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Allied Health · Entry level

CT Technician job description

A CT Technician runs the CT scanner for emergency, inpatient and outpatient scans. They check the request and patient history, prepare and position the patient, choose the protocol and dose, handle contrast with the doctor or nurse, and reconstruct images for the radiologist. Stroke and trauma scans arrive at any hour, so the technician has to work fast without skipping a single safety check.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentAllied Health
LevelEntry level
Reports toChief Radiographer
Direct reportsNone
ExperienceFresher with CT internship, or 1 to 3 years in radiography with CT exposure

CT Technician job description template

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Job title: CT Technician

Department: Allied Health

Reports to: Chief Radiographer

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

A CT Technician runs the CT scanner for emergency, inpatient and outpatient scans. They check the request and patient history, prepare and position the patient, choose the protocol and dose, handle contrast with the doctor or nurse, and reconstruct images for the radiologist. Stroke and trauma scans arrive at any hour, so the technician has to work fast without skipping a single safety check.

Key responsibilities

  • Check every CT request for the clinical question, creatinine value and allergy history before the patient enters the scan room.
  • Explain the scan, remove metal objects, and position patients correctly, using immobilization for children and trauma cases.
  • Select scan protocols and dose settings as per department standards, and adjust them for children and small adults.
  • Prepare the pressure injector and assist the doctor or nurse with IV contrast, watching closely for reactions.
  • Perform CT angiography, stroke protocol and triple-phase studies with correct bolus timing.
  • Reconstruct images, including MPR, MIP and 3D views, and send complete studies to PACS.
  • Scan emergency and trauma patients on priority and inform the radiologist at once about critical findings.
  • Run daily warm-up, air calibration and water phantom checks, and log faults for the service engineer.
  • Maintain the CT register, dose records and contrast usage records.
  • Keep the scan room clean and stocked, including the emergency drug tray for contrast reactions.

Requirements

  • BSc in Radiology and Imaging Technology or Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (DMRIT)
  • CT training certificate or supervised CT experience
  • BLS certification is an advantage
  • Fresher with CT internship, or 1 to 3 years in radiography with CT exposure

KRAs and KPIs for a CT Technician

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
Emergency scan timeStroke CT started within 15 minutes of the patient reaching the CT room in 90 percent of cases
Repeat scansScans repeated because of technician error below 1 percent of studies
Dose controlDoses within department reference levels for 95 percent of routine protocols
Contrast safetyCreatinine and allergy check documented before every contrast scan
Study completenessAll images and reconstructions on PACS before the patient leaves the department
Daily QACalibration and phantom checks logged on every working day

Skills and tools

CT scanning protocolsContrast injection and bolus timingCT angiographyImage reconstruction (MPR, MIP, 3D)Radiation dose awarenessPatient positioningEmergency handlingComposure with trauma patientsAccurate record keeping

Tools used day to day: CT scanner (16 to 128 slice), Pressure contrast injector, Advanced reconstruction workstation, PACS, Radiology information system (RIS), Emergency drug tray.

Reporting line and career path

Chief RadiographerCT Technician

Interview questions for a CT Technician

  1. How would you time contrast for a CT pulmonary angiogram?
  2. A patient's creatinine is 2.1 and the doctor wants a contrast CT. What do you do?
  3. How do you reduce dose for a paediatric abdomen CT?
  4. During injection the patient complains of pain at the IV site. What are your next steps?
  5. What is the difference between MPR and MIP images?
  6. An unconscious trauma patient arrives in a cervical collar. How do you position for head and spine CT?

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Frequently asked questions

What does a CT technician do?

A CT technician prepares and positions patients, selects scan protocols and dose settings, handles contrast injections with the doctor or nurse, performs routine, angiography and emergency scans, reconstructs images for the radiologist and keeps daily quality checks and registers.

What qualification is needed to become a CT technician?

Most hospitals ask for a BSc in Radiology and Imaging Technology or a radiography diploma such as DMRIT, plus supervised training on CT. Freshers with a CT internship are hired for day shifts first, and move to independent night duty after they are signed off.

Is CT scan work risky for technicians?

CT uses X-rays, so there is occupational exposure, but technicians work from a shielded console room and wear TLD badges that record dose every quarter. With shielding, distance and time rules, doses stay low. The larger daily risks are lifting patients and handling contrast reactions.