There are many schools in many states where you can get trained to be a radiologic technologist (the proper term for a x-ray tech). Before you can attend a RT program, you will need to attend and complete certain college level prerequisite courses. I spent 1.5 years at my local community college, then went to a RT program. You can attend a hospital based program (and earn a certificate), a 2 year college program (AS degree), and even a 4 year college program (BS degree). The hospital based programs are the least expensive, and honestly, I think the education received there is superior. Once you graduate and take your registry exam, no future employer is going to care what type of educational program you went through. All they care about is your license. You can find an accredited RT program at this site. Just search "radiography" and your state...links are provided which will give you additional information on each program (cost, duration of program, contact person):
http://www.jrcert.org/cert/Search.jsphttp://www.arrt.org/index.html?content=http://www.arrt.org/nd/listOfSchools.ndm/listSchools&iframe=yes I am unsure if any of these programs are near Texarkana. But, if you attend a program which is not on this list, upon graduation you will be qualified to become a limited permit tech. Don't waste your time or money on this one. A limited permit tech will have a hard time finding a job, as an employer wants a RT, who is capable of completing all types of examinations. If you are able to find a job, your pay will be significantly less than that of a RT.
RTs do more than just x-rays of bones. We do fluoroscopy studies (involving the intestinal tract and barium), arthrograms (assisting the radiologist with injecting contrast or dye into joints for evaluation) and myelograms (assisting the radiologist with injecting contrast into the spinal canal). If you work in a hospital setting, you will do portable exams in ICU, CCU, the ER and even surgery. Some RTs take x-rays in the morgue. A limited permit techs are not able to legally do most, if any, of these procedures.
Most RTs will also become proficient and licensed in other modalities, such as mammography, CT and/or MRI. This training does not require any additional formal training, and is usually learned on the job. The more licenses you have, the more money you can make, as you will be in higher demand. With additional schooling, you can also do ultrasound. A limited permit tech will not have these opportunities for advancement.