Accreditations?

Jebby16 · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 10 Location: US

After doing some research, I've discovered that the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) is probably the most popular accrediting organization for Radiographers.

I've also noticed that smaller schools (at least in FL) aren't accredited by JRCERT, but rather by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and others.

My questions to Radiography and Sonography professionals out there:

Is JRCERT the best? Do hiring doctors and hospitals prefer JRCERT over the others? Does it really matter?

I appreciate your responses. Smile

(I'm starting over and trying to get into a Radiography program here in central FL)

hjhogle · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject:

This issue is not what anyone 'prefers'. The issue is that the accrediting agency must be acceptable to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) if your aim is to be a Radiographer. If they are not, graduating from the program you attend will NOT allow you to take the national certification exam and you will not actually be a Radiologic Technologist.

The accreditation that the ARRT accepts are:
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
- Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT)
- Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)
- Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies (degree-granting divisions)
- Conjoint Accreditation Services of the Canadian Medical Association
- Australian Institute of Radiography

To look for an accredited program, there is a list of programs by modality alphabetized by state, look here on the ARRT website http://arrt.org/index.html?content=http://www.arrt.org/nd/listOfSchools.ndm/listSchools&iframe=yes

To become a nationally certified Sonographer, credentialling is either by the ARRT (see above) or the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). ARDMS looks for CAAHEP credentialled programs, see the CAAHEP website here for programs http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program/