Radiology Forums

mzaidel · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

If I already hold a Bachelors Degree in psychology and have all the pre-reqs for med school like, ap 1/2, bio 1/2, chem 1/2, physics 1/2, Calculus, etc... but want to be a radiographer and then specialize (perhaps into MRI), do I really need to get an AS degree, or should I just be looking for a certificate program?

(Also, I'm considereing Keiser Univ Rad program but skeptical because a faculty member at my local community college said that established hospitals will not even consider students from a private program (like keiser) which takes pretty much anyone who will pay $40,000.)

hjhogle · Moderator Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 609 Location: CT

Hospital-based certificate programs (as long as they're accredited by the JCERT or other approved agency) provide the same eligibility to take the ARRT's national certification exam.

And that's the end goal .. ARRT certification. (not 'registration', which refers only to the annual fee paid every year to the ARRT to maintain certification).

You already have one 4-year degree. Feel free to get another degree, but it isn't necessary.

As far as hospitals not hiring based on where you went to school? HOGWASH. NO ONE cares where you went to school. Not your employer, not your co-workers. You will need to prove that you passed the ARRT's national certification exam ... so if I were you, I"d base my school search on this question - "What's the program's ARRT exam pass/fail rate"?

hjh, RT

mzaidel · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

Thank you for that reply! How would I find the different programs pass rates - are they posted somewhere?

Also, why would my local community college's faculty member say that - It would be of no interest to them to try to get students into their program as they are wait listing people til 2010 and beyond?

hjhogle · Moderator Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 609 Location: CT

You'll find that there are plenty of people who look down their noses at those who enter "certificate" programs .. as though that were a dirty word. And there are an equal number of stuffed shirts who insist that college graduates don't have nearly the clinical expertise of hospital-based graduates.

I've been fortunate to meet professionals from all kinds of programs from all over the country. Some you'd be happy to have image your mother ... others you wouldn't let radiate your worst enemy. I've never figured out why people have prejudices. They do, and I have to figure out how to work around it.

To the best of my knowledge, pass/fail rates are not posted anywhere (wouldn't that be nice - sort of like someone handing it to you on a silver platter) Find the programs you're interested in attending. Ask them.

If they answer you up front, good for them. If they don't, there's likely a reason for it.

Good luck
hjh, RT