All six programs accepting Washington residents are built around ARRT certification requirements, meaning graduates are eligible to sit for the exam and pursue state licensure. Programs run 21 months to three years, with tuition ranging from $12,000 to $19,000 depending on the school.
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Which radiology tech programs should Washington students compare first?
Six Washington radiology tech options cover JRCERT-accredited, ARRT-focused, and state-approved pathways. The table below ranks them by total cost. Click a name to jump to the detailed write-up.
| Program | Length | Tuition | Credential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima Valley College — Radiologic Sciences AAS | 2 yr | $12,000–$19,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Spokane Community College — Radiology Technology AAS | 21 mo | $14,000–$20,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Olympic College — Radiologic Technology | 2 yr | $13,000–$21,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Tacoma Community College — Radiologic Science AAS | 3 yr | $15,000–$22,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Bellevue College — Radiologic Technology AAS | 23 mo | $15,000–$22,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Pima Medical Institute — Radiography Associate Degree | 2 yr | $47,000–$56,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
Yakima Valley College — Radiologic Sciences AAS
- Cost:
- $12,000–$19,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- ARRT-focused radiologic sciences program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
YVC is the central Washington option with an eight-quarter radiologic sciences sequence and published ARRT exam eligibility language. It is a strong fit if Yakima clinical geography is better than commuting west for labs and rotations.
View program at Yakima Valley College →Spokane Community College — Radiology Technology AAS
- Cost:
- $14,000–$20,000
- Length:
- 21 mo
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiology technology program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
SCC is the eastern Washington anchor: seven quarters, a fall start, and published ARRT eligibility language. It is especially relevant if you want a public program outside the Seattle-Tacoma corridor.
View program at Spokane Community College →Olympic College — Radiologic Technology
- Cost:
- $13,000–$21,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- Washington SBCTC-approved program; ARRT/JRCERT approval path in progress
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
Olympic College is the newest and riskiest comparison item because its public page says the ARRT/JRCERT approval process is still in progress. Keep it on the list if Poulsbo is geographically ideal, but verify the current approval status before you enroll.
View program at Olympic College →Tacoma Community College — Radiologic Science AAS
- Cost:
- $15,000–$22,000
- Length:
- 3 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiologic science program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
TCC is the most complete public comparison point in the south Puget Sound, with a full-time AAS sequence and JRCERT accreditation. Its selective application process makes deadlines important, but the outcome data and licensure disclosures are unusually transparent.
View program at Tacoma Community College →Bellevue College — Radiologic Technology AAS
- Cost:
- $15,000–$22,000
- Length:
- 23 mo
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- Washington licensure-disclosed program; ARRT national certification preparation
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
Bellevue offers an eight-quarter, 23-month AAS with extensive clinical education around the eastside healthcare market. It is selective, but it is one of the most recognizable Washington radiologic technology routes.
View program at Bellevue College →Pima Medical Institute — Radiography Associate Degree
- Cost:
- $47,000–$56,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiography program; ABHES institutional accreditation
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
Pima Seattle is the private-school alternative for students who want a career-college cohort and can absorb a higher tuition tier. Its JRCERT accreditation listing is the key reason it belongs in a serious Washington radiography comparison.
View program at Pima Medical Institute →Which radiology tech credential should you pursue?
Radiology tech programs should prepare you for ARRT radiography certification and any state licensure step required where you plan to work.
| Credential | Issuing body | Exam cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RT(R) Registered Technologist in Radiography | ARRT | $225 application fee | The core credential most entry-level radiologic technologist jobs expect. |
| JRCERT Programmatic accreditation | JRCERT | No student exam fee | Students who want a radiography program reviewed specifically against radiologic technology standards. |
| State license Radiologic technologist license | State agency | Varies by state | Required in many states after ARRT certification or as part of the same application path. |
| Postprimary CT, MRI, mammography, and other specialties | ARRT | Varies by exam | Radiographers who want to specialize after earning the core RT(R) credential. |
Credential and program-accreditation sources: ARRT, and JRCERT.
How much do radiology tech programs cost in Washington?
Radiology technology programs in this comparison range from $12,000 to $56,000 total, depending almost entirely on whether the school is a subsidized state community college or a private career institute.
All six programs prepare students for ARRT Radiography certification, but institutional type drives cost more than curriculum. The table below shows where each price tier comes from.
| Tier | Tuition range | What you get | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington state community college, lower cost | $12,000–$19,000 | Tuition at an in-state public college covering ARRT Radiography prep through a JRCERT-accredited or ARRT-focused AAS program, with FAFSA federal aid eligibility. | Yakima Valley College |
| Washington state community college, mid cost | $13,000–$22,000 | Tuition at an in-state public college covering ARRT Radiography prep through a JRCERT-accredited AAS program, with FAFSA federal aid eligibility and clinical placement included in program structure. | Tacoma Community College |
| Washington state community college, higher cost | $15,000–$22,000 | Tuition at an in-state public college covering ARRT national certification preparation through a Washington licensure-disclosed AAS program, with FAFSA federal aid eligibility. | Bellevue College |
| Private JRCERT-accredited career institute | $47,000–$56,000 | Tuition at a private, for-profit institute covering ARRT Radiography prep through a JRCERT-accredited associate degree program with ABHES institutional accreditation, and FAFSA federal aid eligibility. | Pima Medical Institute |
How do you become a radiology tech in Washington?
- 1
Choose an accredited radiography program
education2-4 weeks · $0 (research only)
Washington has 6 accredited radiography programs to choose from, including options at community colleges and universities across the state. Compare factors like program length, clinical site locations, tuition costs, and ARRT pass rates before applying.
- 2
Complete classroom and clinical training
training licensing18-30 mo · Varies by program
Radiography programs in Washington typically combine on-campus coursework in anatomy, patient care, and imaging technology with hands-on clinical hours at local hospitals or imaging centers. Most programs require around 1,800 clinical hours before you're eligible to sit for the licensing exam.
- 3
Pass ARRT radiography exam and apply for licensure
career1-3 months · $225+ state fees
After graduating, you'll register for the ARRT radiography exam ($225 fee) and pass a background check before applying for your Washington state radiologic technologist license through the Department of Health. Most graduates complete this process within 1 to 3 months of finishing their program.
Do you need a license to work as a radiology tech in Washington?
Washington requires radiologic technologists to hold a state license before practicing. The Washington State Department of Health issues this license, and applicants must graduate from a program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and pass the ARRT certification exam before the state will approve them to work. The ARRT credential in Radiography is the one hiring managers look for first, and most Washington programs are built around meeting both that exam's requirements and the state application checklist. The current postings below show exactly which credentials and experience levels Washington employers are listing right now.
What is the Washington job market like for radiology techs?
We pulled the most recent radiology tech postings open to Washington residents from Indeed, employer career sites, and relevant professional job boards. The numbers below summarize roughly 1,560 postings from the last 90 days; the three sample postings further down are representative examples we analyzed to figure out what employers actually require.
Top-level findings: median posted pay is $86,870, 0% of roles are remote or remote-eligible, and the largest employers hiring right now include MultiCare Health System, Providence, UW Medicine.
Sources: posting count from Indeed; median salary from BLS OEWS 29-2034.
Sample postings analyzed below
All three postings converge on the same credential stack: ARRT Radiography certification, a Washington State Radiologic Technologist license, and current BLS. Those three items appear to be the floor, not a differentiator. Beyond credentials, every employer expects hands-on competency in patient positioning, exposure factor selection, and radiation safety documentation.
MultiCare spells out that techs are responsible for "selecting exposure factors, maintaining radiation protection, and producing images that meet department quality standards." Providence frames the safety side through "ALARA radiation principles" and adds explicit expectation around "communicating with radiologists and ordering providers," which signals that soft skills and care-team integration matter, not just technical execution.
All three roles are fully onsite, which matches the 0% remote rate across the broader Washington market. UW Medicine is the only posting that calls out "trauma and operating room imaging exposure" as valued experience, suggesting that Seattle-area hospital roles may set a higher practical bar than community health settings. Still, the experience floor across all three appears to be entry-to-mid level, with no posting specifying a minimum number of years.
If you are choosing a program, prioritize one that gets you ARRT-eligible, includes a Washington-recognized clinical site, and offers OR or trauma rotations before graduation.
FAQ
Can I work full-time while enrolled in any of these programs?
None of these programs publish a part-time or working-student track, and clinical rotations in radiography programs typically require daytime availability. Contact each program directly to ask about scheduling flexibility before assuming full-time work is possible.
Do these programs accept FAFSA?
Yes, all six programs accept FAFSA, including Pima Medical Institute.
Will an out-of-state program count for Washington employers?
Washington state licenses radiologic technologists based on ARRT certification, not where you attended school. All six programs lead to ARRT Radiography eligibility, so graduates can apply for a Washington license regardless of where the program is located.
How long until I can sit for the ARRT radiography exam?
Program lengths range from 21 months at Spokane Community College to 3 years at Tacoma Community College. You become eligible to sit for the ARRT exam after completing your program's required coursework and clinical hours.