certificate or AA

rmzlvacationers · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 1

Hi, I am a 34 year old stay at home mom who is ready to reenter the work force. Back when I used to work I was a Certified Medical Assistant. Being a radiology tech really interests me. I am currently only in the area of 2 programs. One is a local college where I could get my AA in 24 months and the other is at a local hospital where I could get a certificate in 23 months. I am guessing just by common sense that an AA is better than a cert. Is this true?? I have checked into the price for the cert program and it is about $8,000 after tuition, books, etc. I am guessing the AA will be much more due to classes being about $300 per class and an AA is about 60 credits. Also, I hate math classes!!! and the cert program has less math classes. On a side note, I have been reading different posts on this site and am a little scared about how saturated the market is. I am in Maryland. Anyone know how this area is??? I am going to do some research to see. Any help from those who are "in the know" about any of my questions would be greatly appreciated

mullen1200 · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Atlanta

compare the programs, talk to the students, pick the one that sounds like you get a better experience, and people enjoy the classes/teachers more. Im in a cert program. Ive heard the only benefit of getting an AA is if you plan to do management some day.

hjhogle · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

Actually, that's NOT true.

Regular visits to the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) provide important information to professionals.

On the main page of their website is a link to an article from September this year that says, in part -
"Eligibility requirements for ARRT certification in Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Radiation Therapy will — effective January 1, 2015 — call for candidates to have earned an associate degree (or more advanced degree) from an appropriately accredited institution.

So a candidate who graduates from a certificate program will no longer be eligible to take the national certification exam.

By the way, an associate degree is not helpful for a management career track. At the very least, management requires a BA/BS (with MA/MS preferred).

hjh, RT

mullen1200 · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Atlanta

AHh I stand corrected then. I was just repeating what someone once told me.
I also didnt know about the 2015 thing. I dont really understand why they are ruling out certificates though. As long as they recognized by jcert, that should be more then enough. Im in an excellent certificate program right now, and I can tell you i'll come out with way more experience and probably knowledge then the local community colleges.

hjhogle · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject:

I'm happy that you're pleased with your experience and training, wherever it came from.

Be wary of judging other programs - "way more experience and probably knowledge then the local community colleges" since you don't actually have any experience with other programs or even the graduates of other programs.

College-based programs are seen by the ARRT to better address the continuing needs of professionals - from the ARRT -

"the ARRT believes that the general education courses required for an academic degree will provide a firm foundation to support the evolving role of the technologist and the lifelong learning necessitated by the increasing rate of technological change. The quantitative and communication skills and understanding of human behavior that are acquired through general-education classes are believed by ARRT to have particular value. "

None of this is available through a certificate program.

Good luck in your education.
hjh, RT