RADIOLOGY ASSISTANT

The only college in Latvia training specialists in this field!

Qualification: Radiology assistant
Code of the study programme: 41722
Length of studies: 3 years, 180 ECTS

Studies on budget resources provided by the state

Level of Education: short cycle of professional higher education
Studies take place: Jūrmala (Vidus prospekts 38, Bulduri)
Study implementation: full time studies
Previous education: secondary education
Head of study program: Mg.sc.educ. Elita Rutka

Speciality description

Radiology assistant is a medical person, who performs radiological procedures or diagnostic radiology examinations, providing radiation protection and security, radiation dose optimisation, as well as patient care in diagnostic radiology, nuclear diagnostics and radiation therapy in health care institutions.
Radiology assistant is responsible for his/her professional activity and its quality, co-operates with a doctor – radiologist, radiographers and other medical specialists, engaging in work planning, management and evaluation.

Main professional tasks for a Radiology assistant

Patient care in radiology
Radiology assistant has a special role in ensuring patient security and welfare, preparation and protection of the patient against ionizing radiation, performing diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures in radiology.

The use of diagnostic imaging technology
Radiology assistant is a specialist in diagnostic imaging in radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, radionuclide diagnostics.

Radiation dose optimization
Radiology assistant is responsible for radiation safety and protection for the patient.
From the knowledge, skills and competence of the radiology assistant depends the quality of the examination and its radiation dose, which the patient receives during the examination.

Clinical responsibility
The main competence and responsibility of the radiology assistant is to evaluate and initiate any imaging diagnostic examination method, according to the clinical situation and indications, to evaluate and analyse the performed work after the examination.

Quality assurance of work
Radiology assistant is responsible for his/her professional activity and its quality, performing any diagnostic examination or procedure connected with radiology.

Precise organisation of one’s work
According to the position held, the radiology assistant must be responsible for the precise and efficient organization of the work, considering all provisions of legislation of Latvia.

Development of education and skills
Radiology assistant continuously contributes to the development of his/her industry,

Study program goal

To prepare competent professional specialists in radiography, who are fulfilling modern requirements in radionuclide diagnostics and invasive radiology for operating with modern digital technologies and methods in radiology and nuclear diagnostics, at the same time ensuring the development of students' personalities and providing them with the opportunity to improve themselves professionally.

Study program practical implementation

Study process, according to the study program, is organized on the premises of the college, pre-clinic offices, laboratories, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University hospital and Riga Eastern Clinical University hospital in diagnostic radiology centres, which are the material and technical base for the program.

Practice is organized, based on mutual agreements with Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University hospital, Children's Clinical University Hospital, East Clinical University Hospital and regional hospitals.

Study courses

Study courses:
Radiation physics; Environment protection, radiation safety and dosimetry, medical equipment in radiology; Quality assurance and control in radiography; Technical standards for procedures; Introduction to radiology methods; Radiography in pediatrics; English terminology in radiography; Radiological anatomy; Radiography, imaging; Skeletal radiography, projection training; Patient care in radiology; Introduction to radiation therapy; Systems radiography; Radiography specialty and basic ethical principles.

General education study courses:
Business; Psychology and pedagogy; Computer science; Cell biology; Civil protection; Anatomy and physiology; Immunopathology and radiological pharmacology; General medicine; Latin terminology; Emergency and disaster medicine; General pathophysiology and pharmacology; Numerical methods; Research; Ergonomics; Working with a digital database; Behavioral medicine.

Collaboration partners

Association of Radiographers and Radiology Assistants of Latvia; Radiologist association of Latvia, European Federation of Radiographer Societies; International Society of Radiographers & Radiological Technologists; association of Radiology and Radio Therapy technicians, and Nuclear Medicine of Portugal (Associação Portuguesa dos Técnicos de Radiologia, Radioterapia e Medicina Nuclear); Association of Radiology Technicians of Lithuania (Lietuvos radiologijos technologų asociacija); Association of Radiology Technicians of Estonia (Eesti Radioloogiatehnikute Ühing); IRPA (Internationa Radiation Protection Organisation); IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).

Possibilities in labour market

Radiology is one of the medical sectors that has been developing very rapidly in recent years with the entry of sophisticated digital technologies into the labour market, and there is an urgent need for well-trained professionals, taught in correspondence with professional requirements provided by this education programme.

Further possibilities of studies

Professional Bachelor’s study programme “Radiography” (7. semester) of the University of Latvia Faculty of Medicine.