Acceptance to the Radiography program
The Radiography program is a full-time, program consisting of at least 1 semester of pre-requisites and 5 semesters of programmatic courses. Students wishing to participate in the Radiography Program must present the credentials below and are required to meet with an academic advisor prior to enrolling in Introduction to Radiography & Patient Care (RAD 100). Additionally, a waitlist will be maintained for RAD 100 (Please see waitlist process in the Student Handbook for further details regarding the RAD program waitlist):
- First, meet with your Radiography Program academic advisor, this is required before enrolling in RAD 100 to verify completion of all Special Admission and prerequisite requirements. Important: Students who have not met with and been verified by an academic advisor will not be eligible to register for Radiography Program courses.
- Be at least 18 years of age to participate in any of the RAD courses. Students under the age of 18 may complete any prerequisite or co-requisite courses at the College level in accordance with college policy.
- Submit high school transcript or GED scores. Students must have completed at least one year of biology, chemistry and mathematics or college equivalent, within the past 5 years prior to enrolling in RAD 100 (Applicants without high school biology and/or chemistry can satisfy this requirement by completing the College's BIO 121 or CHE 121 courses). Students may use a higher-level college course to satisfy a lower-level requirement if they have taken the course for credit and earned a grade of “C” or better. For example, a student who has taken BIO 131 within the past 5 years prior to enrolling in RAD 100 may use it to fulfill the one year of high school biology requirement instead of taking BIO 121.
- Submit official college transcript(s), if applicable, no later than February 1 of the year of enrollment.
- Submit ONE of the following credentials:
- ACT score composite of 18 or above
- SAT score of a minimum of 1000
- College transcript including 17 semester hours consisting of two 4 credit laboratory science courses (BIO 131 and BIO 132 or the transfer equivalent) and three 3 credit courses (one must be the MATH requirement) from the general education component of the Radiography curriculum. Grades for the five courses must each be a "C" or better and result in a GPA of at least 2.5. The 17 credits will be used for evaluation purposes.
- All interested students must complete the College placement assessment‡ in English, Mathematics, and Reading and must place above the developmental level in English and Reading and at or above MAT 011 prior to enrolling in RAD 100.
- Complete BIO 131 and BIO 132 or transfer equivalent with a “C” or better within the last 5 years of the date of enrollment in RAD 100.
- Complete MAT 106 or higher within the “Quantitative Reasoning Courses” or transfer equivalent with a “C” or better within the last 5 years of the date of enrollment in RAD 100. Note: BIO 131, BIO 132 and MATH requirements may only be attempted twice to be eligible for enrollment in the Radiography Program.
- Students who receive an “XF” grade in any college course, taken at MCCC or elsewhere, are ineligible for enrollment, re-enrollment or re-admitted to the Radiography Program at any time. Courses include those required for admission and those not required for admission to the Radiography Program.
- Complete all health and safety requirements for health career students*. The following
must be completed AFTER successful registration in RAD 100. Attending a mandatory
orientation to obtain direction on how to complete the following program requirements:
- Documentation of selected vaccinations.
- Drug Screen meeting all College guidelines for enrolling in a health career.
- Montgomery County Community College recognizes that medical marijuana is legal in the state of Pennsylvania and others. However, marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug under federal law. As a result, any positive test for this drug will not be overturned by third party testing medical review officers, even if a medical marijuana card is presented.
- Test for tuberculosis (PPD or Quantiferon Gold test).
- American Heart Association CPR certification for the health care professional and maintain that certification throughout the time in the program.
- PA Criminal Background Record Check **
- Child Abuse History Clearance **
- FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check **
- Purchase liability Insurance from Healthcare Providers Service Organization HPSO.
- Provide proof of medical insurance.
- Students are responsible to submit required forms and other materials as per current program policy and may incur additional costs which will be publicized on the website within the Student Handbook.
Mission & Goals
The Associate in Applied Science degree in Radiography has a mission consistent with the mission of Montgomery County Community College. The program recognizes that students differ in their needs, interests, and aspirations. As a result, the program is organized to assist and prepare students for the level of technical competence required to become highly qualified and successful radiographers. The program will provide students with meaningful educational experiences.
The goals of this program are to:
- Prepare students to function as competent, entry-level Radiographers who meet the
healthcare needs of the community.
- Students will be able to adequately perform procedures at entry level competence
- Students will select appropriate technical factors for quality patient exams
- Students will demonstrate proper radiation protection practices based on current research.
- Prepare students and graduates who demonstrate appropriate, professional communication
skills.
- Students will use appropriate vocabulary and language to orally convey information, concepts and ideas
- Students will use a systematic approach to locate and use information to plan and write professional papers
- Prepare students and graduates who develop and practice effective problem solving
skills and critical thinking skills.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to alter technical factors in response to various changes in the clinical setting
- Students will produce solutions to real-world clinical problems.
- Students will evaluate radiographic images for appropriate positioning and image quality
- Prepare students and graduates who conduct him/ herself in a professional manner.
- Students will recognize acceptable professional behaviors
- Students will practice appropriate professional behaviors
- Graduates will demonstrate an overall professional demeanor in the workplace
- Students will discuss the importance of professional development or career advancement
The outcomes of this program are to:
- Continuously monitor program satisfaction, ARRT exam pass rates, job placement and
student completion rates in compliance with JRCERT accreditation.
- Graduates will pass the ARRT national certification on 1 attempt within 6 month Post- graduation
- Of those pursuing employment, graduates will be gainfully employed within 12 months
post-graduation.
- Students will complete the program within 24 months of enrollment of RAD 100
- Graduates will be satisfied with their education.
- Employers will be satisfied with the graduate’s performance
The program assesses these four goals and their specific student learning outcomes on an annual basis. This ongoing assessment plan is housed online for all program officials to access and may be viewed at any time at the request of a student.
Technical Performance Standards
The admissions policies of the Radiography Program do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, marital status, age or mental/physical handicaps. The following is an outline of performance standards relative to Radiography.
Applicants must possess sufficient strength, coordination and manual dexterity to:
transport, move, lift or transfer patients from a wheelchair or litter to an x-ray table or to a patient's bed;
move, adjust and manipulate a variety of x-ray equipment with respect to the patient and image receptor according to established procedures and standards of speed and accuracy ( to include mobile equipment) and;
physically place patients in proper positions for x-ray examinations according to established procedures and standards of speed and accuracy.
Applicants must be capable of:
handing stressful situations related to technical, procedural or patient care situations;
communicating effectively in order to explain and direct patients as it pertains to their radiographic procedure;
providing physical and emotional support to patients during procedures;
physically responding to situations requiring first aid or emergency care of patients until more qualified help can arrive and;
visually reviewing and evaluating radiographic images to identify shades of gray, proper patient positions, proper exposure factors and other appropriate technical qualities.
Program Requirements
Once enrolled in RAD 100 (Introduction to Radiography), students are required to:
Attend the program orientation.
Review the technical standards for the profession of Radiography above.
Purchase all required textbooks and manuals.
Purchase a Radiography Program uniform kit to include name pin, scrubs, lab coat, proper footwear and positioning markers.
Assume all responsibility for transportation to and from the clinical education centers assigned.
Complete the Radiography Program within four academic years of the date of the initial enrollment in the program.
Successful completion of one of the following to demonstrate proof of computer literacy prior to enrolling in Radiography courses:
Demonstrate computer proficiency obtained through life experiences;
Demonstrate computer skills obtained at another academic institution including high school or acquired through on the job training,
Complete a computer science course such as CIS 100.
Obtain annual physical, influenza vaccine and urine drug screen, and other information to be uploaded to the CastleBranch Portal and verified no later than the date indicated on the CastleBranch portal each year.
Maintain CPR certification for health care professionals
Maintain current medical insurance while in program
* Requirements must be completed within 6 months of enrolling in RAD 100
** A Child Abuse History will and a Criminal Record may exclude the student from enrolling in the Radiography Program
*** Due to class limitations, the College does not guarantee continuous enrollment between non-Radiography and Radiography courses.
‡ Due to the physical campus closings, temporary measures have been made for student placement assessments. Review the next steps and frequently asked questions.