Job Description

Radiologic technology encompasses many specialties involving medical diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays.

Radiologic Technologists:

• Provide vital information concerning structure and function of the human body
• Enable physicians to make accurate diagnoses to pursue care and treatment
• Play a key role in the total spectrum of medical imaging of health care services

Career Resources

• Check out the SWIC Career Center career mentoring program 
• Find career and membership info from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists 
• Visit the Illinois State Society of Radiologic Technologists website for membership 
• See the U.S. Labor Department Occupational Outlook Handbook for pay and job outlook 

Job Opportunities

RTs work in a variety of settings including:

• Hospitals
• Health care facilities
• Oncology centers
• Physician's offices

Career Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook projects employment of radiologic technologists to increase by about 17 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations.

Salary

The average starting salary is $36,000–$40,000, depending on the type and location of the health care facility.

Prepare to Apply

1. Complete prerequisite courses/exams in biology, chemistry/physics and algebra exam.
 

2. Fill Out the Planning Guide

• Download the RT Planning Guide to find out how to increase your chances of acceptance into this highly competitive program.  

3. Understand that the Application Point System is Based on:

• Grades for prerequisite courses: biology and chemistry/physics –higher grades earn more points.
• Algebra exam 
• ACT scores or SWIC GPA option–higher scores receive more points
• Credit hours of general education courses completed with a B or better–more credit hours earn more points

4. Meet with a Counselor  

• Call or visit SWIC Counseling for more information about  requirements for the RT program.

Questions?

• For an individual review of your planning guide, contact the Health Sciences coordinators' assistant.

Applicant Selection

Application Point System

Applications for the RT program will be rated on a point system, with points based on:

• Grades earned in prerequisite courses/exams: biology, chemistry/physics (higher grades earn more points) and algebra exam.
• ACT scores or SWIC GPA option (higher scores receive more points)
• Credit hours of general education courses completed with a B or better (more credit hours earn more points)

Notification of Acceptance

Applicants will be notified of their status regarding admission as quickly as possible given the number of applications received, typically in late March or early April.

More Candidates than Seats Available

In the event there are more qualified applicants than spaces available in this program, those applicants who reside outside the SWIC district or in a district without a joint agreement for this program will not be eligible for consideration or admission.Resident status is determined by address on file with the Enrollment Services office by April1.

For a list of colleges that have joint agreements with SWIC, view the college catalog and search for Interdistrict Cooperative Agreements.

The admission procedures for the Radiologic Technology program are in accordance with Illinois law. The law requires that programs not having sufficient space and resources to accommodate all applicants will accept those applicants best qualified, using rank, ability and achievement test scores as guides, with preference given to students residing within district.

Fewer Candidates than Seats Available

In the event that there are fewer qualified candidates than there are spaces available, applications will continue to be accepted until the program's maximum capacity has been reached or until the first week of classes during the summer semester.

The college reserves the right to fill the program in those years when there are fewer applicants than spaces available by whatever means it deems necessary to assure both academic integrity and fairness in the selection process.

Other Requirements

The following criteria are required of accepted applicants, and all information will be explained in detail at program orientation meetings.  

Orientation & Performance:

Applicants accepted to this program must attend all required orientation sessions and be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations. Applicants or enrolled students are encouraged to contact the Disability & Access Center to discuss potential issues associated with meeting these requirements.

Health Insurance:

Health insurance is required during clinical education courses. Students are personally responsible for any costs incurred for injuries occurring during their clinical experience.

Medical Requirements:

These requirements do not have to be fulfilled until they are explained at the orientation meeting. RT students will be required to possess current CPR certification at the Health Care Provider level, show proof of immunizations, TB test and physical examination, and verify health insurance coverage before beginning any clinical experience.

Background Checks and Drug Testing:

Background checks and drug testing are required.

• A list of disqualifying convictions is available from the Illinois Department of Public Health website. Students with convictions must possess a waiver from the IDPH to participate in the program.
• Drug testing will identify illegal and prescription drugs. If results are positive, the student must provide proof of prescription in his or her own name in order to pass the drug test.

Graduation Requirements:

Applicants admitted to the program must follow the requirements for graduation at the time they are admitted and must meet all course, program, degree and sequencing requirements specified. Students are responsible for program policies as listed in each year's RT Student Handbook. Students who fail to meet program-specific requirements will be dropped from the program and may be required to reapply and compete for admission in the succeeding semester.

Course Sequence

Acceptance to the program is required before an applicant will be permitted to register for RT courses. 

Radiologic Technology Degree

Radiologic Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree (0028) Course Sequence 

This is a 73-credit-hour, 2-year accredited degree program that can be completed in four semesters and two summers and includes:

• 17 credit hours of general education courses
• 56 credit hours of radiologic technology courses

The curriculum includes biological and social sciences, RT technical courses and assigned clinical experiences.

View the RT Mission and Goals.

Course Information

General Education Courses  

General education courses can be completed prior to admission. These courses can be taken at the Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City or Red Bud campuses. If general education courses are not completed prior to admission, they must be completed during the semesters indicated.

Radiologic Technology Courses  

The Radiologic Technology program courses begin each summer for those applicants accepted into the program. These courses are only offered at the Belleville Campus during the day, with some evening opportunities available. View the course sequence. 

Clinical Education Experiences  

Clinical practice courses begin in the first fall semester during the day and continue every semester until program completion. Clinical experience courses are completed off campus in various RT employment settings. Students may be required to travel outside the college district for clinical experience courses. Background checks and drug testing are required prior to the first clinical course. Specific clinical placement cannot be guaranteed.

Program Capacity

Belleville Campus

The Radiologic Technology program generally accepts 40 students each summer semester at the Belleville Campus.

Program Location

The Radiologic Technology program consists of general education courses, RT pre-fix courses and assigned clinical experiences. Specific locations depend on the course type. 

General Education Courses

The required general education courses can be taken at the Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City or Red Bud campuses.

Radiologic Technology Courses

The RT program courses are only offered at the Belleville Campus during the day, with some evening opportunities available.

Clinical Education Experiences

Clinical experiences are completed at hospitals/clinical facilities within the district or in the St. Louis region. Students may be required to travel outside the college district for clinical experience courses. Background checks and drug testing are required prior to clinical experiences. Specific clinical placement cannot be guaranteed.

Program Cost

Radiologic Technology Degree program

For details, see the RT Degree cost sheet 

Financial assistance is available!

SWIC Financial Aid Office 

Financial aid is available subject to financial need and satisfactory academic progress requirements set by the college.

The student work program does not require financial aid eligibility.

SWIC Foundation 

The SWIC Foundation offers more than 200 scholarships based on residency, enrollment and GPA criteria.

Time Commitment

First-Year Students

Summer Semester: 

• Classroom and lab Monday through Thursday

Fall Semester: 

• Classroom, lab and 15 clinical hours per week
• Monday-Thursday: two days clinical and two days classroom

Spring Semester: 

• Classroom, lab and 15 clinical hours per week
• Monday–Thursday: two days clinical and two days classroom

Second-Year Students

Summer Semester: 

• 30 hours clinical experience per week for eight weeks

Fall Semester: 

• Classroom and 20 clinical hours per week
• Monday–Thursday and 1/2 Friday: two days classroom and two-and-a-half days clinical

Spring Semester: 

• Classroom and 20 clinical hours per week
• Monday–Thursday and 1/2 Friday: two days classroom and two-and-a-half days clinical

Program Accreditation

JRCERT Accreditation

Southwestern Illinois College's Radiologic Technology program is accredited by:

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312-704-5300
e-mail: mail@jrcert.org 

Verification of accreditation can be viewed at the JRCERT website.

Accreditation Benefits

The program's curriculum is guided by the standards developed by the JRCERT. Our accreditation status means SWIC has met the standards required and helps to assure the public that our curriculum will graduate competent clinicians. It also allows the college's RT graduates to take the certification examination in any state that requires a license to practice radiologic technology.

Program Data

View the Radiologic Technology program's Student Learning Outcomes and Program Effectiveness summary data.

Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of the RT curriculum, graduates are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree and are eligible to take the national examination for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Individuals applying to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technology certification exam may need to complete a Pre-Application Review to determine ethics eligibility. State agencies governing the practice of radiographers may deny an individual licensure, even if the individual has completed all course work and graduated from the program, if the individual has a criminal history, has been convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or other serious crime.

Certification Pass Rate

The SWIC graduate certification pass rate averaged over the past three years is 98 percent.

Contacts

For more information about this program, please contact: