Radiologic Technology

Radiologic technology is an imaging science combining advanced technology with human compassion. A radiographer (sometimes called a radiologic technologist) is a health care professional who is educated, trained and certified to produce images (x-rays) of patients' internal structures for use in diagnosing medical problems.

Upon successful completion of the six-semester full scope of practice program, students are eligible to apply for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination in radiography. Registry-eligible graduates have the opportunity for employment in hospitals, doctors' offices, outpatient centers or other health care facilities. TCC graduates experience excellent career mobility. Areas of advancement include radiation therapy, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. Some graduates have chosen to pursue careers as technical sales representatives, educators, managers/administrators, instructors with equipment manufacturers and physicians.

Whatever path is chosen, radiography provides many opportunities for professional growth. Technologically, it is the fastest growing area of all allied health careers. Starting salaries can range from approximately $30,000 to $36,000, depending on the geographic area, the specialty, and the shift worked.

The Radiologic Technology program is offered at the Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education.  The total program is six semesters in length and requires clinical and didactic competency as outlined in the curriculum. Clinical competency is obtained through completion of practicum objectives in approved clinical education settings throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding area. Transportation to and from the clinical education settings is the sole responsibility of each individual student.

The following are required upon acceptance:

• FDLE / FBI
  • Area healthcare agencies require that all students participating in clinical rotations at the agencies must have a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check including fingerprints. This background check will be completed and reviewed before final acceptance into the Radiologic Technology program is granted. The cost of all background check is the responsibility of the applicant.
• Local Background Check
  • A local background check from your county of residence will be required and paid for by applicant upon acceptance in the Radiologic Technology program. This background check will be completed and reviewed before final acceptance into the program is granted.
  • The results of the background checks will be returned to the Director or Health Professions Program designee of Tallahassee Community College. Information returned to TCC about the local background check will remain confidential. All background information that appears on a background check will be submitted to the designated person of the health care affiliate agency that requires such background checks of students. The agency will decide whether or not a student may have a clinical experience in that agency.
  • A student who is not accepted by an agency for clinical experience will not be able to meet program objectives and therefore will not be accepted into the program
• Drug Screen
  • Area health care agencies are drug free places of employment and require a satisfactory (negative) drug screen of all healthcare program students that will be in clinical rotations at their facilities. This drug screen test will be performed by a designee of TCC and will be done prior to final acceptance into the program. Students with a positive result on the drug screen will be given an opportunity to explain the confirmed positive test result. If the explanation is unacceptable and/or cannot be satisfactorily documented by the applicant's Physician, the applicant shall not be accepted into the program.
• Immunizations/Screening required by the first day of class

• • TB screening yearly - PPD test or chest x-ray
  • Tetanus immunization every 10 years
  • 2 - Immunizations for MMR (unless not indicated):
  • Varicella blood titers, documenting immunity
  • Hepatitis B (series of 3 injections)