LMRT to RT Bridge Program (in Arizona)

Aoshi1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, Arizona

I am enrolled in a LMRT program as of now, and start 4-24-09. My ultimate goal is to get to RT, then master in Nuclear Medicine. The schools around here (Phoenix) for RT all have 2-3 year waiting lists to enroll, not sure if that is the same case everywhere else. I did some research, and decided to get a jump on things and go ahead and get my LMRT while enrolling. I was recently in a hit and run accident, and had to get a (long) series of x-rays done today. I was chatting wiht the RT about where she went to school at, and told her is was going for my LMRT because the 2-3 year wait on RT was killing me. She advised me of a LMRT to RT bridge program, but she couldn't remember where it was offered from. She asked a bunch of the other RT's there, and they all said that Pima Medical Institute was the one offering it. I have looked and looked, and couldn't find anything regarding this. She also said the course was mainly online. If anyone has any ideas or knowledge on this, you will have my eternal gratitude. I am serious about my schooling, adn I would just like to get my ducks in a row before I get too far entrenched in what could be the wrong route. Any and all help is appreciated, and I thank you all.

wildwestcats · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 31 Location: Arizona

Here is the info for Pima Medical Institute's online bridge program:

http://www.pmi.edu/careers/online_rad.asp

Gateway Community College also has a bridge program but they don't run it every year, only when they have enough interested applicants. The director of their program is Mary Carrillo and her contact information is carrillo@gatewaycc.edu 602.286.8542.

Are you sure Pima also has a 2-3 year wait? I was under the impression that their wait list was shorter than Gateway's, which is at least 3 years. Central Arizona College in Pinal County just started a new rad tech program last year. They may not have accumulated a wait list, yet.

If you are planning on continuing your education past an associate's degree, you need to make sure your credits will transfer to whatever school you go to for your higher degrees. Pima Medical Institute and Apollo College are accreditated by different agencies than the state universities and all of the coursework will not transfer.

Aoshi1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Wildwest, I thank you very much for the links and info, it is appreciated beyond words.

As far as Pima goes, that is what the advisor told me. I was actually specifically asking her about the wait time, and she said "2 to 3 years". She further said that it is dependent on your test scores, and how you are ranked on the list comes from both your scores, and "employment history". I guess each school has their own priorities. I mean, I can see how work stability would play a role in things, but sometimes folks get laid off, or (if tehy are lucky) can devote all their time to school. I will have to check into this further.

With my credits transferring, I have been assured that they will be transferrable to Pima. I will have to check about Gateway (and Gateway is ALOT closer to where I live). Although I didn't know about CAC, I will also have to check there. I still have a few days, lol.

Again, you have been a tremendous help, and have laid aside some of my anxiety. I thank you.

Aoshi1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, Arizona

I have been speaking with Mrs. Carrillo at length (thank you again SO MUCH for the contact info) about this proposition. I am enrolled at, but haven't started, Bryman. I was advised that, indeed, the credits are not trasferrable, and that pertty much going through with my LMRT training, it would be a longer route, in addition to being more costly. I would have to complete the LMRT training, gain employment for at least one year, THEN apply for the bridge course (wich I was told isn't guarenteed to run every year), and once that was completed, I would then enroll in the last year of the RT program. So, in essence, a more costly route that takes approximately 3-4 years. Instead, I could just get my pre-reqs out of the way ASAP, and get myself on the list. Even if I have to wait a year or two, I would still begoing directly for my RT at the school I had originally wanted to go to in the first place.

I just hope Bryman doesn't make this difficult for me tomorrow when I tell them I can't take the course. I will post the happenings later.

Again, I thank you so very humbly for the information, it has been a life saver. Very Happy

CAS90 · Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

I know you have made your decision but know you have done the right thing by not going to Bryman. I went to Bryman and then to Pima it was defintely the long way and more costly way to become an RT.

wildwestcats · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 31 Location: Arizona

I'm glad I could help and also glad that you had a chance to speak to Ms. Carrillo. I'll be graduating from the Gateway program in a couple of weeks, so if you have any questions about it, feel free to ask.

How did it go with Bryman?

I was on the waiting list for Gateway for 3 years, so it may be a bit of a wait, but worth it. You can also start NAU's distance program for the Bachelor's in Diagnostic Medical Imaging while you are on the waitlist. That's something to think about, too.

Aoshi1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Cas90, thank you very much. I was feeling a bit off about it, I mean, I was really excited to be going back to school, but I think I did the right thing. I am glad to have recieved this information before it was too late.

Wildcats, again, thank you for everything. Were it not for your help, I would be down the long road with Bryman now. As far as how it went...well, they ignored my calls and emails, so I had to go down there in person. I saw my advisor walk in before me. When I signed in, the receptionist called her office, and was told that she "wasn't in". I told her I JUST saw her walk in, and that I wasn't going to deal with this anymore. I raised my voice, and mentioned that this was now a federal matter, as they were running the risk of taking my grants and loan without my say so. My advisor never showed her face, but the entire enrollment department came out, and ran damage control on me. I now have an appointment on Monday. 11:30am to sign the papers for me no longer being enrolled at Bryman. That same day, I have an appointment with a health program advisor at Gateway, to help get me on a gameplan, so I can bang these pre-reqs out as soon as I can. It was tough, but I did it, and I feel much better for it now. Mrs. Carillo had told me that indeed I could get into the bridge program, IF it ran, but since my credits aren't transferrable (in contradiction to what Bryman had told me no less), but they could be "credit assesed" wich really just means I would have to pay for them. After that, I would take the pre-reqs, and establish at least 1 year working as an LMRT. As soon as those requirements were taken care of, only then could I place my name on the list for the last year fo the RT program. So, in essence, with Bryman, it would be about $16k more (tuition for Bryman, and the credit evaluation), as well as about 2-3 years LONGER than if I hadn't just gone the direct Gateway route.

I simply cannot stress how much you have helped me out. I thank you very much! Smile

Aoshi1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Did either of you do the NAU distance learning Bachelor's program? I was wondering what it entails, and if you have to go up there to test. I mean, it's not a bad drive...

hjhogle · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:19 am Post subject:

The Northern Arizona U program requires the student to already hold ARRT/ARDMS/NMCTB certification and have an AS degree. I don't think that's what other posters were looking for.

hjh, RT