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Health Sciences Division
Radiography Program
Frequently Asked Questions
 

Q: What is a Radiologic Technologist?

Q: What is required to become a Radiologic Technologist?

Q: How do I apply to the Radiography Program?

Q: What if I have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?

Q: How much does the Radiography Program cost?

Q: What is the current salary for Radiographers upon Graduation?

Q: What are the essential functions of a Radiologic Technologist?

Q: How long is the NPCC Radiography Program?

Q: What general education classes are required for the A.A. S. Radiography degree?

Q: What Clinical Sites are offered?

Q: What are the requirements before attending Clinicals?

Q: Are the Radiography Courses presented online or in face-to-face lectures?

Q: Where can I get more information about the NPCC Radiography Program?


Q: What is a Radiologic Technologist?

Radiologic technologists are the medical personnel who perform diagnostic imaging examinations and administer radiation therapy treatments. They are educated in anatomy, patient positioning, examination techniques, equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection and basic patient care.

Radiologic technologists who perform imaging examinations are responsible for accurately positioning patients and ensuring that a quality diagnostic image is produced. They work closely with radiologists, the physicians who interpret medical images to either diagnose or rule out disease or injury. For the images to be interpreted correctly by the radiologist, the imaging examination must be performed properly by a radiologic technologist.

“Radiologic technologists are the third largest category of healthcare professionals, surpassed in number only by physicians and nurses”. (www.arrt.org)

Q: What is required to become a Radiologic Technologist?

To become a Radiologic Technologist, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. ETHICS: Compliance with the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) Standards of Ethics and the ARRT Rules and Regulations.
  2. EDUCATION: Successful completion of a Radiography program that is accredited by a mechanism acceptable to ARRT. NPCC offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree that meets this requirement. Program includes classroom and clinical learning activities and student must demonstrate competency in both components to progress and graduate. These learning activities include competency in ARRT-specified list of clinical procedures.
  3. EXAM: After having met all other qualifications, the applicant must pass an examination developed and administered by the ARRT. The exam will assess the knowledge and cognitive skills underlying the intelligent performance of the tasks typically required of staff technologists practicing within the respective disciplines. (www.arrt.org)

Q: How do I apply to the Radiography Program?

Admission to the Radiography Program is selective with a new class starting in the fall of each year. Applications for the Radiography Program are accepted during the spring semester with a deadline of the second Monday in March. Applications may be accessed through this web site (Radiography Application) or by calling the Health Sciences secretary at 501-760-4269. Completed application along with official transcripts and a copy of a current TB skin test must be submitted to the Health Sciences Secretary. It is your responsibility to ensure that all paperwork is complete when submitted. Once your admission file is complete, you will be contacted by the Health Sciences secretary to schedule an observation in the radiology department at two area hospitals. You will be required to complete a total of eight hours observation at two different hospitals. Observations will be arranged in February through April.

Upon completion of the application process, the applicant will be notified by mail to schedule the HESI (Health Education Systems, Inc. exam.

    1. Study resources can be found at this website: http://www.nursing-exams.ca/exams/HESI.html or a study guide can be purchased at Books-a-Million (Evolve Reach Admission Assessment Exam Review)
    2. The HESI is administered on a computer (computer literacy is recommended). It takes approximately 4 ½  hours to complete and the format is both multiple choice and fill in (short answer) responses.
    3.  Math: 50-item exam.  Focuses on math skills needed for health care fields, including basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion, household measures, and general math facts that are useful, for example, when calculating drug dosages and solutions. Recommended Time: 50 minutes.
    4. Reading Comprehension: 47-item exam. Reading scenarios that are health related.  Provides reading scenarios in order to measure reading comprehension, including:  identifying the main idea, finding meaning of words in context, passage comprehension, making logical inferences, etc.  The reading scenarios pop up on the screen.  Students can move around the windows to see the entire scenario.  Recommended Time:  60 minutes
    5. Vocabulary and General Knowledge: 50-item exam. Contains basic vocabulary that is often used in health care fields.  Recommended Time: 50 minutes.
    6. Grammar:  50-item exam.  Contains basic grammar, including:  parts of speech, important terms and their uses in grammar, and commonly occurring grammatical errors.   Recommended Time:  50 minutes
    7. Anatomy and Physiology (A&P): 25-item exam. Depending on whether or not A&P is a pre-requisite for your curriculum, you may or may not have students complete this quick assessment of A&P knowledge. Provides coverage of general terminology and anatomical structures and systems.  Recommended Time: 25 minutes.

The last step of the admissions process may include an interview with the program faculty and area clinical instructors. Acceptance will be based on HESI test score, grade point average in general education courses and recommendation of the Admissions Committee.

Students who are accepted into the Radiography Program will receive a Welcome Letter with instructions concerning a mid-summer mandatory Orientation.

Q: What if I have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?

You must contact the American Registry for Radiologic Technologists for a pre-application review of eligibility. Contact ARRT at 651-687-0048 or www.arrt.org. The ARRT states you must “be a person of good moral character and must not have engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with the ARRT rules of ethics”.

Q: How much does the Radiography Program cost?

The NPCC Radiography Program abides by the tuition rates established by National Park Community College. For the current tuition rates, please click HERE. There are 72 credit hours required for the Associate of Applied Science in Radiography degree. There are additional expenses related to clinical education and a projected list is available at the interview.

Q: What is the current salary for Radiographers upon Graduation?

The newly registered radiographer with no experience should have little difficulty finding immediate employment nationwide, starting from $32,000-38,000 per year. Local employment is not guaranteed.

Q: What are the essential functions of a Radiologic Technologist?

A Radiologic Technologist must be able to perform all of the following essential functions:

  1. Communicate satisfactorily with patients, physicians, peers, and ancillary staff
  2. See and hear adequately to note slight changes in the patient's condition
  3. Hear adequately to perceive and interpret various equipment signals
  4. See adequately to read emergency monitor data
  5. Work with arms fully extended overhead
  6. Lift and move 50 pounds at waist level or below waist level
  7. Stand in place for extended periods of time (30 minutes to 3 hours)
  8. Walk rapidly for a prolonged period from one area to another (20-100 feet) carrying up to 25 lbs.

Q: How long is the NPCC Radiography Program?

The coursework for the Radiography curriculum is completed over two years, consisting of six consecutive semesters, including Summer Semesters. The Radiography schedule is as follows:

First Year (Fall and Spring Semesters):

Classes on Campus: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, generally early am until mid afternoon.

Clinical Practice: Tuesday and Thursday – 7:00 am – 1:30 pm or 8:00 am – 2:30 pm or 1:00 pm – 7:30 p.m.

Summer Semester:

Classes and Clinical Practice: Meets every weekday of the summer school schedule e.g. Monday through Thursday or Monday through Friday for 10 weeks – 7:00 am - 3:30pm

Second Year (Fall and Spring Semesters):

Classes on Campus: Tuesday and Thursday, generally scheduled in the afternoon such as 12:30 pm – 3 pm

Clinical Practice: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – 7:00 am – 1:30 pm or 8:00 am – 2:30 pm or 1:00 pm – 7:30 p.m.

Summer Semester:

Classes and Clinical Practice: Meets every weekday of the summer school schedule e.g. Monday through Thursday or Monday through Friday for 5 weeks – 7:00 am - 3:30pm

Q: What general education classes are required for the A.A.S. Radiography degree?

These are prerequisites for the Radiography program:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Introduction to Health Sciences
  • Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Anatomy and Physiology II
  • English Composition I and II
  • College Algebra
  • Information Systems I
  • General Psychology

Q: What Clinical Sites are offered?

The program currently utilizes St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center, National Park Medical Center, HealthPark Hospital, Orthopedic Associates, Hot Spring County Medical Center, and Pinnacle Physicians Group – Malvern.

Students are rotated to the clinical sites to maximize learning opportunities and allow demonstration of required competencies. Clinical assignments are made by the clinical instructors to accomplish program outcomes.

Q: What are the requirements before attending Clinicals?

According to contracts with clinical agencies, Radiography Students are required to have on file the following:

  1. CPR for Healthcare Providers – American Heart Association
  2. TB skin test
  3. Documentation of Immunizations - specifically for:
    • Hepatitis B (Blood Borne Pathogen)
    • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
    • Varicella Zoster (Chicken Pox)
  4. Drug Screen
  5. Criminal Background Check

Q: Are the Radiography Courses presented online or in face-to-face lectures?

The NPCC Radiography courses are presented in a traditional, face-to-face lecture format. The Angel Learning System is used as a supplement in some Radiography courses. Computer Competency is required for all Radiography courses.

Q: Where can I get more information about the NPCC Radiography Program?

Contact the Health Sciences secretary at 501-760-4269 or email dwilson@npcc.edu.

If you have questions about this program, please contact Debra Wilson at 501-760-4285.

 

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