional Radiology (IR) Technologist, I work alongside a diverse and talented group of healthcare professionals and have endless opportunities to learn and grow. Each day introduces different procedures and challenges. My duties range from scrubbing in for sterile procedures, providing optimal imaging while minimizing radiation levels, and improving departmental processes to educating and comforting patients. It’s a uniquely balanced job; I get to work with ever changing technology, while also connecting with patients on a personal level. I experience an immense level of job satisfaction providing high quality care and being directly involved in a patient’s diagnosis or treatment. Each day, I get to make a positive difference for the patients that enter our room.”
B.C.’s MRTs are expertly trained to ensure only the minimum amount of radiation necessary is used to produce high quality x-ray images.
Learn more about the MRT profession
Interventional Radiology (IR) Technologists are expertly trained MRTs who work collaboratively as part of the IR team. The Certificate in Interventional Radiology (CIR) provided by the CAMRT identifies technologists who have met a nationally recognized standard in their practice of IR.
“I work in a very busy MRI department where we see inpatients, outpatients, and emergency patients. Our team of MRI Technologists operate 2 MRI scanners, 24 hours a day, scanning about 50 patients per day – and we’ll soon be adding a third scanner. Working in MRI is a technical job that requires technologists to constantly optimize scans while preserving image resolution and quality. Since MRI scans can be long, noisy, and confining, some patients may have anxiety during their scans. We have tools to help make patients feel more comfortable throughout their exam and to ensure we get proper images. It is personally gratifying to contribute to patient care by providing in-depth anatomical imaging.”
In 2021-22, B.C.’s MRI Technologists performed 296,211+ MRI exams – the most ever in B.C. – and worked more evenings, weekends, and holidays to help patients get their scans sooner.
“I have been working as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist for over 20 years, with over 8 years in B.C. and the rest of my career across Canada and internationally. Throughout this time, I’ve had the opportunity to build connections and interact with many people, which helps me to continuously evolve as a professional. Applying my expertise to plan procedures and provide high quality images makes this career dynamic and interesting. With rapidly evolving technology and advances in healthcare, there is always something new to learn – and this gives me a high level of satisfaction with my work.”
MRI scans provide detailed information about soft tissue structures inside the body that may not be visible on X-rays or CT scans.
“At BC Children’s Hospital, MRI Technologists are expertly trained to provide high quality scans while collaborating with the entire healthcare team to create a caring and supportive environment. We understand that parents and families may be putting on a brave face for their little ones who are oftentimes very seriously ill or injured. Our team takes a compassionate and empathetic approach to provide the best imaging and diagnoses for pediatric patients from across the province. With patience, encouragement, and fun, imaging pediatric patients is a rewarding and challenging job that is never boring.”
MRI Technologists produce high quality images while creating a caring and supportive environment for pediatric patients and their families.
Learn more about the MRT profession
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologists are expertly trained MRTs who produce cross-sectional images of the body using an MRI scanner.
“As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, I administer radioactive tracers to show organ functioning, such as artery blockages in the heart or microscopic bone fractures. This makes nuclear medicine unique from other types of medical imaging – where x-rays can demonstrate structural changes of tissues and organs, for example, nuclear medicine primarily shows the functioning. I like how multifaceted my job can be, from operating modern medical imaging equipment and making radioactive tracers in the “hot lab” to collaborating with the cardiology team in the stress lab. What I find most rewarding, however, is providing quality patient care. With relatively long preparation and scan times, I have the opportunity to connect with patients in the hopes of making an often stressful trip to the hospital a little less scary.”
Nuclear Medicine Technologists administer radioactive tracers and take images to show how specific organs or tissue types are functioning.
“Did you know the radioactivity used for patients in nuclear medicine departments is prepared every morning by Nuclear Medicine Technologists? Having a laboratory rotation is one of my favorite things about my job! Most departments have only 1-3 gamma cameras with a small circle of coworkers that operate them. The tight-knit group of staff working together to provide excellent patient care is one of the best parts about being a nuclear medicine technologist!”
The radioactivity used for patients having nuclear medicine scans is prepared each morning by expertly trained Nuclear Medicine Technologists.
“PET/CT scanners allow us to see the body’s function at a cellular level by administering a specific radioactive tracer, usually by injection; this technology enables us to map out specific body processes and diagnose disease, such as cancer. PET/CT in British Columbia is currently used for oncology imaging (diagnosing and monitoring cancer), but new tracer development has expanded our field from imaging alone to also delivering treatment. This emerging field is called theranostics, in which PET/CT scanning plays a significant role. Once the cancer is diagnosed using tracers bound to receptors on the target cancer cells, we can now administer another tracer that targets and kills these cells, thereby delivering treatment and improving patient outcomes. With ongoing advances in technology and research transforming our practice, it’s a fascinating time to be a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in the PET/CT field.”
In 2021-22, B.C.’s Nuclear Medicine Technologists performed 15,330 PET/CT scans at Victoria, Vancouver, and Kelowna Cancer Centres.
Learn more about the MRT profession
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) allows functional images from PET scans to be mapped to anatomic images from CT scans. The PET/CT Certificate provided by the CAMRT identifies technologists who have met a nationally recognized standard in their practice of PET/CT.
“While the job is highly technical, there is an equally important patient care component to radiation therapy, which I find most rewarding. Radiation treatment can last one to several weeks and Radiation Therapists see their patients almost every day during their treatment. As caring professionals, we get to know our patients’ stories and collaborate with the oncology team to help patients through their cancer journey. We use our expertise to provide education, reassurance, and holistic care to help ease anxiety. One of the best parts of the job is experiencing the joy in our patients after they complete all their treatments! Developing ongoing rapport built on compassion and knowing I am making a difference every day I step into work makes radiation therapy a fulfilling career.”
About half of patients with cancer get radiation therapy as part of their treatment.
“Radiation Therapists are involved in planning and delivering radiation therapy treatments to patients. The field has a large interdisciplinary aspect to it, as radiation therapists work together with oncologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to support patients throughout their cancer care journeys. Radiation therapy is always evolving – and I find it rewarding to be constantly learning; however, one of the best parts about my role is developing relationships with patients and supporting them throughout their treatments. This can be a scary time for patients and being able to make each patient’s journey more enjoyable is extremely gratifying.”
350+ Radiation Therapists work across B.C.’s six regional cancer centres as vital members of the cancer care team.
“Working as a Treatment Planner in radiation therapy is a rewarding experience. I get to be a member of a multidisciplinary team that works hard to generate high quality treatment plans for patients. Although creating a treatment plan can follow a similar process from patient to patient, each patient is unique and so is their treatment plan. Having a direct impact on patient care – even from behind the scenes – is a rewarding experience.”
In 2021-22, B.C.’s Radiation Therapists treated 13,879 patients at 222,330 radiation therapy appointments.
Learn more about the MRT profession
Treatment planning is one of the first steps in the radiation therapy treatment process. Radiation therapists who work in this area are called Treatment Planners, or Dosimetrists. The Dosimetry Certificate (CDC) provided by the CAMRT identifies radiation therapists who have met a nationally recognized standard in their practice of Dosimetry.
The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) is the National professional association and certifying body for medical radiation technologists in Canada. CAMRT-BC is a unit of the association which represents MRTs in British Columbia. The association promotes and advocates the value of the profession and delivers programs and initiatives to support MRTs in providing quality patient care.