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Radiographer

Healthcare

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Allied Health

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
  2. 2Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
  3. 3Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
  4. 4Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
  5. 5Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
  6. 6Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
  7. 7Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
  8. 8Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
  9. 9Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
  10. 10Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
  11. 11Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
  12. 12Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
  13. 13Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
  14. 14Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
  15. 15Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
  16. 16Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
  17. 17Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
  18. 18Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
  19. 19Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
  20. 20Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
  21. 21Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
  22. 22Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
  23. 23Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
  24. 24Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
  25. 25Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
  26. 26Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
  27. 27Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • RT
  • DRT
  • ENDT
  • CT RT
  • RT (R)
  • CT Tech
  • EEG Tech
  • RAD Tech
  • X-Ray Tech
  • Skiagrapher

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationAssociate's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BiologyDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Medicine and Dentistry85%

    BiologyChemistry

  • Customer and Personal Service83%
  • English Language83%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics78%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Administrative70%

    Business

  • Education and Training68%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never
  • Time spent sittingA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

11%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Medical Laboratory Technologist

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue