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“Job shadowing is a great way to check your compassion and empathy and to find boundaries in what you are comfortable with in your career.”

Matt McLinden, RT(R), Former President of the Oregon Society of Radiologic Technologists

For tech-savvy, sociable people seeking a high-growth career in healthcare, becoming a radiologic technologist may be an excellent choice. Not only are opportunities in this field expected to increase in coming years, but it’s also among the higher paying jobs requiring a two-year associate degree as opposed to a four-year bachelor’s degree.

So what do radiologic technologists do? And how has the field changed over the years? According to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging, give radiation treatments to treat disease, protect patients from unnecessary radiation, counsel patients through procedures, and maintain detailed patient records. As the Southeast Community College of Nebraska points out on its website, the field incorporates both science and art, combining a scientific understanding of radiologic principles with a discerning eye for interpreting diagnostic imagery (e.g., x-rays). These professionals may specialize in various methods and types of treatment, including radiation therapy, medical dosimetry, mammography, bone densitometry, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, or sonography.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) adds that radiologic technologists have gone by many names over the years. In fact, prior to the mid 1960s, they were referred to as “x-ray technicians” and were typically trained on-the-job as opposed to enrolling in structured educational programs. The term “technologist” arose in the mid-twentieth century and denoted a new class of formally trained radiological specialists.

The ASRT reports that registered radiologic technologists—referred to as RTs—must have completed at least two years of accredited education, passed an exam, and registered in the profession. Furthermore, these credentials are expected to be maintained following the completion of continuing education (CE) credits. Registration through the ARRT is a prerequisite for most jobs in hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) found that openings in this career are expanding faster than the national average. In fact, between 2023 and 2032, the BLS expects a 6 percent increase in openings for radiologic technologists, while the average growth for all occupations during that time period is 4 percent. With the expected addition of 13,100 positions in this field, aspiring radiologic technologists have a bright outlook.

Read on to discover what to expect from an accredited, two- to four-year program in radiologic technology—on-campus or online—and learn about how much these healthcare professionals make and how to become credentialed.

Meet the Expert: Matt McLinden, RT(R)

Matt McLinden

Matt McLinden is the past president of the Oregon Society of Radiologic Technologists. With an associate of applied science in radiologic technology and science from Portland Community College, McLinden has dedicated his career to advancing radiologic technology.

Currently serving as an X-ray technologist at Kaiser Permanente in Hillsboro, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role. His leadership within the Oregon Society of Radiologic Technologists reflects his commitment to professional growth and excellence in patient care.

MedicalTechnologySchools.com: How has graduating from a radiology technologist program enhanced your career?

McLinden: I have had a dream of being a radiologic technologist since I was in high school. After completing an intro to health careers program, I was able to shadow different health career professionals, and this gave me the opportunity to compare and contrast the different professions. I wanted a career where I could create something and one where I could help people. Becoming a radiologic technologist combined both passions, and it’s the best job I have ever had!

After graduating from a radiology technologist program, I could sit for the ARRT exam, and I felt well prepared. I then applied for my license to shoot X-rays in my state and landed a job at the clinic where I completed my externship!

MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective radiologic technologist?

McLinden: In the seven years I’ve worked in this field, between graduation and the pandemic, I have learned so many lessons, and it’s hard to choose just one piece of advice.

For a prospective radiologic technologist, I recommend shadowing a radiologic technologist in a hospital and experiencing it with all of your senses. You might find the smells to be disagreeable, the sights to be too graphic, the icky feeling of subcutaneous emphysema, or the screams of patients having their worst day.

Job shadowing is a great way to check your compassion and empathy and to find boundaries in what you are comfortable with in your career.

Types of Radiologic Technology Programs

Most radiologic technology programs lead to two-year associate degrees, although some lead to a bachelor’s degree. To become credentialed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)—the predominant credentialing agency in the field—a person must have at least an associate degree from an accredited institution. Please reference the “Accreditation” section for more information on this program-approval process.

According to the ARRT, more than 75 percent of American states have laws governing the practice of radiologic technology. ARRT exams are also used in 35 states for regional licensure, including populous states such as California, New York, and Texas. For all aspiring radiologic technologists, it’s crucial to verify regional requirements before planning for licensure. Please check out the “Licensing & Certification” section to learn more about professional credentialing.

Programs and curriculum can vary by state or institution. Still, all radiologic technologist schools generally feature a combination of didactic coursework and hands-on lab work, as well as supervised clinical experiences. To be accepted into radiologic technologist school, admissions committees typically call for official secondary school transcripts, a personal statement, a completed application, and a fee. Students may also need to complete specific prerequisite classes (e.g., biology), a physical exam, a background check, or a test (e.g., TOEFL for non-native speakers of English).

List of Radiologic Technologist Schools

Filter by state :
School City State Website GRADS ('21)
Weber State University Ogden Utah https://www.weber.edu 163
Midwestern State University Wichita Falls Texas https://www.msutexas.edu 132
The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest Houston Texas https://www.chcp.edu 103
San Jacinto Community College Pasadena Texas https://www.sanjac.edu 83
Boise State University Boise Idaho https://www.boisestate.edu 81
Dallas College Dallas Texas https://www.dallascollege.edu 81
Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.ccac.edu 76
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Indiana https://www.ivytech.edu 69
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches Louisiana https://www.nsula.edu 64
The College of Health Care Professions-Austin Austin Texas https://www.chcp.edu 64
The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio San Antonio Texas https://www.chcp.edu 62
South College Knoxville Tennessee https://www.south.edu 59
AdventHealth University Orlando Florida https://www.ahu.edu 57
Galveston College Galveston Texas https://www.gc.edu 56
Indiana University-Northwest Gary Indiana https://northwest.iu.edu 55
St Philip's College San Antonio Texas https://www.alamo.edu/spc 55
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago Illinois https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x 54
Center for Allied Health Education Brooklyn New York https://www.cahe.edu 52
ECPI University Virginia Beach Virginia https://www.ecpi.edu 52
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana https://www.iupui.edu 52
Columbia Central University-Caguas Caguas Puerto Rico https://columbiacentral.edu 51
Community College of Denver Denver Colorado https://www.ccd.edu 51
The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston Houston Texas https://www.chcp.edu 51
Hudson Valley Community College Troy New York https://www.hvcc.edu 50
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Arkansas https://uafs.edu 50
Touro College New York New York https://www.touro.edu 49
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences South Bend Indiana https://jpu.edu 48
Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga California https://www.chaffey.edu 47
Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem Pennsylvania https://www.northampton.edu 46
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta Georgia https://www.wiregrass.edu 46
Austin Community College District Austin Texas https://www.austincc.edu 44
American Career College-Ontario Ontario California https://americancareercollege.edu 43
Kaskaskia College Centralia Illinois https://www.kaskaskia.edu 43
Modern Technology School Fountain Valley California https://mtschool.edu 43
Wake Technical Community College Raleigh North Carolina https://www.waketech.edu 43
Career Care Institute Lancaster California https://ccicolleges.edu 42
The College of Health Care Professions-Dallas Dallas Texas https://www.chcp.edu 42
Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Illinois https://www.swic.edu 41
Century College White Bear Lake Minnesota https://www.century.edu 40
Pueblo Community College Pueblo Colorado https://pueblocc.edu 40
Tarrant County College District Fort Worth Texas https://www.tccd.edu 40
University of Southern Indiana Evansville Indiana https://www.usi.edu 40
County College of Morris Randolph New Jersey https://www.ccm.edu 39
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Virginia https://www.nvcc.edu 39
Bakersfield College Bakersfield California https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu 38
Fresno City College Fresno California https://www.fresnocitycollege.edu 38
University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska https://www.unmc.edu 38
Tidewater Community College Norfolk Virginia https://www.tcc.edu 37
Trocaire College Buffalo New York https://trocaire.edu 37
University of South Alabama Mobile Alabama https://www.southalabama.edu 37
American Career College-Los Angeles Los Angeles California https://americancareercollege.edu 35
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins Georgia https://www.centralgatech.edu 35
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Hanceville Alabama https://www.wallacestate.edu 35
Sullivan University Louisville Kentucky https://www.sullivan.edu 34
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles California https://www.cdrewu.edu 33
Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee Muskogee Oklahoma https://www.ictech.edu 33
Kettering College Kettering Ohio https://kc.edu 33
Parker University Dallas Texas https://www.parker.edu 33
The College of Health Care Professions-Fort Worth Fort Worth Texas https://www.chcp.edu 33
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Dover Delaware https://www.dtcc.edu 32
Delgado Community College New Orleans Louisiana https://www.dcc.edu 32
NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord New Hampshire https://www.nhti.edu 32
Vance-Granville Community College Henderson North Carolina https://www.vgcc.edu 32
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Virginia https://www.vcu.edu 32
West Georgia Technical College Waco Georgia https://www.westgatech.edu 32
Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Ohio https://www.tri-c.edu 31
Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville Georgia https://gwinnetttech.edu 31
Houston Community College Houston Texas https://www.hccs.edu 31
The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus McAllen Texas https://www.chcp.edu 31
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa Mesa Arizona https://pmi.edu 30
Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Virginia https://www.virginiawestern.edu 30
National Park College Hot Springs Arkansas https://np.edu 29
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha Nebraska https://www.methodistcollege.edu 29
North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo North Dakota https://www.ndsu.edu 29
Triton College River Grove Illinois https://www.triton.edu 29
Edgecombe Community College Tarboro North Carolina https://edgecombe.edu 28
Johnston Community College Smithfield North Carolina https://www.johnstoncc.edu 28
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota https://college.mayo.edu 28
Northwestern College Bridgeview Illinois https://nc.edu 28
Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville Georgia https://oftc.edu 28
Linn-Benton Community College Albany Oregon https://www.linnbenton.edu 27
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles California https://www.lacitycollege.edu 27
Marshall University Huntington West Virginia https://www.marshall.edu 27
Merced College Merced California https://www.mccd.edu 27
Mt San Antonio College Walnut California https://www.mtsac.edu 27
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque Albuquerque New Mexico https://pmi.edu 27
Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton Missouri https://stlcc.edu 27
San Diego Mesa College San Diego California https://www.sdmesa.edu 27
Community College of Rhode Island Warwick Rhode Island https://www.ccri.edu 26
Louisiana State University-Eunice Eunice Louisiana https://www.lsue.edu 26
Mercy College of Ohio Toledo Ohio https://mercycollege.edu 26
Merritt College Oakland California https://www.merritt.edu 26
Pima Medical Institute-Seattle Seattle Washington https://pmi.edu 26
Rhode Island College Providence Rhode Island https://www.ric.edu 26
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas https://www.mdanderson.org 26
Yuba College Marysville California https://yc.yccd.edu 26
Long Beach City College Long Beach California https://www.lbcc.edu 25
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista Chula Vista California https://pmi.edu 25
Sacred Heart University Fairfield Connecticut https://www.sacredheart.edu 25
Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City Utah https://www.slcc.edu 25
Southern Union State Community College Wadley Alabama https://www.suscc.edu 25
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology Delray Beach Florida https://www.cambridgehealth.edu 24
Concorde Career College-Aurora Aurora Colorado https://www.concorde.edu/campus/aurora-colorado 24
Gadsden State Community College Gadsden Alabama https://www.gadsdenstate.edu 24
GateWay Community College Phoenix Arizona https://www.gatewaycc.edu 24
Grady Health System Professional Schools Atlanta Georgia https://www.gradyhealth.org 24
Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston Maine https://www.mchp.edu 24
Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas Las Vegas Nevada https://pmi.edu 24
Sinclair Community College Dayton Ohio https://www.sinclair.edu 24
Tulsa Community College Tulsa Oklahoma https://www.tulsacc.edu 24
Austin Peay State University Clarksville Tennessee https://www.apsu.edu 23
Gateway Community College New Haven Connecticut https://www.gatewayct.edu 23
Massachusetts Bay Community College Wellesley Hills Massachusetts https://www.massbay.edu 23
McLennan Community College Waco Texas https://www.mclennan.edu 23
Southwest Baptist University Bolivar Missouri https://www.sbuniv.edu 23
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina Puerto Rico https://uagm.edu/es 23
Washburn University Topeka Kansas https://www.washburn.edu 23
Danville Area Community College Danville Illinois https://www.dacc.edu 22
ICPR Junior College-Arecibo Arecibo Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 22
Jefferson State Community College Birmingham Alabama https://www.jeffersonstate.edu 22
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa California https://orangecoastcollege.edu 22
Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News Virginia https://www.riverside.edu 22
Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara California https://www.sbcc.edu 22
Arizona Western College Yuma Arizona https://www.azwestern.edu 21
California State University-Northridge Northridge California https://www.csun.edu 21
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Colorado https://www.coloradomesa.edu 21
Cox College Springfield Missouri https://coxcollege.edu 21
Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids Michigan https://www.grcc.edu 21
McNeese State University Lake Charles Louisiana https://www.mcneese.edu 21
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston Mississippi https://mgccc.edu 21
Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Illinois https://www.morainevalley.edu 21
Mount Aloysius College Cresson Pennsylvania https://www.mtaloy.edu 21
North Central Texas College Gainesville Texas https://www.nctc.edu 21
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Kentucky https://www.nku.edu 21
Paris Junior College Paris Texas https://www.parisjc.edu 21
St. John's University-New York Queens New York https://www.stjohns.edu 21
William Rainey Harper College Palatine Illinois https://www.harpercollege.edu 21
Amarillo College Amarillo Texas https://www.actx.edu 20
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Canton Ohio https://www.aultmancollege.edu 20
Bellevue College Bellevue Washington https://www.bellevuecollege.edu 20
Central Arizona College Coolidge Arizona https://centralaz.edu 20
Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville North Carolina https://www.faytechcc.edu 20
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan Dothan Alabama https://www.wallace.edu 20
Grayson College Denison Texas https://www.grayson.edu 20
Jackson College Jackson Michigan https://www.jccmi.edu 20
Joliet Junior College Joliet Illinois https://jjc.edu 20
Lanier Technical College Gainesville Georgia https://www.laniertech.edu 20
Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Minnesota https://www.minnesota.edu 20
Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Pennsylvania https://www.mc3.edu 20
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Pennsylvania https://www.pct.edu 20
Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville Virginia https://www.pvcc.edu 20
Pima Medical Institute-Denver Denver Colorado https://pmi.edu 20
Weatherford College Weatherford Texas https://www.wc.edu 20
Blinn College Brenham Texas https://www.blinn.edu 19
Del Mar College Corpus Christi Texas https://www.delmar.edu 19
Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem North Carolina https://www.forsythtech.edu 19
Fortis College-Columbus Westerville Ohio https://www.fortiscollege.edu 19
Indiana University-South Bend South Bend Indiana https://southbend.iu.edu 19
Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville Kentucky https://jefferson.kctcs.edu 19
Kilgore College Kilgore Texas https://www.kilgore.edu 19
Lone Star College System The Woodlands Texas https://www.lonestar.edu 19
Macomb Community College Warren Michigan https://www.macomb.edu 19
NUC University Bayamon Puerto Rico https://university.nuc.edu 19
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Lancaster Pennsylvania https://www.pacollege.edu 19
Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud Minnesota https://www.rasmussen.edu 19
Rush University Chicago Illinois https://www.rushu.rush.edu 19
Sauk Valley Community College Dixon Illinois https://www.svcc.edu 19
Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin Georgia https://www.sctech.edu 19
Spokane Community College Spokane Washington https://scc.spokane.edu 19
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage Alaska https://www.uaa.alaska.edu 19
Aims Community College Greeley Colorado https://www.aims.edu 18
Angelina College Lufkin Texas https://www.angelina.edu 18
Cape Fear Community College Wilmington North Carolina https://cfcc.edu 18
Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta Georgia https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu 18
Coastal Bend College Beeville Texas https://www.coastalbend.edu 18
Columbus Technical College Columbus Georgia https://www.columbustech.edu 18
Foothill College Los Altos Hills California https://foothill.edu 18
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg Pennsylvania https://www.hacc.edu 18
Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Iowa https://www.iowacentral.edu 18
Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro Kentucky https://owensboro.kctcs.edu 18
Pima Medical Institute-El Paso El Paso Texas https://pmi.edu 18
Randolph Community College Asheboro North Carolina https://www.randolph.edu 18
Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala Florida https://www.rasmussen.edu 18
Red Rocks Community College Lakewood Colorado https://www.rrcc.edu 18
Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde Texas https://www.swtjc.edu 18
Springfield Technical Community College Springfield Massachusetts https://www.stcc.edu 18
St Clair County Community College Port Huron Michigan https://sc4.edu 18
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred New York https://www.alfredstate.edu 18
The University of Montana Missoula Montana https://www.umt.edu 18
West Virginia University Hospital Departments of Rad Tech and Nutrition Morgantown West Virginia https://wvumedicine.org/radtech 18
Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Pennsylvania https://westmoreland.edu 18
Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington Kentucky https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu 17
Canada College Redwood City California https://canadacollege.edu 17
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania https://www.ccp.edu 17
Concorde Career College-Memphis Memphis Tennessee https://www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee 17
Dalton State College Dalton Georgia https://www.daltonstate.edu 17
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Baton Rouge Louisiana https://franu.edu 17
Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown North Carolina https://www.gtcc.edu 17
Howard College Big Spring Texas https://howardcollege.edu 17
Hudson County Community College Jersey City New Jersey https://www.hccc.edu 17
Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa Iowa https://www.indianhills.edu 17
Northern Michigan University Marquette Michigan https://nmu.edu 17
Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa California https://www.santarosa.edu 17
Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville Georgia https://southernregional.edu 17
Tacoma Community College Tacoma Washington https://www.tacomacc.edu 17
Union County College Cranford New Jersey https://www.ucc.edu 17
West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah Kentucky https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu 17
Yakima Valley College Yakima Washington https://www.yvcc.edu 17
Allen College Waterloo Iowa https://www.allencollege.edu 16
Athens Technical College Athens Georgia https://www.athenstech.edu 16
Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis Tennessee https://www.baptistu.edu 16
Cambridge Institute of Allied Health & Technology Altamonte Springs Florida https://www.cambridgehealth.edu 16
Capital Health-School of Radiologic Technology Trenton New Jersey https://www.capitalhealth.org/professionals/school-of-radiologic-technology 16
Cleveland Clinic Health System-School of Diagnostic Imaging Euclid Ohio https://portals.clevelandclinic.org/sdi 16
Cleveland Community College Shelby North Carolina https://clevelandcc.edu 16
Cleveland University-Kansas City Overland Park Kansas https://www.cleveland.edu 16
Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wesson Mississippi https://www.colin.edu 16
Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Iowa https://eicc.edu 16
Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson Kansas https://www.hutchcc.edu 16
Madisonville Community College Madisonville Kentucky https://madisonville.kctcs.edu 16
Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls Minnesota https://www.northlandcollege.edu 16
Pearl River Community College Poplarville Mississippi https://prcc.edu 16
Pima Medical Institute-Houston Houston Texas https://pmi.edu 16
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury North Carolina https://www.rccc.edu 16
South Texas College McAllen Texas https://www.southtexascollege.edu 16
Southern Maine Community College South Portland Maine https://www.smccme.edu 16
Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies Weslaco Texas https://www.vgi.edu 16
Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging Richmond Virginia https://mysomi.org 15
College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick Georgia https://www.ccga.edu 15
Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard Kentucky https://hazard.kctcs.edu 15
ICPR Junior College-Mayaguez Mayaguez Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 15
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas Barranquitas Puerto Rico https://www.br.inter.edu 15
Kankakee Community College Kankakee Illinois https://www.kcc.edu 15
Kellogg Community College Battle Creek Michigan https://kellogg.edu 15
North Central State College Mansfield Ohio https://ncstatecollege.edu 15
North Shore Community College Danvers Massachusetts https://www.northshore.edu 15
Oakland University Rochester Hills Michigan https://www.oakland.edu 15
Pasadena City College Pasadena California https://pasadena.edu 15
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Reading Pennsylvania https://reading.towerhealth.org/health-sciences 15
South Plains College Levelland Texas https://www.southplainscollege.edu 15
St Luke's College Sioux City Iowa https://www.stlukescollege.edu 15
Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa Oklahoma https://tulsatech.edu 15
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Indiana https://www.sf.edu 15
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson North Carolina https://www.cccti.edu 14
Carteret Community College Morehead City North Carolina https://carteret.edu 14
Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Virginia https://centralvirginia.edu 14
Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross Georgia https://coastalpines.edu 14
Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health Lubbock Texas https://www.providence.org/locations/covenant-health/school-of-nursing 14
H Councill Trenholm State Community College Montgomery Alabama https://www.trenholmstate.edu 14
Hunter Business School Levittown New York https://hunterbusinessschool.edu 14
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Aguadilla Puerto Rico https://aguadilla.inter.edu 14
Jefferson College Hillsboro Missouri https://www.jeffco.edu 14
Johnson College Scranton Pennsylvania https://johnson.edu 14
MCPHS University Boston Massachusetts https://www.mcphs.edu 14
Minnesota State College Southeast Winona Minnesota https://www.southeastmn.edu 14
Mitchell Technical College Mitchell South Dakota https://mitchelltech.edu 14
Odessa College Odessa Texas https://www.odessa.edu 14
Pitt Community College Winterville North Carolina https://pittcc.edu 14
South Suburban College South Holland Illinois https://www.ssc.edu 14
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cape Girardeau Missouri https://www.sehcollege.edu 14
State Fair Community College Sedalia Missouri https://www.sfccmo.edu 14
Tyler Junior College Tyler Texas https://www.tjc.edu 14
University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Missouri https://www.ucmo.edu 14
West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling West Virginia https://www.wvncc.edu 14
ATA College Louisville Kentucky https://www.ata.edu 13
Baton Rouge General Medical Center School of Nursing & School of Radiologic Technology Baton Rouge Louisiana https://www.brgeneral.org/medical-education 13
Bellin College Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.bellincollege.edu 13
Cabrillo College Aptos California https://www.cabrillo.edu 13
Central Ohio Technical College Newark Ohio https://www.cotc.edu 13
Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland https://www.ccbcmd.edu 13
Fortis College-Landover Landover Maryland https://www.fortis.edu 13
Fortis Institute-Cookeville Cookeville Tennessee https://www.fortis.edu 13
Harcum College Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania https://www.harcum.edu 13
Holy Family University Philadelphia Pennsylvania https://www.holyfamily.edu 13
Illinois Central College East Peoria Illinois https://icc.edu 13
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Mercedita Puerto Rico https://www.ponce.inter.edu 13
Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield Maine https://www.kvcc.me.edu 13
Laramie County Community College Cheyenne Wyoming https://www.lccc.wy.edu 13
Med Academy Hialeah Florida https://medcollege.edu 13
Mississippi Delta Community College Moorhead Mississippi https://www.msdelta.edu 13
Montana State University Billings Billings Montana https://www.msubillings.edu 13
Quinsigamond Community College Worcester Massachusetts https://www.qcc.edu 13
Riverland Community College Austin Minnesota https://www.riverland.edu 13
Sanford Medical Center Sioux Falls South Dakota https://www.sanfordhealth.org 13
Southern University at Shreveport Shreveport Louisiana https://www.susla.edu 13
University of Hartford West Hartford Connecticut https://www.hartford.edu 13
University of Holy Cross New Orleans Louisiana https://uhcno.edu 13
Wharton County Junior College Wharton Texas https://www.wcjc.edu 13
Alvernia University Reading Pennsylvania https://www.alvernia.edu 12
ATA Career Education Spring Hill Florida https://www.ata.edu/campus/spring-hill-fl 12
Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology Sioux Falls South Dakota https://www.avera.org 12
Casper College Casper Wyoming https://www.caspercollege.edu 12
Catawba Valley Community College Hickory North Carolina https://www.cvcc.edu 12
City College of San Francisco San Francisco California https://www.ccsf.edu 12
College of Southern Idaho Twin Falls Idaho https://www.csi.edu 12
Elgin Community College Elgin Illinois https://www.elgin.edu 12
Fortis College-Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Louisiana https://www.fortis.edu 12
Fortis Institute-Nashville Nashville Tennessee https://www.fortis.edu 12
Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome Georgia https://www.gntc.edu 12
Itawamba Community College Fulton Mississippi https://www.iccms.edu 12
Jones County Junior College Ellisville Mississippi https://www.jcjc.edu 12
Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Illinois https://www.llcc.edu 12
Metro Technology Centers Oklahoma City Oklahoma https://www.metrotech.edu 12
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Iowa https://www.nicc.edu 12
Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro Georgia https://www.ogeecheetech.edu 12
Pikes Peak Community College Colorado Springs Colorado https://www.pikespeak.edu 12
Roxbury Community College Roxbury Crossing Massachusetts https://www.rcc.mass.edu 12
Somerset Community College Somerset Kentucky https://somerset.kctcs.edu/about 12
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green Kentucky https://southcentral.kctcs.edu 12
State Technical College of Missouri Linn Missouri https://statetechmo.edu 12
Universidad Central Del Caribe Bayamon Puerto Rico https://www.uccaribe.edu 12
Vermont Technical College Randolph Vermont https://www.vtc.edu 12
Wenatchee Valley College Wenatchee Washington https://www.wvc.edu 12
Xavier University Cincinnati Ohio https://www.xavier.edu 12
Yavapai College Prescott Arizona https://www.yc.edu 12
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville North Carolina https://abtech.edu 11
Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock Arkansas https://www.bhclr.edu 11
Boston University Boston Massachusetts https://www.bu.edu 11
Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins Colorado https://www.colostate.edu 11
Columbia Basin College Pasco Washington https://www.columbiabasin.edu 11
Dixie State University Saint George Utah https://utahtech.edu 11
Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo Indiana https://kokomo.iu.edu 11
Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor Michigan https://www.lakemichigancollege.edu 11
Laredo College Laredo Texas https://www.laredo.edu 11
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams Massachusetts https://www.mcla.edu 11
Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology Cedar Rapids Iowa https://www.unitypoint.org/join-our-team/medical-education-and-career-growth 11
Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield Missouri https://www.missouristate.edu 11
Moorpark College Moorpark California https://www.moorparkcollege.edu 11
Olney Central College Olney Illinois https://iecc.edu/occ 11
Sandhills Community College Pinehurst North Carolina https://www.sandhills.edu 11
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences Rock Island Illinois https://www.trinitycollegeqc.edu 11
Albany Technical College Albany Georgia https://www.albanytech.edu 10
Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster California https://www.avc.edu 10
Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte North Carolina https://atriumhealth.org/education/carolinas-college-of-health-sciences 10
CVPH Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology Plattsburgh New York https://www.cvph.org/Residency-and-Education/School-of-Radiology 10
Gannon University Erie Pennsylvania https://www.gannon.edu 10
Herzing University-Orlando Winter Park Florida https://www.herzing.edu 10
Kishwaukee College Malta Illinois https://kish.edu 10
Labette Community College Parsons Kansas https://www.labette.edu 10
River Valley Community College Claremont New Hampshire https://www.rivervalley.edu 10
Robeson Community College Lumberton North Carolina https://www.robeson.edu 10
University of St Francis Joliet Illinois https://www.stfrancis.edu 10
Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon Virginia https://www.vhcc.edu 10
Zane State College Zanesville Ohio https://www.zanestate.edu 10
DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Johnstown Pennsylvania https://www.conemaugh.org/education 9
Folsom Lake College Folsom California https://flc.losrios.edu 9
Henderson State University Arkadelphia Arkansas https://www.hsu.edu 9
Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Medford Massachusetts https://lmregis.org 9
Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines Iowa https://www.mchs.edu 9
Mineral Area College Park Hills Missouri https://mineralarea.edu 9
Northeast Mississippi Community College Booneville Mississippi https://www.nemcc.edu 9
Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon Iowa https://nwicc.edu 9
Northwest-Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals Alabama https://nwscc.edu 9
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown Pennsylvania https://www.pennhighlands.edu 9
Regis College Weston Massachusetts https://www.regiscollege.edu 9
Richland Community College Decatur Illinois https://www.richland.edu 9
Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff Virginia https://sw.edu 9
Stanly Community College Albemarle North Carolina https://www.stanly.edu 9
Texas Southmost College Brownsville Texas https://www.tsc.edu 9
Washington State Community College Marietta Ohio https://www.wscc.edu 9
Western Suffolk BOCES Northport New York https://www.wilsontech.org 9
Augusta Technical College Augusta Georgia https://www.augustatech.edu 8
Autry Technology Center Enid Oklahoma https://autrytech.edu 8
Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque New Mexico https://www.cnm.edu 8
Crafton Hills College Yucaipa California https://www.craftonhills.edu 8
Cypress College Cypress California https://www.cypresscollege.edu 8
Eastern Maine Community College Bangor Maine https://www.emcc.edu 8
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown Kentucky https://elizabethtown.kctcs.edu 8
Great Basin College Elko Nevada https://www.gbcnv.edu 8
Heartland Community College Normal Illinois https://www.heartland.edu 8
ICPR Junior College Manati Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 8
Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls Minnesota https://www.mnwest.edu 8
Morgan Community College Fort Morgan Colorado https://www.morgancc.edu 8
Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Missouri https://www.nwmissouri.edu 8
Southwestern Community College Sylva North Carolina https://www.southwesterncc.edu 8
Albany State University Albany Georgia https://www.asurams.edu 7
CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology Omaha Nebraska https://www.chihealth.com/school-of-radiologic-technology 7
Clovis Community College Clovis New Mexico https://www.clovis.edu 7
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Teaneck New Jersey https://www.fdu.edu 7
JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Schools Plainfield New Jersey https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/Healthcare-Professionals 7
O C Collins Career Center Chesapeake Ohio https://www.collins-cc.edu 7
San Joaquin Delta College Stockton California https://www.deltacollege.edu 7
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Cumberland Kentucky https://southeast.kctcs.edu 7
Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro North Carolina https://www.wilkescc.edu 7
York College of Pennsylvania York Pennsylvania https://www.ycp.edu 7
Arnot Ogden Medical Center Elmira New York https://www.arnothealth.org 6
Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing New Jersey https://www.atlanticcape.edu 6
Butler County Community College Butler Pennsylvania https://www.bc3.edu 6
Florida National University-Main Campus Hialeah Florida https://www.fnu.edu 6
Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley Pennsylvania https://www.gmercyu.edu 6
Lenoir Community College Kinston North Carolina https://www.lenoircc.edu 6
Louisiana State University-Alexandria Alexandria Louisiana https://www.lsua.edu 6
University of Mary Bismarck North Dakota https://www.umary.edu 6
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Yankton South Dakota https://www.avera.org/locations/sacred-heart 5
El Paso Community College El Paso Texas https://www.epcc.edu 5
Southeastern Technical College Vidalia Georgia https://www.southeasterntech.edu 5
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande Ohio https://www.rio.edu 5
Atenas College Manati Puerto Rico https://www.atenascollege.edu 4
Carl Sandburg College Galesburg Illinois https://www.sandburg.edu 4
Meridian Community College Meridian Mississippi https://www.meridiancc.edu 4
Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell Montana https://www.fvcc.edu 3
Minot State University Minot North Dakota https://www.minotstateu.edu 3
Mount Marty University Yankton South Dakota https://www.mountmarty.edu 3
North Iowa Area Community College Mason City Iowa https://www.niacc.edu 3
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Concord North Carolina https://cabarruscollege.edu 2
Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Michigan https://www.cuaa.edu 2
Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon Wisconsin https://www.cuw.edu 2
Roosevelt University Chicago Illinois https://www.roosevelt.edu 2
Wor-Wic Community College Salisbury Maryland https://www.worwic.edu 2
Advance Science International College Miami Lakes Florida https://www.asicollege.edu 1
Atlanta Technical College Atlanta Georgia https://atlantatech.edu 1
ICPR Junior College Hato Rey Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 1
Meridian Technology Center Stillwater Oklahoma https://www.meridiantech.edu 1
National University of Health Sciences Lombard Illinois https://www.nuhs.edu 1
Parkland College Champaign Illinois https://www.parkland.edu 1
Quinnipiac University Hamden Connecticut https://www.qu.edu 1
Widener University Chester Pennsylvania https://www.widener.edu 1
'20-'21 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

Associate vs. Bachelor’s Degree: A Comparison for Radiologic Technologists

The ARRT’s Shift Towards Higher Education

Since 2015, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) has mandated the completion of an accredited educational program for professional certification, such as:

  • Associate’s of science (AS) or associate’s of applied science (AAS)
  • Bachelor of science (BS)

This shift reflects a growing emphasis on advanced training and expertise within the field.

The Benefits of a Bachelor’s Degree

While both associate and bachelor’s degrees qualify individuals for ARRT certification, the latter offers several advantages:

  • Enhanced earnings and employment prospects: A bachelor’s degree often translates to higher earning potential and increased job opportunities due to the more comprehensive coursework and clinical training involved.
  • Specialized training: Bachelor’s programs may delve deeper into specific techniques and technologies like radiation therapy, MRI, ultrasound, CT, mammography, angiography, and nuclear medicine.
  • Pathway to radiology: For those aspiring to become radiologists, a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for medical school.
School City State Website GRADS ('21)
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Florida https://www.keiseruniversity.edu 352
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson Tucson Arizona https://pmi.edu 151
Midwestern State University Wichita Falls Texas https://www.msutexas.edu 132
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts San Mateo California https://www.gurnick.edu 98
Boise State University Boise Idaho https://www.boisestate.edu 81
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches Louisiana https://www.nsula.edu 64
AdventHealth University Orlando Florida https://www.ahu.edu 57
Galveston College Galveston Texas https://www.gc.edu 56
ECPI University Virginia Beach Virginia https://www.ecpi.edu 52
Lewis-Clark State College Lewiston Idaho https://www.lcsc.edu 52
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Arkansas https://uafs.edu 50
East Tennessee State University Johnson City Tennessee https://www.etsu.edu/ehome 49
Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Oregon https://www.oit.edu 47
University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe Louisiana https://www.ulm.edu 41
University of Mississippi University Mississippi https://olemiss.edu 39
University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa https://uiowa.edu 38
Parker University Dallas Texas https://www.parker.edu 33
Oak Point University Oak Brook Illinois https://oakpoint.edu 32
Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville Georgia https://gwinnetttech.edu 31
Siena Heights University Adrian Michigan https://www.sienaheights.edu 30
Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Virginia https://www.virginiawestern.edu 30
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha Nebraska https://www.methodistcollege.edu 29
Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville Georgia https://oftc.edu 28
Henry Ford College Dearborn Michigan https://www.hfcc.edu 28
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions San Antonio Texas https://www.bshp.edu 26
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas https://www.mdanderson.org 26
Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston Maine https://www.mchp.edu 24
Marian University Fond Du Lac Wisconsin https://www.marianuniversity.edu 24
Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont Texas https://www.lit.edu 23
Southwest University at El Paso El Paso Texas https://southwestuniversity.edu 22
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Colorado https://www.coloradomesa.edu 21
James A. Rhodes State College Lima Ohio https://www.rhodesstate.edu 19
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish Maine https://www.sjcme.edu 19
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Oklahoma https://osuokc.edu 18
Hinds Community College Raymond Mississippi https://www.hindscc.edu 16
Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard Kentucky https://hazard.kctcs.edu 15
Ball State University Muncie Indiana https://www.bsu.edu 14
Riverland Community College Austin Minnesota https://www.riverland.edu 13
Bluefield State College Bluefield West Virginia https://bluefieldstate.edu 11
Loma Linda University Loma Linda California https://llu.edu 10
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Cumberland Kentucky https://southeast.kctcs.edu 7
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Las Cruces New Mexico https://dacc.nmsu.edu 7
Presentation College Aberdeen South Dakota https://www.presentation.edu 5
Owens Community College Perrysburg Ohio https://www.owens.edu 3
Friends University Wichita Kansas https://www.friends.edu 2
University of Alaska Southeast Juneau Alaska https://uas.alaska.edu 1
'20-'21 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

On Campus Programs in Radiologic Technology

Bellevue College – AAS

Based in Bellevue, Washington, this associate of applied science degree program in radiologic technology involves eight quarters of classroom work and clinical experiences. Courses include positioning & related anatomy, basic patient care procedures, and principles of radiographic exposure. Students must maintain at least a C in all courses to earn the degree and students should be prepared to sit for the ARRT exam upon completion. Students may later apply their associate degree toward a bachelor’s of science (BS) in radiation & imaging sciences at the school. A certificate of completion to work as an imaging aide is another education option available at the school.

  • Location: Bellevue College, WA
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Tarrant County College – AAS

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, this associate of applied science (AAS) degree in radiology technology is a two-year program with selective admission. It comprises courses such as patient care, radiographic imaging equipment, and radiation biology & protection, as well as several clinical practicums. Clinical hours are required and students must meet pre-screening requirements before participating. To even be considered for admission, two biology classes need to be completed as prerequisites. Graduates from this program average a 95 percent first-time pass rate on the ARRT certification exam.

  • Location: Fort Worth, TX
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Chaffey College – AS

Chaffey College’s radiologic technology program equips students with the knowledge and skills to become registered/certified radiologic technologists. This accredited program focuses on providing quality patient care and safety while fostering professionalism. Graduates of Chaffey College’s program are eligible to take the national ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) and California (CRT) licensing exams, paving the way for rewarding careers as entry-level radiologic technologists.

  • Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Foothill College – AS

Based in Los Altos, California, Foothill College offers an associate’s of science degree in radiologic technology. Instruction includes lectures, on-campus labs, and supervised hands-on learning experiences. Students start in the summer of their first year and work through eight terms, finishing up in the spring of their second year. In their second year, they must complete three practicums and learn about professional development in radiology. Students should be prepared to take the ARRT test upon graduation and to seek California state licensure. This program accepts 22 to 24 student in each cohort.

  • Location: Los Altos, CA
  • Duration: 23 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Greenville Technical College – AAS

Greenville Technical College offers this associate program in radiologic technology program which comprises two phases. First, students complete general education requirements. The second includes specialized radiologic technology coursework such as anatomy & physiology, radiography, and medical terminology. The clinical assignments are completed during this phase and students may be required to work evenings or weekends. Upon program completion, students are generally eligible to sit for the ARRT exam. Please note that admission into the program’s first phase does not guarantee admission into the second phase.

  • Location: Greenville, SC
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Metropolitan Community College – AAS

Metropolitan Community College offers an associate of applied science (AAS) in radiologic technology lasts 24 months and includes classes such as imaging modalities, human physiology, and digital imaging environment and imaging analysis. Students need to receive a C or better in all their coursework and may be required to travel outside the Kansas City area to complete some of their clinical mentorships. The program prepares students to sit for the ARRT exam upon completion.

  • Location: Kansas City, MO
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Online Programs in Radiologic Technology

While there’s a wealth of accredited educational programs across the country, enrolling in an online or hybrid (i.e., blended online and on-campus) program may be preferable for students in more rural regions or with temporal constraints. These flexible programs typically involve completing online classes and in-person clinical practicums at approved facilities near a student’s home.

For students seeking this convenient learning format, here are examples of online and hybrid radiologic technologist programs.

Indian Hills Community College – AAS

With two campuses in Iowa, this hybrid two-year associate program offers online learning during the second year. Classes include human anatomy, medical terminology, radiology & medical imaging, and positioning & film critique. After graduating, students are eligible to sit for the ARRT exam. In 2023, program graduates had a five-year 92 percent pass rate on the certification exam.

  • Location: Ottumwa & Centerville, IA
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Southeast Community College – AAS

This two-year program includes a track for clinical coursework to be completed in Lincoln, but the didactic portion may be learned online or in the classroom. Classes include diagnostic imaging theory, radiation biology, and advanced patient care management. Students must maintain at least a C+ in all of their program courses and those pursuing the online option must attend a multi-day workshop at the Lincoln campus at their own expense. In 2023, the program had an 82 percent pass rate on the certification exam over five year’s time.

  • Location: Lincoln, NE
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Ball State University – AS

Based in Muncie, IN, BSU provides a 26-month hybrid associate of science (AS) in radiography. Please note that while classes are offered mainly online, clinical work must be completed at specific sites in Indiana, including IU Health Methodist Hospital or Hendricks Regional Health.

  • Location: Muncie, IN
  • Duration: 26 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

St. Joseph’s College – BS

This online bachelor of science (BS) in radiologic science administration program may be ideal to advance the careers of aspiring leaders in the field. Designed to prepare supervisors and educators, this unique online program has classes in human resource management, ethics in healthcare, healthcare informatics, and reimbursement methodologies. SJC also offers the option to “fast track” to a master of health administration (MHA) degree program.

  • Location: Standish, ME
  • Duration: 15 to 26 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Red Rocks Community College – AAS

Red Rocks Community College’s associate of applied science (AAS) in radiologic technology program equips students for a career in x-ray imaging as a radiologic technologist. This intensive, 21-month program is offered full-time and starts in the fall. The curriculum blends classroom instruction on the Arvada campus with online learning and hands-on clinical experience at area hospitals and clinics. Students gain a strong foundation in radiographic principles and techniques, with the opportunity to rotate through various clinical settings to discover their ideal work environment. Graduates are prepared to take the ARRT certification exam, boasting a 96 percent pass rate in 2024, and launch successful careers.

  • Location: Arvada, CO
  • Duration: 21 months
  • Accreditation: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Core & Elective Courses

According to the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians (ARRT), students must demonstrate several core competencies before receiving their licensure. As of January 1, 2015, aspiring radiologic technologists must have at least an associate degree in order to pursue the nationally recognized ARRT certification.

Degree programs are specially designed to expose students to the didactic and clinical experiences that will prepare them for the national ARRT exam and state licensing procedures. In addition to general education requirements, associate degree programs in radiologic technology may offer the following preparatory courses:

  • Anatomy & radiographic positioning
  • Basic radiographic procedures
  • Imaging modalities
  • Medical procedures for radiologic technologists
  • Medical terminology
  • Patient care
  • Radiation biology & protection
  • Radiation physics
  • Radiographic imaging equipment
  • Radiographic pathology
  • Specialized imaging

Bachelor’s degrees in radiologic technology typically feature the following:

  • Advanced patient assessment & treatment
  • Anatomy & radiation biology
  • Introduction to CT
  • Introduction to mammography
  • Introduction to MRI
  • Patient professional interaction
  • Physics in medical imaging
  • Physics of radiation protection
  • Procedures in imaging
  • Radiographic exposure
  • Radiographic legal & ethical aspects
  • Radiographic technique
  • Radiologic pathophysiology

In addition to field-specific coursework, students need to gain hands-on experience through supervised instruction sessions known as practicums or clinicals. This training typically occurs in the latter half of programs after students have developed their skills and knowledge of a healthcare setting. Clinicals allow students to put their newfound abilities into practice in a real-world environment while working under the supervision of a skilled professional.

Accreditation

As mentioned in the overview of radiologic technology programs, students are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of their educational programs. The process of accreditation ensures that a school or program is meeting certain standards of quality concerning curricula, student outcomes, and facilities. Furthermore, to qualify for professional certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), a person must have graduated from an accredited associate, bachelor’s, or graduate-level program.

One of the popular accreditation organizations in this field is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). According to its website, JRCERT is the only agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit traditional and online learning programs in magnetic resonance, medical dosimetry, radiation therapy, and radiography. Its website lists the full set of standards used when deciding whether to grant accreditation to a school, as well as a handy search tool to organize radiologic technologist programs by state and degree level.

While JRCERT is one program-approval option to qualify for credentialing in the field, the AART provides a full list of recognized accrediting agencies for radiologic technologist schools, including programmatic, regional, national, and faith-related institutions.

State Authorization

Please note that due to state-based restrictions on distance-based education, residents from some states may not be authorized to receive online instruction from another state. Be sure to ask coordinators of online programs about the school’s “state authorization” status.

Career Outlook

As mentioned in the introduction, the outlook is bright for radiologic technologists. By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) predicts that openings for radiologic technologists will increase by 6 percent between 2023 and 2033, faster than the average growth projected across all occupations (4 percent). In that decade, 13,100 new positions are expected to be in demand.

Furthermore, the salary prospects are also promising, particularly for a career that requires a two-year degree. The BLS (May 2023) found that radiologic technologists make an average annual salary of $75,250 with the following percentiles:

  • 10th percentile: $50,020
  • 25th percentile: $60,690
  • 50th percentile (median): $73,410
  • 75th percentile: $84,670
  • 90th percentile: $102,380

Finally, PayScale (2025)—an aggregator of self-reported salaries—found much lower figures among its 1,122 responding radiologic technicians nationwide:

  • 10th percentile: $45,000
  • 50th percentile (median): $61,000
  • 90th percentile: $91,000

Licensing & Certification

Radiologic technologists need to be professionally credentialed to practice in their field. The most common credentialing agency is the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), which has both generalized and specialized registration exams. The ARRT offers several types of certification, including:

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR)
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology (N)
  • Radiation Therapy (T)
  • Radiography (R)
  • Sonography (S)

Additionally, the ARRT credentialing exams are used in the majority of states to license radiologic technologists. To learn more about regional credentialing in this field, please consult the ARRT state contacts list and contact the proper governing body.

Finally, these certifications must be renewed and maintained after completing qualifying continuing education (CE) credits every two years and continuing qualifications requirements (CQR) every ten years. Please check out the ARRT continuing education requirements page to learn more about what’s required to maintain specific credentials.

Rachel Drummond, MEd
Rachel Drummond, MEd Writer

Rachel Drummond has contributed insightful articles to MedicalTechnologySchools.com since 2019, where she offers valuable advice and guidance for those pursuing careers in the healthcare field, combining her passion for education with her understanding of the critical role that healthcare professionals play in promoting physical and mental well-being.

Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.

Jocelyn Blore
Jocelyn Blore Managing Editor

Jocelyn Blore has interviewed dozens of medical technology and healthcare professionals, and edited hundreds of articles related to this field since 2015. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Jocelyn traveled the world for five years as freelance writer and English teacher. After stints in Japan, Brazil, Nepal, and Argentina, she took an 11-month road trip across the US, finally settling into lovely Eugene, OR. When Jocelyn isn’t writing about college programs or interviewing professors, she satirizes global politics and other absurdities at Blore’s Razor (Instagram: @bloresrazor). Thank you for being so interested.

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