Trends In The Development Of The Competencies Of The Modern X-Ray Laboratory Assistant According To The European Practice

Advances in technology and the requirements for continuous professional development have an impact on the education of X-ray technicians and the competencies they must acquire to practice the profession successfully. The trends in the development of competencies are in the following directions: continuous improvement of the quality of X-ray education in accordance with the needs of the society, bringing the training and the certification of specialists in line with European and world healthcare standards, priority development of competencies related to the specific workplace, and meeting the growing needs for personal and professional development. The professional competencies of X-ray technicians in Bulgaria are developed in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework and are aimed at acquiring professional knowledge, skills and competencies that are appropriate for the achievements of modern medical science and practice, mastering organizational and managerial culture in accordance with ethical and legal norms, building skills for independent decision-making in the interest of the patient, and developing teamwork skills, high-level digital skills and foreign language competences. For a competent, highly skilled X-ray technician today, it is no longer enough to have the knowledge and skills directly and specifically related to the profession. It requires a wide range of knowledge in other areas, such as ethics, psychology, law, economics, and IT. Therefore, the application of the multidisciplinary approach in the education of future X-ray technician has an important role in the development of highly competent healthcare professionals.