Comprehensive Guide to the Radiologic Technology Program and Radiography Careers

Career Overview and Professional Roles

  • Official Professional Designation: The speaker emphasizes that the official title is Radiographer or Radiologic Technologist.

  • Technologist vs. Technician Distinction:

    • A Radiologic Technologist works directly with patients and clinical procedures under the supervision of radiologists.

    • A Radiologic Technician is a different role entirely, typically involving maintenance and repair of the imaging equipment. Technicians usually undergo a different length of schooling and are responsible for different sets of tasks within the medical system.

  • Work Environment Realities:

    • The role involves exposure to "blood and guts," which is comparable to the nursing profession.

    • Clinical settings, particularly the Emergency Room (ER), involve encountering significant physical trauma and unpleasant odors.

    • Radiographers work primarily under the direction of Radiologists (medical doctors specializing in diagnostic imaging).

  • Geographic Flexibility and Licensure:

    • Graduates typically sit for the exam in Georgia but can move anywhere in the country to work as an "auntie" (radiographer).

    • Licensure requirements vary by state; some states require specific state-level licenses while others do not.

Program Performance and Success Metrics

  • Exam Pass Rates:

    • The program has maintained a 100%100\% pass rate on the national registry exam for the last 2020 years.

    • There was only a single exception in this period where one student failed by a margin of only 11 point.

  • Completion and Retention: The speaker notes that the program maintains high rates for both student retention and session completion over the last 55 years of data.

Diagnostic Procedures and Clinical Indications

  • Imaging Focus:

    • Primary focuses include bone and soft tissue imaging.

    • Orthopedics represents a significant portion of the radiography workload.

  • Patient Inquiries and Capabilities:

    • Patients often ask if X-ray can detect a herniated disc or a torn meniscus.

    • The answer is "yes and no": while X-rays primarily capture bones, technologists can often infer issues with tendons and ligaments when bones have shifted or moved due to deterioration.

  • Workflow and Insurance Protocols:

    • Insurance companies generally mandate the "cheapest test first" (X-ray) before they will authorize more expensive follow-up imaging like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

    • Radiographers occasionally perform blood work as part of the total procedure workflow.

  • Imaging Modalities and Specific Procedures:

    • Mobile Radiography: Use of rolling X-ray machines to perform bedside imaging for patients who cannot be moved to the department.

    • Contrast Studies: Specifically for the GI tract (Gastrointestinal) and GU tract (Genitourinary). An example given includes patients drinking a contrast agent to allow the technologist to see the outline of the stomach.

    • Anatomy Recognition: Radiographers must know precise positioning (e.g., identifying the fundus of the stomach) to get high-quality diagnostic images.

Imaging Specializations and Advanced Education

  • Primary Pathways and Cross-Training:

    • Mammography: Requires an initial background as a Radiologic Technologist; there is no primary training program for this field independent of X-ray.

    • CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI: Often accessible through on-the-job training where employers help transition existing staff to these departments.

    • Bone Densitometry: Another advanced modality available to technologists.

  • Fields Requiring Additional Dedicated Schooling:

    • Nuclear Medicine: Involves injecting patients with radioisotopes to observe the physiology of various organs. Usually requires Bachelor's-level training.

    • Radiation Therapy: Use of radiation to treat cancerous tumors. Technologists work alongside medical physicists, dosimetrists, and oncologists. Specialized programs in Georgia allow Radiologic Technologists to bridge into these degrees faster.

    • Radiologist Assistant (RA): This is the radiology equivalent of a Physician Assistant (PA). It typically requires Master's-level training.

  • Commercial Opportunities:

    • Technologists can work for major equipment manufacturers such as Siemens, GE, or Philips.

    • Roles include equipment sales and "Apps" (Applications Specialist), traveling to hospitals to train staff on how to use new hardware or software updates.

  • Work Flexibility:

    • PRN (Pro Re Nata): Part-time or "as needed" work. While benefits are usually not provided, the hourly pay is often higher, and the schedule is flexible.

Admissions Process and Competitive Criteria

  • Application Statistics:

    • The applicant pool is extremely competitive. For the most recent deadline, there were 206206 applicants for only 1818 spots.

    • The criteria are strictly numerical to ensure fairness toward all applicants.

  • Institutional Status:

    • Applicants must already be enrolled as students at the college before they can submit a radiography program packet.

    • College admission can take 33 to 44 weeks to process; applicants must not wait until the program deadline to apply to the institution.

  • Transcripts and Credits:

    • Official transcripts must be sent from all prior institutions (e.g., West Georgia, Kennesaw, Florida State, GGC, UGA).

    • Credits from accredited SACS institutions typically transfer easily.

    • AP Credit and CLEP Test scores must be sent directly from the College Board; the college will not accept them as they appear on transcripts from other transfer institutions.

    • Human Anatomy: Knowledge must be fresh; students may be required to retake courses if they were taken too long ago to ensure clinical readiness.

Academic Prerequisites and Degree Requirements

  • General Education:

    • Humanities Elective: Students must choose one from Arts, Music, Theater, or higher-level humanities.

    • FYES 1000: A specific graduation requirement for the institution (essentially a "how to be an adult"/student success class) covering budgeting, computer skills, and study habits.

    • Exemption Policy: FYES 1000 is required for students fresh out of high school or those with fewer than 3030 college credit hours. Those with a prior degree or more than 3030 hours may be exempt.

  • Deadlines: The standard application deadline is June 8th every year.

  • Grade Point Average (GPA): While a 3.03.0 is high, it may not guarantee entry given the competitive nature of the applications.

Entrance Testing: ATI TEAS Version 7

  • Provider: The test is offered by ATI.

  • Format: The test must be taken in an in-person proctored setting. Remote testing is no longer accepted.

  • Scoring:

    • The minimum score to submit a packet is currently a 7575.

    • The speaker notes that a score of 7575 is unlikely to secure one of the top 1818 spots due to high competition, and the minimum required score may be raised in the future.

  • Logistics: Scores should be sent early, especially if testing at other locations such as Kennesaw or Georgia State, as institutional processing takes time.

Program Structure and Clinical Training

  • Location: The program operates exclusively out of the Lawrenceville campus; it is not taught at the North Fulton location.

  • Clinical Hours: The program consists of approximately 1,200 contact hours1,200\,contact\,hours.

  • Progression:

    • Early stages focus on classroom and lab-style coursework on campus.

    • Clinical hours gradually increase throughout the program.

    • By the final semester, students work four 8−hour8-hour shifts and one half-day per week in a clinical imaging department.

Financial Requirements and Supplies

  • Textbooks: Estimated cost is between $800\$800 and $1,000\$1,000. These are mostly purchased early and used throughout the program, rather than requiring $1,000\$1,000 per semester.

  • Medical Requirements: Students must pay for blood work and titers to prove immunity to measles, chicken pox, etc., as required by healthcare systems.

  • Professional Costs:

    • Uniforms for clinical rotations.

    • Credentialing/Background Check through online websites.

    • Registry Exam Fee: Approximately $225\$225 required at the end of the program.

    • Incidental costs for travel, fuel, and vehicle wear-and-tear for clinical site rotations.

Questions & Discussion

  • Question (Audience Member): You mentioned some future growth may require a Master’s degree. Rad Tech is an Associate degree. How would a student bridge from the two-year degree to a Master's program?

  • Response (Speaker): It is a long answer, but essentially, many programs actively recruit students currently enrolled in Associate programs to transition into Bachelor's programs immediately after graduation. One does not necessarily need to have a four-year degree initially to start the path. Interested students should consult the faculty for specific bridge program details.

  • Question (Audience Member): Did you say eighteen spots for the program?

  • Response (Speaker): Yes, exactly 1818 spots. The number of spots is limited by statewide decisions regarding fairness and numerical metrics.

Contact and Faculty Information

  • One Stop Center: Located at the main entrance for general health science inquiries.

  • Health Team Email: health team @ gwentech (Specific address for Health Science advising).

  • Faculty: The program has three full-time faculty members available via email for specific program-related questions.