Maybe you have spent time working the floor at a casino, checking guests into a hotel, or keeping a restaurant running through the dinner rush. You already know how to stay calm under pressure, read what people need before they say it, and keep moving when things get busy. Maybe you are happy right where you are. Or maybe you are ready for something that pays more, goes further, and does not max out after a few years. Pima Medical Institute’s Radiography Associate Degree Program is built for exactly that kind of move.
The Radiography Associate Degree Program at the Las Vegas campus takes approximately 22 months to complete. It trains you to become an entry-level radiologic technologist, the professional who produces the X-rays, CT scans, and other diagnostic images physicians rely on to diagnose and treat patients, and it prepares you to sit for the national certification exam most employers require before they will hire you. By the time you finish, you will have real clinical experience, the preparation to sit for your ARRT certification exam, and a career path with real room to grow, in a city that needs more people doing exactly this work.
Radiologic Technology in Las Vegas: What the Job Actually Looks Like
Las Vegas is not a typical healthcare market, and three things about this city drive the demand for radiologic technologists here: how many people pass through it, how fast its healthcare system is growing to keep up, and who is choosing to retire here.
A city built around constant imaging demand. Sports injuries on the Strip, accidents, cardiac events in casinos, and medical emergencies at conventions all route through diagnostic imaging before a treatment decision gets made, and in Las Vegas that happens at a scale most cities never see. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority put the city’s 2024 visitor count at approximately 41.7 million, and that volume of people moving through the Strip, conventions, and casino floors is a large part of why. Beyond the emergency cases, the city’s size and density keep routine imaging running around the clock across outpatient clinics, specialty practices, and hospital systems.
A radiology workforce that is not keeping pace with demand. Nevada’s radiologic technologist workforce is projected to grow 23 percent between 2024 and 2034, more than five times the 4 percent national growth rate for the same occupation, according to Projections Central data reported through the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET OnLine. That growth tracks with the state’s broader healthcare outlook: Nevada’s healthcare and social assistance sector is projected to add approximately 37,600 jobs between 2020 and 2030, a 3.1 percent annual growth rate, one of the strongest outlooks of any industry in the state, according to a Nevada DETR long-term industry projections report.
An aging population driving diagnostic demand. In Henderson, just outside Las Vegas, 20.8 percent of residents are 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That age profile brings a steady stream of imaging work that supports aging populations, including cancer screenings, orthopedic evaluations, cardiovascular monitoring, and chronic disease management. It runs on a different rhythm than the emergency cases: scheduled, recurring, and part of what keeps radiologic technologists working year-round.
Our Radiography Associate Degree Program: What You Will Learn
Pima Medical’s Radiography Associate Degree Program moves through six semesters over approximately 22 months. The curriculum builds foundational science and clinical imaging skills in parallel, so by the time you enter your first clinical externship you already understand the anatomy, physics, and patient care principles behind every procedure you perform.
You will cover:
- Anatomy and physiology, in two sequences
- Radiographic physics and exposure principles: the science behind image quality and radiation safety
- Radiographic positioning, in two courses, covering every region of the body
- Patient care methods for preparing, communicating with, and safely positioning patients, including those who are anxious, injured, or medically compromised
- Radiographic biology: how radiation interacts with tissue, and the safety principles that protect you and your patients
- Advanced imaging: CT, MRI, mammography, bone densitometry, and cardiovascular and interventional radiography
- Pathology, in two courses
- Image quality and analysis
- Registry review: dedicated preparation for the ARRT certification examination in your final semester, building directly on the competency standards you were already evaluated against during your clinical externships
- Nevada History and US Constitution (HST 205), required for associate degree completion at the Las Vegas campus
The program also includes medical terminology, algebra, medical law and ethics, communications, and an introduction to psychology, building the professional foundation alongside the clinical one.
1,680 Clinical Hours: How Your Externship Builds Toward Certification
Clinical externships begin in the third semester and run through graduation, totaling 1,680 hours across four externship courses. You will be inside Las Vegas healthcare facilities performing real imaging procedures on real patients under the supervision of licensed radiologic technologists and clinical instructors.
Each externship evaluates you the same way the registry exam eventually will: through hands-on critique, formative and summative assessment, and a clear entry-level competency standard you have to clear before you graduate. By your fourth and final externship, you are being evaluated against the same entry-level competency standard the registry exam measures, not introduced to it for the first time. You are performing real radiographic procedures on real patients, not observing them.
Those hours also place you inside the professional network of Las Vegas healthcare while you are still a student. The technologists and supervisors you work alongside during clinical training are the same community you will draw on when you begin your job search after graduation.
Learn More About Clinical Externships
Hybrid Learning Option
The Radiography program at the Las Vegas campus is available in both on-ground and hybrid formats. In the hybrid format, select foundational coursework is completed online while clinical and lab components take place on campus. That flexibility can make it easier to fit school around work, family, or other commitments, without changing the hands-on training you get in clinic. Your externship hours are always completed in person regardless of which format you choose.
Refer to the Prospective Student Handout at the Las Vegas campus for details on which specific courses are delivered in hybrid format.
Certification and Licensure: Becoming a Radiologic Technologist in Nevada
Graduates of the Radiography Associate Degree Program receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree and are eligible to apply to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination in radiography. The ARRT credential is the nationally recognized standard for radiologic technologists and is required by most employers across the country.
Your final semester includes RAD 299 Registry Review, a dedicated course built specifically to prepare you for the ARRT examination. It follows directly from your four clinical externships: by the time you reach Registry Review, you have already been evaluated against entry-level competency standards in a real clinical setting, so the course is reinforcing and testing readiness you have already built, not introducing the material for the first time.
Nevada also requires radiologic technologists to hold a state license to practice radiologic imaging under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 653, issued through the Nevada Radiation Control Program. License requirements and fees are set by the state and subject to change, so confirm current details directly with the Radiation Control Program before you apply.
Pima Medical’s Radiography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), the recognized accrediting body for radiologic technology programs in the United States. JRCERT accreditation is required in most states for graduates to be eligible to sit for the ARRT examination and pursue licensure.
Continue Your Education
Graduating with an associate degree is the beginning of a career path, not the end of one. Pima Medical offers an online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences designed for ARRT-registered radiologic technologists who want to advance within the field. The program builds directly on your associate degree credits and can be completed entirely online, giving you the flexibility to continue working while you pursue the next level of your education.
What Does It Cost?
The Radiography Associate Degree Program has a total program cost of approximately $55,083* as of July 1, 2026.
*For the most current tuition cost, go to the Las Vegas campus addenda in the Academic Catalog.
Federal financial aid is available for eligible students, including Federal Pell Grants, federal student loans, and scholarships. The financial services team can walk you through what you qualify for and what your out-of-pocket cost looks like after aid.
The Job Outlook for Radiologic Technologists in Nevada
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics* projects employment of radiologic and MRI technologists to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with approximately 15,400 openings projected each year on average over the decade. The median annual wage for radiologic technologists was $77,660 as of May 2024.
Nevada’s outlook points to significantly stronger growth: radiologic technologist positions in the state are projected to increase 23 percent from 2024 to 2034, according to Projections Central data via O*NET OnLine, well ahead of the 3.1 percent annual growth projected for Nevada’s broader healthcare and social assistance sector overall. Graduating from Pima Medical’s Radiography program puts you in one of Nevada’s higher-growth healthcare fields, with a credential that employers across the city are actively requiring.
Is This Program Right for You?
This program is a strong fit if your situation looks like one of these:
- You are looking for an alternative to Las Vegas hospitality, gaming, or service work, and want a healthcare career that offers a professional identity and earnings that reflect your skills
- You recently graduated high school and want a healthcare career you can start building in about two years, not four, with the option to keep building later through online bachelor’s coursework
- You are already working in a healthcare support role such as a medical assistant or phlebotomy technician, or in another clinical capacity, and want to advance into a licensed imaging career
And it works especially well if:
- You are drawn to technical, precision-based work where your attention to detail directly affects the quality of a patient’s diagnosis
- You want a career that is stable enough to build a life around in a city where the cost of living requires it
- You see yourself growing within the field, whether that means cross-training in CT, MRI, or mammography, or eventually pursuing the B.S. in Radiologic Sciences to take on leadership or education roles
You do not need prior healthcare experience to apply, though an interview with the program director or faculty is required as part of the admissions process. Visit our Admissions Requirements page for full details.
Ready to Get Started?
Pima Medical enrolls students regularly at the Las Vegas campus. To learn more about the Radiography Associate Degree Program, visit the program page or call 1-800-477-PIMA to speak with an admissions advisor.
Las Vegas is building its healthcare system. Radiologic technologists are part of that foundation.
