Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Radiography Information Session

Radiography Program Information Session

Purpose

  • To provide radiography applicants with a program overview
    • Application and admission requirements
    • Curriculum and program requirements
    • CCC&TI RAD Program statistics
  • To provide career building information including
    • Nature of occupation
    • Salary range
    • Employment outlook
    • Required technical abilities to be a radiographer

What is a radiographer?

  • Radiographers are the medical personnel who perform diagnostic imaging examinations. They are educated in anatomy, patient positioning, examination techniques, equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection and basic patient care.

www.asrt.org

What is a radiographer?

  • Radiographers provide imaging services under the direction of physicians.
  • They may also specialize in a specific imaging technique, such as:
    • bone densitometry
    • cardiovascular-interventional
    • computed tomography (CT)
    • mammography
    • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Salary and Employment Information:

  • Salary:
    • Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median hourly wage in 2014 as $25.98 per hour/$54,540.00 annual full-time
  • Job Placement:
    • 5 year average of 100% employment rate for CCC&TI graduates seeking jobs in radiography

ARRT: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

  • Successful graduates are eligible to sit for the ARRT Radiography Examination

Applicants with legal convictions may not be eligible to sit for the ARRT registry exam. Prior approval from the ARRT Ethics Committee will be required.

JRCERT: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

  • The Radiography Program at CCC&TI is fully accredited with national JRCERT standards (www.jrcert.org)
  • Accreditation of an educational program provides students, as graduates, assurance that the educational program will provide them with the requisite knowledge, skills, and values to competently perform the range of professional responsibilities expected by potential employers nationwide.

Radiography Technical Requirements

  • Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, manipulate equipment, and evaluate radiographic quality
  • Sufficient hearing to access patient needs and communicate verbally with other health care providers
  • Sufficient verbal and written skills to communicate needs promptly and effectively in English
  • Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly, manipulate equipment, lift a minimum of thirty (30) pounds, and ensure patient safety
  • Satisfactory intellectual and emotional functions to exercise independent judgment and discretion in the safe technical performance of medical imaging procedures

Desirable Abilities & Qualities of a Radiographer

  • BIG desire to help others in poor heath
    • Accurate listener and observer
    • Able to read for detailed information
    • Able to write accurately and clearly
    • Honest, tactful and patient
    • Mature with mental and emotional stability
    • Accurately follow directions
    • Safely direct patients in their care
    • Ability to motivate others
    • Ability to get along well with all people
    • Passion for learning

Likes for Radiographers

  • Working in the healthcare field…
    • Helping others meet their healthcare needs
    • Good employment opportunities
    • Working under the direction of physicians
    • Interpreting current status of patient
    • Being part of a heath care team
    • Critical-thinking challenge

Dislikes for Radiographers

  • Working evening and weekends
  • Physical demands of moving and lifting
  • Requirements by employers to demonstrate continued clinical competencies
  • Meeting the demand for accurate imaging and documentation

RAD Program – General Information

  • 21 month program beginning in the fall
  • Competitive admission
  • Travel to out-of service areas will be required for clinical experiences
  • The RAD Program is designed for full-time students who are NOT employed
  • Attending clinical experiences that can begin as early as 7:55 am and end as late as 10:00 pm as scheduled
  • Working during the program can place the best student “at risk” of failing
  • Limited enrollment
    • 16 students per class

Ensuring Public Health and Safety

  • Most health science professions require a state or national registration, certification, or licensure to work.
  • Radiographers are registered by the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologist) upon successful completion of the “national” ARRT certification exam.
  • Examining boards require proof of good moral character to take the registry exam. ANY criminal activity may limit applicants eligibility to become registered.
  • Radiography program clinical education settings require students to successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screening prior to entering their facilities.

RAD Program Admission Requirements:

  1. CCC&TI Application
  2. High school /High school equivalency transcripts
  3. College transcripts (if applicable)
  4. Meet eligibility requirements to enroll in gateway English and math requirements
  5. Radiography Program Entrance Test – ATI-TEAS
  6. 2.5 program GPA or higher required
  7. Complete RAD Information Session
    • Submit required documentation after reviewing the presentation
  8. Clinical Site visits
    • Complete a clinical site visit as arranged by the CCC&TI admissions staff
      • This shadowing opportunity provides an inside view of the daily operation of an Imaging Department.
  9. Request a MAR (Minimum Admissions Requirement) Review once all admissions requirements have been submitted by contacting one of the following in the Health Sciences Admissions Office:
  Ruthie Price   rprice@cccti.edu   828.726.2711

Admissions Requirements Deadline:

  • ALL admissions requirements must be met by January 15th to be eligible for acceptance for the following fall class.

*View the most current competitive admissions guidelines at:
www.CCCTI.edu/RAD/Documents/RADAdmissionRequirements.pdf

Accepted RAD Students

  • After being notified of acceptance into the RAD program, the student must submit the following complete documents to *CastleBranch in order to be eligible for clinical participation:
    • Current CPR certification
    • Accurately completed medical health form/immunization records
    • Criminal background check and drug screening

(*CastleBranch information will be sent to the student after acceptance to the program)

Academic Progression Policy

  • GPA of at least 2.5 is required for progression in the RAD Program (equivalent to a low “B” average)
  • ALL general education coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better
  • ALL RAD prefixed coursed must be completed with a final grade of 80 or above

*Failure to meet these standards will result in dismissal from the program.

Educational Sequence

  • ALL courses (RAD prefixed & General Education) must be successfully completed in sequence to progress in the RAD program.

Clinical Education Settings

  • 11 clinical education settings provide a variety of clinical experience including:
    • Regional Medical Centers
    • Hospital Based Facilities
    • Outpatient Radiography Office
    • State Mental Hospital

Clinical sites are located 7-72 miles from CCC&TI

Clinical Sites

** Subject to Change at any time**

  • Blue Ridge Radiology – Hickory, NC
  • Broughton Hospital – Morganton, NC
  • Burke Primary Care – Morganton, NC
  • Frye Regional Medical Center – Hickory, NC
  • Frye Care – Hickory, NC
  • Iredell Memorial Hospital – Statesville, NC
  • Lake Norman Regional Medical Center – Mooresville, NC
  • UNC Blue Ridge – Morganton, NC
  • UNC Health Caldwell – Lenoir, NC
  • UNC Ortho – Lenoir, NC
  • Urgent Care of Mountain View – Hickory, NC
  • Urgent Care of Mountain View – Taylorsville, NC
  • Watauga Medical Center – Boone, NC

Clinical Coursework

  • RAD 113 RAD Lab Elective: Fall Semester
    • 8 weeks, 3 hours per week as class calendar will specify
  • RAD 151 Clinical Ed. I: Fall Semester
    • 8 weeks, 12 hours per week or 2 day/week
  • RAD 161 Clinical Ed. II: Spring Semester
    • 16 weeks, 15 hours per week or 2 days/week
  • RAD 171 Clinical Ed. III: Summer Semester
    • 8 weeks, 22.5 hours per week or 3 days/week
  • RAD 251 Clinical Ed. IV: Fall Semester
    • 16 weeks, 21 hours per week or 3 days/week
  • RAD 261 Clinical Ed. V: Spring Semester
    • 16 weeks, 21 hours per week or 3 days/week

Time Commitment

Requires FULL-TIME (seven day a week) commitment to the Radiography Program

Out-of- Class Time example:
3 class hours demands 6 hours of homework/study time to pass

Important Note:
Outside employment is (a) extremely difficult and (b) academically detrimental, and therefore limited to max. 16 hours weekly

Readiness Checklist

  • I am in good health, both mentally and physically, to meet the rigorous demands of this program.
  • I have the financial plan and means to complete all five semesters.
  • I have adequate, stable, and flexible child care.
  • I have dependable, personal transportation and am able to drive up to 72 miles one-way to clinical education settings 1-3 days weekly.
  • I am committed to making adjustments in my life style in order to complete this program.
  • I am ready to attend class & clinical 4-5 days per week and study nights, weekends, and holidays.
  • I can devote an appropriate portion of everyday to program/college work in order to be successful and progress for the next 21 months.
  • I will engage my family & friends in supporting and understanding the academic demands and high standards involved in my decision to complete this program.

If you have questions?

  • If you have questions about meeting program admission requirements contact:

Ruthie Price
Coordinator for Health
Sciences Admissions
rprice@cccti.edu
828.726.2711

Where do I go from here?

Click here to complete Confirmation Form and Criminal Background Acknowledgment:
www.cccti.edu/RAD/RADInfoSessionForm.asp



Contacts

Program Information

Admission Information