Radiology technicians perform X-ray exams for patients.
Radiology technicians (sometimes called X-ray technicians or radiographers) are health professionals who use X-ray technology to create images of the body for diagnostic purposes. Employment opportunities for radiology technicians are expected to increase between now and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unfortunately, for students on Oahu desiring to learn radiography, options are limited. Only one school currently offers a degree program in radiologic technology: Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu. This school is part of the University of Hawaii school system and has a two-year associate degree program in radiologic technology.
Program Overview
The radiology technician program at KCC is a combination of classroom study, laboratory work and hands-on clinical experience at a hospital. The two-year program is designed to qualify graduates for the national exam for registration with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, and for licensing by the Hawaii Board of Radiologic Technology. Besides the general education requirements for the degree, students will learn the safe and proper use of X-ray equipment, proper positioning of patients during the exam, process the film and all related procedures.
Admission Requirements
Students applying to this program must complete prerequisite college courses, which include anatomy and physiology (lecture and lab), college math, English composition or expository writing, and survey of medical terminology. The science courses need to have been taken within the past five years to qualify as prerequisite fulfillment. A list of additional support courses are also recommended, which include health care ethics, human growth and development, and developmental psychology.
In addition to the pre-requisite courses, applicants must attend an information session detailing the course and requirements, develop an academic action plan with a health sciences adviser, and achieve acceptable scores on the COMPASS exam. Once accepted into the program, students attend a program orientation, hospital orientation and advising session to select their first courses.
Curriculum
The associate degree plan requires a minimum of 15 hours of various general education courses in the humanities, natural and social sciences. Radiology-specific courses include radiologic pharmacology, radiologic physics, radiation biology and protection, radiographic technique, film technique, patient positioning and special procedures. The entire degree plan requires a minimum fulfillment of 89 credits, culminating in an Associate of Science in radiologic technology degree.
Health Sciences Department
Kapiolani Community College
4303 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96816
808-734-9251
kapiolani.hawaii.edu
Tags: radiologic technology, associate degree, Community College, degree plan, degree plan requires, degree program
