How to Become a PACS Analyst
Step by Step Guide on what to learn and how to enter the field of Imaging Informatics
How to become a PACS Administrator
Even if you’re starting from scratch.
At PACS Bootcamp, our goal is to help individuals like you learn about imaging informatics through self-study.
This step-by-step guide shows you how to break into imaging informatics. You’ll learn what the role entails, what to study, how to get certified, and how to land your first job. Learn for free, or sign up for our premium courses.
If you have a strong radiology background and are tech savvy, with both hardware and software, you can add value to the field and the institution you serve by becoming a strong imaging informatics candidate.
The field deserves professionals with both strong clinical and IT backgrounds, and in many cases it’s rare to find someone who has both. If you’d like to become one of that rare breed, let us guide you on your self-study journey.
Heard about this job but not sure what it entails?
If you’re like the rest of us in radiology or imaging, you may have seen PACS administrators on the floor and in the reading rooms. But you’re not exactly sure what their job entails. You know it has to do with computers, walking around with a cool badge and telling radiologists what to do. Seemingly.
So what does a PACS admin actually do?
PACS is the system hospitals use to store, move and view medical images. The PACS admin keeps it running.
You’ll see a few job titles used interchangeably. They typically break down like this:
- PACS AdministratorHandles daily operations. Keeps images moving, resolves errors and supports users.
- PACS AnalystProject based. Leads implementations such as system upgrades, new modality installs and software rollouts.
- Radiology Systems AnalystThe analyst role across all radiology systems, including the RIS, voice dictation and dose reporting.
For most of us, it’s a lifelong career with room to grow and lateral moves into related roles.
Day-to-day tasks
- Support radiologists and clinical staffMaintain reading workstation hardware and software. Manage system upgrades and maintenance, which often happen after hours to minimize disruption.
- Maintain image flowEnsure studies transmit from each modality (CT, MRI, X-ray) to PACS and are associated with the correct patient.
- Correct study errorsResolve misfiled or mismatched studies so every image is attached to the correct patient record.
- Troubleshoot connectivityDiagnose and resolve communication failures between modalities and PACS by verifying DICOM configuration and network settings.
Project-based work
- Procure new systemsHelp pick the next PACS or radiology software before the hospital buys it.
- Lead implementations and upgradesRun go-lives, upgrades and migrations from kickoff to cleanup.
- Train the usersShow the techs and radiologists how the new system works.
- Plan for downtime and recoveryMake sure there’s a plan for when the system goes down.
Now that you know more about the roles in Imaging Informatics, does this sound like a career path for you? The next step is to figure out where you stand, so you can break into the field with an entry-level PACS job.
Where are you starting from?
Begin with an honest self-evaluation. Figure out which bucket you fit into, so you know which pieces you’re missing. Pick your path below.
I work in healthcare
X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound or nuc med tech, or another clinical role.
See your plan ↓Hide your plan ↑From the scanner room to the PACS team.
About six monthsWhat you already have
- You know the modalities and how techs use them
- You speak the language: terminology, anatomy, protocols
- You know the radiology workflow, from the order to the report
- You’ve probably called the PACS admin yourself, so you know what breaks
What you need to learn
- Networking: IP addresses, ports, VPNs, how devices talk to each other
- Servers and operating systems: Windows, Linux, basic troubleshooting
- DICOM: how images get from the modality to PACS
- HL7: how orders and results move between the RIS, the EHR and PACS
- 1FirstDecide if you want to get certified
We recommend it. The ABII’s CIIP credential shows employers you know the field, and it’s a big plus in interviews. Check the eligibility requirements so you know when you can sit for the exam. If you’re a registered tech, you may already qualify. If you go for it, the Ultimate IIP Bundle covers your prep and CE credits. It comes up in step 7.
- 2Start nowRead Practical Imaging Informatics
If you only read one book, make it this one. It covers the medical and IT sides of the job, and its chapters follow the CIIP exam topics.
- 3Before you commitDecide if this role is right for you
You’re here because you’re interested in the job. But there’s a good chance you don’t know what a normal day looks like yet. Most people don’t until they’re in it. Before you put months into studying, try it. The free Sandbox preview lets you see the work for yourself.
- 4Week 1Set your dates
Pick a date to finish training and a date to start applying, around month 5. Put both on your calendar.
- 5Months 1 to 3IT basics
Work through IT Basics 101 and start studying for Network+. If Network+ feels like a lot, start with A+.
- 6Months 3 to 5DICOM and HL7
This is the core of the job, and where your clinical background pays off fastest.
- 7Months 4 to 5Prepare for the CIIP
If you’re eligible, or close, this is the time to prep. The Ultimate IIP Bundle has everything: the IIP Study Guide, the Practice Exam, the DICOM Lab and a month of Sandbox access. Its CE credits count toward your eligibility too.
- 8Months 4 to 5Test yourself
The free practice quizzes show you where you’re solid and what to go back to. Want a full 100-question run before exam day? The Premium Practice Exam is included in the bundle, or you can buy it on its own.
- 9Month 5 onApply
Start before you feel ready. Ask to be your department’s PACS super-user in the meantime. Moving up from inside is often the easiest way in.
Your reading list
Practical Imaging Informatics (SIIM)Covers the medical and IT sides. Its chapters follow the CIIP exam topics.See it on Amazon
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)Networking is daily work in PACS. Pair it with Professor Messer’s free videos.See it on Amazon
CompTIA A+ (220-1201 / 220-1202)PCs, operating systems and troubleshooting.See it on Amazon
Book links are Amazon affiliate links. They support the site at no cost to you.
I work in IT
Field support, help desk, networking, or another systems or application analyst role.
See your plan ↓Hide your plan ↑You already know the tech. Now learn the hospital.
About six monthsWhat you already have
- Networking: IP addresses, ports, firewalls, VPNs
- Servers, storage and operating systems
- Troubleshooting under pressure, and a ticket queue
- Comfort with change windows and after-hours work
What you need to learn
- Medical terminology, so you can talk with radiologists and techs
- The imaging modalities: CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, nuc med
- The radiology workflow, from the order to the signed report
- DICOM and HL7: how images, orders and results move between systems
- 1FirstDecide if you want to get certified
We recommend it. The ABII’s CIIP credential shows employers you know the field, and it’s a big plus in interviews. Check the eligibility requirements so you know when you can sit for the exam. If you’ve worked in healthcare IT for 2 years or more, you may already qualify. If you go for it, the Ultimate IIP Bundle covers your prep and CE credits. It comes up in step 7.
- 2Start nowRead Practical Imaging Informatics
If you only read one book, make it this one. It covers the medical and IT sides of the job, and its chapters follow the CIIP exam topics.
- 3Before you commitDecide if this role is right for you
You’re here because you’re interested in the job. But there’s a good chance you don’t know what a normal day looks like yet. Most people don’t until they’re in it. Before you put months into studying, try it. The free Sandbox preview lets you see the work for yourself.
- 4Week 1Set your dates
Pick a date to finish training and a date to start applying, around month 5. Put both on your calendar.
- 5Months 1 to 2Clinical basics
Work through Medical Basics 101: terminology, modalities, anatomy.
- 6Months 2 to 5DICOM and HL7
This is where your IT background pays off. Configuring a modality is networking plus a few DICOM settings.
- 7Months 4 to 5Prepare for the CIIP
If you’re eligible, or close, this is the time to prep. The Ultimate IIP Bundle has everything: the IIP Study Guide, the Practice Exam, the DICOM Lab and a month of Sandbox access. Its CE credits count toward your eligibility too.
- 8Months 4 to 5Test yourself
The free practice quizzes show you where you’re solid and what to go back to. Want a full 100-question run before exam day? The Premium Practice Exam is included in the bundle, or you can buy it on its own.
- 9Month 5 onApply
Start before you feel ready. Look at IT jobs inside a hospital too, like service desk. Internal moves to the PACS team happen.
Your reading list
Practical Imaging Informatics (SIIM)Covers the medical and IT sides. Its chapters follow the CIIP exam topics.See it on Amazon
A medical terminology bookLearn the prefixes and suffixes and most terms decode themselves.See it on Amazon
Sectional Anatomy for Imaging ProfessionalsHelps you see what radiologists see, and what they need from the system.See it on Amazon
Book links are Amazon affiliate links. They support the site at no cost to you.
I’m starting from scratch
No healthcare or IT background yet. That’s okay. People get hired from here.
See your plan ↓Hide your plan ↑No healthcare or IT background? You can still get here.
A year or moreWhat you already have
- Time to learn, and the will to stick with it
- A fresh start: no bad habits to unlearn
- Everyday tech skills you use without thinking about it
What you need to learn
- Healthcare experience: how a hospital and a radiology department work
- IT basics: computers, operating systems, troubleshooting
- Networking: how devices talk to each other
- DICOM and HL7: how images, orders and results move between systems
- 1FirstDecide if you want to get certified
We recommend it. The ABII’s CIIP credential shows employers you know the field, and it’s a big plus in interviews. Check the eligibility requirements so you know when you can sit for the exam. It’s a longer road for you, because the ABII requires at least 2 years of work experience first. Steps 10 to 12 show you how to get there.
- 2Start nowRead Practical Imaging Informatics
If you only read one book, make it this one. It covers the medical and IT sides of the job, and its chapters follow the CIIP exam topics.
- 3Before you commitDecide if this role is right for you
You’re here because you’re interested in the job. But there’s a good chance you don’t know what a normal day looks like yet. Most people don’t until they’re in it. Before you put months into studying, try it. The free Sandbox preview lets you see the work for yourself. Liked the preview? The DICOM Lab puts you in a full day-in-the-life scenario as a PACS admin and earns 8.25 Category A CE credits.
- 4Right awayGet a foot in the door
Apply for an entry-level hospital job, such as patient transporter, front desk or scheduling, or film library or image clerk. Any healthcare exposure helps, and radiology is best.
- 5While you workIT basics
Work through IT Basics 101, then earn CompTIA A+ or the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.
- 6While you workClinical basics
Medical Basics 101, plus everything you’re picking up at work.
- 7While you workNetworking
Study for Network+. It can get you an entry-level network job while you work toward PACS.
- 8While you workDICOM and HL7
The core of the job: how images, orders and results move between systems.
- 9When you’re readyTest yourself, then apply
Take the free practice quizzes, then start applying for PACS and healthcare IT roles. Look inside your own hospital first.
- 10Once you land the roleStart your experience clock
The ABII uses a 7-point system, and at least 2 points must come from experience. Each year working as a healthcare IT or imaging professional earns 1 point, so you need at least 2 years. Not sure your job counts? Ask the ABII before you plan around it.
- 11As you goStack up your points
The rest of your 7 points can come from your degree (up to 5), current certifications (up to 4), and continuing education (1 point per 18 CE hours earned in the 18 months before you apply). For example, a bachelor’s degree (4) plus 2 years of experience (2) plus 18 CE hours (1) gets you to 7.
- 12Within 18 months of applyingPrepare for the CIIP
The Ultimate IIP Bundle has everything: the IIP Study Guide, the Practice Exam, the DICOM Lab and a month of Sandbox access. Time it right and its CE credits count toward your points and your exam prep at the same time.
Your reading list
Practical Imaging Informatics (SIIM)Ties the medical and IT sides together. Follows the CIIP exam topics.See it on Amazon
CompTIA A+ (220-1201 / 220-1202)Pair it with Professor Messer’s free A+ videos.See it on Amazon
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)Networking is daily work in PACS.See it on Amazon
Book links are Amazon affiliate links. They support the site at no cost to you.
Sample 9-month plan
The roadmap
It’s best to set a finish date first, then work backward to plan out your timeline.
Week 1
Pick a path
Find your starting point and put dates on the calendar.
Check if you’re eligible for the CIIP exam and set a soft date.
Month 1
Quick win
Do the free Sandbox lesson. Start Practical Imaging Informatics: chapters 1 to 5, then two a week.
Months 2 to 4
Knowledge gaps
From imaging? Learn IT basics: networking, servers, operating systems.
From IT? Learn clinical basics: terminology, modalities, radiology workflow.
Months 4 to 6
DICOM and HL7
How images and orders move between systems. This is core understanding required for the job.
Months 5 to 7
Test yourself
Free quizzes show what you know and what to go back to.
Taking the CIIP exam? Add the practice exams.
Months 7 to 9
Get CIIP certified
Take the CIIP exam. This is how you can stand out amongst other job applicants.
At this point, you’re ready to apply for jobs.
Actual timelines will vary. Adjust this timeline to fit your own self-study constraints.
Everything you need to get started is free.
Free course modulesIT, Medical, DICOM and HL7 Basics 101. Short lessons in plain English.Start learning
Practice quizzesDICOM, HL7, networking, anatomy and more. See where you stand.Take a quiz
DICOM video tutorialsWatch how DICOM works, from the image hierarchy to troubleshooting.Watch
Reading listThe three books worth your time, and why each one matters.See the list
What makes PACS Bootcamp different?
Context is key. We put you in situations you’ll face on the job. We’ve built courses such as DICOM Lab where you’ll experience real scenarios. Try the Sandbox for free now.
Beek
Imaging Informatics Consultant
Founder, PACS Boot Camp
Founder, PACS Boot Camp
- Previously Radiologic Technologist · PACS Administrator · Radiology System Administrator · Image Sharing Analyst · Enterprise Imaging Analyst · EMR Analyst
- Courses approved for ASRT Category A CE credits
- Free lessons on YouTube
Who’s behind this
I built this because I couldn’t find anything out there for folks like us.
Back when I was a tech trying to learn how to become a PACS admin, there was nothing out there. No degree for it and no clear path. Everything here is what I wish someone had handed me when I was trying to get my foot in the door. It’s practical, and it’s written by someone who has done the job.
What students say
I passed my CIIP exam today! All thanks to you and your team. I used PACSbootcamp as my main source of material this go around. Now being in the role, it’s all coming together. Anyone expressing interest in becoming a PACS Admin I’ve been sending them your way. Thank you thank you thank you.
Just wanted to thank you for all the study materials. I am an ultrasound tech, and your study modules really helped me to understand the networking side. I took the test this past weekend and preliminary score was a passing one! Thanks again.
I have completed several DICOM courses over the past six months, including yours, and your explanations and scenario-based examples have truly stood out. The way you present complex processes is clear, structured, and easy to follow, which has been instrumental in helping me grasp the nuances of troubleshooting and setup within PACS.
Thank you for the quality of your work, it genuinely enhances my learning experience, and I find myself returning to your resources repeatedly for their clarity and thoroughness.
Serious about this self-study path? Consider Premium.
Consider our premium courses, curated toward IIP certification and hands-on learning. Earn ASRT Category A CE credits along the way. Not sure which course to buy? Visit our premium page to see which one is right for you.
New to the field
See what the job is really like before you commit.
DICOM Lab
8.25 Category A CE credits
A day-in-the-life scenario. Work through real PACS admin workflows and the problems that come with them.
Like all our other products, if you are unsatisfied, reach out to us to request a refund.
$197.77
Going for CIIP
Already in imaging? Prepare for the CIIP exam.
Premium IIP Study Guide3.5 CE credits
Every ABII exam domain in plain English, with real-world examples.
$105View course →
Premium IIP Practice Exam
A full 100-question practice exam to test your readiness.
$39.99View exam →
Ultimate IIP Bundle11.75 Category A CE credits
The IIP Study Guide, Practice Exam, DICOM Lab and a month of Sandbox access. Save $92.77 compared with buying each course on its own.
$249.99See the bundle
If this sounds like a career for you
Don’t wait. Begin your plan and start with our free content.
Find your starting pointThe Industry
The Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) is the digital solution to storage, transfer and viewing of medical grade imaging. Gone are the days of printing an X-RAY film, waiting for it to dry and hanging them up against a wall for a Radiologist to review. The PACS has become the software solution in medical imaging technology for the past three decades. This has been apparent in the radiology departments. Other departments have been slow to catch on such as cardiology and nuclear medicine. However, by today’s standards most of our medical imaging has been converted to digital format. Most PACS images are stored and transferred in DICOM format.
Perhaps you’ve heard of a Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA). What is a VNA? The future of imaging which extends past the Radiology, Cardiology and Nuclear medicine departments. The need for digital pathology, dermatology and dental images has called for a single solution that fulfills the needs of each individual PACS. The idea is to have a solution that can store/transmit/view all types of images regardless of which vendor created it. DICOM or non-DICOM. Proprietary or native.
Or perhaps you’ve heard of Imaging Sharing Platforms. What happens when a patient wants a copy of their medical imaging? Years ago, when PACS became the standard, hospitals began downloading digital images unto CDs instead of printing physical films. As we dive into the digital age, we are beginning to “ditch the disk”. The advent of technology now leans in the direction of transferring images from one institution to another digitally. This creates a need for software solutions and professionals to bridge the gap between institutions.
Digital solutions for healthcare patients will continue to grow. In the shelter-in-place world, the demand for telemedicine, web conferencing, virtual clinics and patient portals will require medical images to be integrated with newly surfacing technologies.
PACS, VNA and Image Sharing all fall under the category of Imaging Informatics. With the emergence of these new technologies, new career opportunities also arise. Take advantage of these opportunities as many of these roles may provide lucrative career advancements.
The Industry and You
If you’re someone who’s looking to get your first job in Medical Imaging, then this Bootcamp was designed for you. Whether it’s how to become a PACS administrator? How to become a VNA analyst? Or how to engage in Image Sharing initiatives? These roles require the same fundamental concepts.
We’ll take a look at the overall requirements. From considering your background… to suggesting reading materials… to providing practice exams. We’ll do our best to prepare you to get your first job offer in the field.
In this boot camp, you’ll be given clear direction on how to secure your position in the industry.
“Your next step is simple. You are the first domino.”
Gary Keller, The One Thing
