First things first: what on Earth is an endoscopy? Simply put, it's a medical procedure in which an endoscope is used. An endoscope is a little camera on the end of a long, bendy tube. The camera is inserted into the patient by an endoscopy technician and jiggled around so that the doctor or nurse can have a look around and try to figure out what's going wrong. 

It's quicker and easier than surgery, and it takes a lot less time to recover from. Given the choice, most people would rather not undergo unnecessary surgery; endoscopies are a solid Plan B.

Endoscopy technicians aren't doctors or nurses. Like ultrasound technicians, they're there to work the machines and assist the doctors and nurses who're getting up close and personal with their patient's gastrointestinal organs (all those peeps that are part of the digestive system). In this case, "assisting" means filling out paperwork, making sure all the equipment works, and helping to make sure that procedures run smoothly.

 

Hopefully you won't find one of these guys in there. (Source)

As the technician, you're expected to know all the ins and outs of the little cameras that you're putting inside patients. It's like being the dude on the submarine who gets to look through the periscope, but instead of being underwater and scanning for enemy subs, you're inside a person, scanning for enemies like stomach ulcers and even cancer.

A career in medicine usually comes with a hefty paycheck, but not all medical careers are created equal. An endoscopy technician makes around $34,000 a year (source), which means no yacht for you. However, it's a decent salary, especially considering you don't need much schoolin' to get into this career. 

You'll also have great health coverage, and there's a decent chance of a dental plan, too. Who needs a yacht, anyway? They're so expensive to maintain. At least, that's what we hear.

Another way being an endoscopy technician is different from a lot of other medical careers is you don't need a kajillion degrees to get started. Technically, your only requirements are a high school diploma and some steady hands.

That said, it'd probably be a smart idea to take another two years to get an associate's degree or some sort of certification (source). Trust us, it'll make you way more hirable than the kid who just wanders into the hospital, still wearing his high school graduation cap and gown. Not only will it make job hunting easier if you have that extra bit of paper with a shiny foil seal on it, you'll likely get better entry-level pay, too. Win-win.

With decent pay and few education requirements, you're probably wondering why everyone doesn't do this. Well, there are a few reasons. First, not everyone has the stomach to look inside stomachs. People usually don't get endoscopies unless they suspect there's something ugly that needs checking out, so you'll see your fair share of gross things in this career. 

You'll also see your fair share of scary things—we're talking colon cancer, cirrhosis, and the dreaded irritable bowel syndrome. Okay, that last one is more gross than scary, but either way you need to be ready for some can't-be-unseen images.

 

Or, you could go the fashion and function route with some Heelys. (Source)

Another thing that keeps this from being a super-popular field is it's pretty physically demanding. Gastrointestinal disorders never sleep, and that means you won't either. Most endoscopy technicians work on call at hospitals, so you'd better find one with good coffee because you might find yourself rushing from patient to patient in the wee hours of the morning. You won't have time to sit down and rest your feet, so your only option will be caffeine...and a pair of those stylin' orthopedic shoes.

Another pro for this job? You get a lot of practical, hands-on experience in the medical field as an endoscopy tech, so many people do it while getting their master's or Ph.D in some other medical sector (source). Working full-time while getting a higher-ed degree is no cakewalk, but it's a good way to counteract those expensive med school bills.

However, if it turns out you really like being an endoscopy technician, then it's a good field to stay in. The job market for medical technicians of all kinds is growing rapidly, and unless a miracle cure for every known disease is discovered sometime within the next few years, that's not going to change. 

Preventative care is in these days. So is using the latest tech to make hospital procedures as easy and painless as possible. And have we mentioned how cool it is to help save lives? It's super-cool. Maybe, like, actually the coolest thing.

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