Program Details

School of Education, Health Sciences and Nursing
Department of Health Sciences
Health and Sciences Building 111
912-279-5870

Program Coordinator:
John Eichinger 279-5864
jeichinger@ccga.edu

Radiographers operate a variety of computerized imaging equipment in hospitals, physician offices and imaging centers to assist in diagnosing injury and/or disease. Some graduates may even find employment in an industrial setting.

Upon program completion, students may be eligible to sit for the national certification examination given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (www.ARRT.org). Radiographers certified by the ARRT are eligible for employment in all states with little to no additional testing.

CCGA does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Students who would like to receive accommodations on the basis of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, must self-identify, must provide documentation of the disability, and must request accommodations through the College Disability Services.

THE PROFESSION

Radiographers are members of a team dedicated to providing exceptional patient care. Radiographers are trained in the art and science of diagnostic imaging by learning radiation physics, radiation biology, imaging procedures, pathology, and radiation safety. Graduates of the program have had extensive classroom and hands on clinical education, providing them a high degree of critical thinking, problem solving skills, and an understanding of the importance of continuing education and life-long learning.

Often referred to as Technologists, Radiographers have a responsibility to adapt to ever changing technology as they work with some of the most sophisticated imaging equipment in the world today. Students must have a willingness to care for the sick and injured, as the patient will always remain the primary focus.

THE PROGRAM AT CCGA

Acceptance into the Radiologic Science program at the College of Coastal Georgia allows the student a unique opportunity to earn an Associate Degree at a four year college. The curriculum is designed to meet the accreditation standards of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (www.JRCERT.org), while meeting the recommendations of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (www.ASRT.org) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The program also adheres to the policy and procedure stated in the CCGA student and program specific handbooks.

Once all required core courses have been completed, those students accepted into the program will complete five semesters of combined academic study and clinical experience. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded an Associate of Science degree from the College of Coastal Georgia. Upon program completion, students often seek advanced certifications or degrees to develop qualities of leadership to advance patient care, education, and supervision.

The Program is conducted in cooperation with local clinical affiliates. Approximately 40 percent of the time is devoted to classroom and laboratory activities and the remainder is in the clinical area.

PROGRAM MISSION

The mission of the Radiologic Science (RS) Program at the College of Coastal Georgia is to provide a quality education such that students will become competent entry-level radiographers.

PROGRAM GOALS

Upon successful program completion, the Radiologic Science student will:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills.
2. Be clinically competent.
3. Be able to communicate.
4. Evaluate the importance of professional growth and development.

PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS

An applicant must complete the College of Coastal Georgia application and the Radiologic Science Program application. The CCGA application can be obtained from the Office of Admissions while the Radiologic Science Program application can be obtained from a program faculty member. Students are responsible for submitting all required admissions materials by the date specified on the application.

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT

Program enrollment is competitive, as a limited number of spaces are available due to clincial placement and faculty to student ratio(s).
The applicant must: 

1. Demonstrate grades of a C or better in ENGL 1101, BIOL 2110, BIOL 2111, and MATH 1001 or 1111 (and corresponding laboratory requirements for science courses).
2. Identify their CCGA student status (active or inactive).
3. Complete the Radiologic application (initial or re-submission). 
4. Submit HESI A² testing results indicating at least a 75% cumulative score over the academic subject areas covered on the exam. No more than 2 attempts (minimum of 30 days between tests) in each of the five (5) sections:  Math, REading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Anatomy and Physiology, and Biology.  Achieving 75% on the HESI A2 does NOT guarantee admission.
5. Demonstrate an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. The overall GPA includes all unadjusted transfer and unadjusted institutional grades.
6. Meet/perform the Core Performance Standards for nursing as listed below:
   1. Critical thinking -- Critical-thinking ability sufficient for rapid clinical judgment and decision making.
   2. Interpersonal -- Interpersonal abilities sufficient for interaction with individuals, families and groups, from various social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
   3. Communication in English -- Communications abilities sufficient for verbal and written interaction with others to include note taking abilities and the ability to rapidly interpret and disseminate information.
   4. Mobility -- Physical abilities sufficient for movement from room to room and in small spaces.
   5. Motor Skills -- Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient for providing safe, effective patient care.
   6. Hearing -- Auditory ability sufficient for monitoring and assessing health needs.
   7. Visual -- Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary while patient is in your care.
   8. Tactile -- Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and radiographic positioning.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT POLICY

Applicants to the Radiologic Science Program at the College of Coastal Georgia should be aware that all courses within the didactic and clinical curriculum are required. The Radiologic Science Program does not recognize advanced placement, credit for experiential learning, international medical experience, or transfer credits from another medical imaging program.

Additional Program Requirements and Costs*

Once accepted into the Radiologic Science program, students are required to:

1. Submit proof (form provided upon acceptance) of the following:
   1. Yearly TB skin (PPD) test or TB screening (the first TB skin test must be a 2-step and the student must keep this current throughout the program);
   2. Yearly influenza vaccine;
   3. Current physical health examination by a healthcare provider;
   4. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (CPR) Certification (the student must keep this certification current throughout the program).
   5. Professional liability insurance (included in tuition and fees). The student must keep this current throughout the program.
2. Complete criminal background checks and/or drug testing if required by clinical affiliates.
3. ARRT Radiography Examination fee.
4. Purchase:
   1. Uniforms for clinical rotations. This includes required garments to cover any visible tattoos (see program specific uniform policy);
   2. Radiographic markers;
   3. A USB Flash drive for the purpose of storing digital images obtained in the lab;
   4. A Long, white lab coat;
   5. Software for procedure, positioning, and laboratory simulation;
   6. Clinical tracking application;
   7. Tablet with GPS, Wi-Fi, and 4G capabilities;
   8. Basic function calculator;
   9. CCGA graduation fee(s);
   10. Any additional costs associated with the program.

Continuation and Progression in the Radiologic Science Program

1. Letter grades for all Radiologic Science (RADT) courses are computed as follows: A= 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 75-79 D = 66-74 F =65 and below.
2. All Radiologic Science courses must be completed within three years of the date of entry into the first radiologic science course.
3. Program Dismissal:
   1. A student may be dismissed from a course and/or radiology program prior to completion if, in the judgment of the program faculty or the clinical administration, the student's clinical practice jeopardizes the client and/or violates policies or professional standards of the program;
   2. After program dismissal the student will not be eligible for readmission. (See policy in the Radiologic Science student handbook)
4. Program Readmission Policies:
   1. A student who leaves the program due to other circumstances may be readmitted to the program only once. Readmission is not guaranteed and is contingent upon space available and the professional judgment of the Radiologic Science faculty;
   2. All applicants are required to meet current admissions and curriculum requirements. Students wishing to reapply for admission within one year must submit a letter of intent to reapply and a current radiologic science application;
   3. Students who are readmitted will be required to repeat all clinical and didactic radiography courses for which they earned a grade of less than C;
   4. Students who are readmitted will be required to audit the last clinical course for which a passing grade was earned;
      1. Audits must be completed prior to program continuance.
      2. Students auditing any radiologic science course are required to fulfill all course requirements as indicated on the syllabus.
      3. A grade for all audited courses will be calculated. Students must complete audited courses with a grade of C or better (as designated in program policies).
      4. In accordance with CCGA policy, a student must register and pay tuition for an audited course.
   5. Readmitted students will also be required to repeat all prior clinical competency exams regardless of earned grade;
      1. The student seeking readmission will meet with program faculty and devise a plan for timely completion of clinical requirements.
5. Clinical Requirements:
   1. Classes, laboratory, and clinical practice experiences in the Radiologic Science program require a commitment of approximately 24-33 hours per week; therefore, it may be difficult for a student to be employed;
   2. Clinical rotations may vary in assignment anytime during a 24-hour timeframe Monday through Sunday;
   3. Special clinical education rotations may be offered such as trauma observations and/or radiation therapy observations;
      1. Hours of special rotations may vary.
      2. Special clinical education hours are included in the student’s total clinical hours for that week.
   4. Clinical education schedules are posted in advance to allow ample time for arrangements to be made for situations which might otherwise prevent the student from attending required clinical assignments;
      1. Students will not be scheduled for more than 10 hours per day or a combined clinical and didactic schedule of more than 40 hours per week.
      2. Hours exceeding these limitations must be voluntary on the part of the student.
   5. Travel at own expense to clinical sites. Note: Some clinical experiences may be distances up to 100 miles one way.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE/RISK

Students enrolled in the Radiologic Science Program and all Radiographers are at risk for potential exposure to radiation, sharps, patient secretions, bodily wastes, infectious patients, electricity, equipment noise, and latex. Policy and procedures of the college and clinical affiliates are in place for the unlikely event of such occurrences.

The College requires that at least one general education course is completed in the following areas: humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics. These courses do not specifically focus on a particular occupation or profession. Additionally, each program may offer additional general education courses that support the career major.

Click to hide the core curriculum and see only the program specific curriculum.