Health

Radiographer

Radiographers take X-rays and other scans, such as CT, MRI and ultrasound, so doctors can see inside the body and find what is wrong.

In an X-ray room, a radiographer in a white uniform, hairnet and mask lines up a patient's splinted leg on the table under the X-ray tube while a colleague looks on.
Photo: Happi Raphael, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Badge on a uniform, writing on a uniform pocket and a label on the X-ray tube blurred; a bystander cropped out; brightened, cropped to 3:2 and resized to 1000 px wide.

At a glance

Pay

In July 2025, Black River Hospital, a public hospital, advertised a Medical Imaging Practitioner post (grade HPC/MIP 1) at J$3,241,533 to J$3,853,164 a year, plus allowances. Pay changes, so check the current figure.

Southern Regional Health Authority, Job advert: Medical Imaging Practitioner (HPC/MIP 1), Black River Hospital (closed 25 July 2025), checked Oct 2026

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Years of study

UWI's BSc in Radiological Sciences takes four years if you major in X-ray and CT or X-ray and MRI, and five years if you major in X-ray and nuclear medicine, radiotherapy or ultrasound.

The University of the West Indies, Mona, Faculty of Medical Sciences: Bachelor of Science in Radiological Sciences (programme page), checked Oct 2026

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Jobs

Steady, with a constant need for radiographers trained in MRI scanning

The University of the West Indies, Mona, Short Courses: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), SCMD1034, checked Oct 2026

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The path

  1. Your CSEC subjects and where to study

    BSc Radiological Sciences

    The University of the West Indies, Mona

    You need: 6 CSEC passes (grade III or better), including English A, Mathematics, Biology and Physics and Three CAPE subjects (both units): Biology, Mathematics or Physics, and one other

    The University of the West Indies, Mona, Entry Requirements (by faculty), checked Oct 2026

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  2. Your licence

    Radiographers must be registered with their council before they work in Jamaica, even for one day.

    Ministry of Health and Wellness, Professional Registration for Short Term Volunteers (updated June 2024), checked Oct 2026

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  3. Your first job

    UWI says qualified radiographers usually work in hospitals and clinics, and hospital work may include night or emergency duty.

    The University of the West Indies, Mona, School of Medical Radiation Technology: BSc Diagnostic Imaging (Radiography), General Information 2018/2019 (brochure), checked Oct 2026

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    A 2025 public hospital advert for a Medical Imaging Practitioner asked for a first degree in diagnostic imaging, registration with the Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine, and at least one year of experience.

    Southern Regional Health Authority, Job advert: Medical Imaging Practitioner (HPC/MIP 1), Black River Hospital (closed 25 July 2025), checked Oct 2026

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    That job includes general X-rays and other scans, emergency X-rays outside normal working hours, and X-rays at the bedside and during operations.

    Southern Regional Health Authority, Job advert: Medical Imaging Practitioner (HPC/MIP 1), Black River Hospital (closed 25 July 2025), checked Oct 2026

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    Once you are qualified, you can train further: UWI Mona runs a 24-week Graduate Certificate in MRI scanning.

    The University of the West Indies, Mona, Short Courses: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), SCMD1034, checked Oct 2026

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Sources for these sections

No AI writes these facts. Each one comes from the source named under it and is checked again every year.