Mammography

Overview

Working in a mammography department at a hospital is a rewarding career for highly trained professionals. Once you have completed your radiography certification and are interested in taking your career to the next level, consider working with breast imaging and mammograms. This one-semester post-radiography advanced certificate is available to graduates of an accredited Radiography program. Adding this credential to your resume may give you an additional opportunity to work in outpatient clinics.

What is Mammography?

A mammography technologist is a professional who has taken steps to become a fully licensed x-ray technologist. This is a specialty area that requires mammography training to perform mammograms, which x-ray images of a person’s breasts for medical screening and diagnostics. Training as a mammographer teaches you how to perform mammography with a mammography machine. Specific training in this discipline follows mandates by the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).

Mammography has been used for 30 years, where technological advancements have improved the technique and results. Mammography cannot prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but if it raises a significant suspicion of cancer, the tissue will be removed for a biopsy.

What does a Mammographer do?

You'll work with sophisticated low-dose x-ray equipment to produce breast screening and diagnostic images. Professional duties include:

• Performing breast imaging procedures.
• Recording a patient's clinical history.
• Preparing patients for procedures.
• Operating and evaluating breast images for technical quality.
• Assisting with interventional procedures and quality control tests.

How do I become a mammography technician?

Mammography is an advanced certificate for the Associate of Applied Science in Radiology program graduates. The program admits candidates in the fall semester. All classes are online or hybrid. For hybrid classes, students are expected to attend occasional face-to-face sessions and any scheduled laboratory experiences at the college combined with clinical experiences at various clinical locations.

How much do Mammography technicians make?

The average Mammography Technologist's salary in the United States is $78,447, but the range typically falls between $71,199 and $85,489.

Training for Mammography

ECC's curriculum incorporates the standards established by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the guidelines set forth by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The curriculum includes the initial Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) training and education requirements. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national certification examination in Mammography. This highly sought-after and competitive certification admits approximately ten part-time and ten full-time applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Full-time students will be given priority for clinical placement.

Is mammography a good career?

Mammography is an additional certification on the resume of a radiographer. Many employers also require professional certification, and with ECC's program, you'll have the advanced credentials to land a job in your field.