FAQ

You can apply for the radiologic technology program by first applying to Kettering College. When completing the application, you will want to indicate that your interest or the program for which you are applying is Radiologic Technology. If you would like to apply, click on the following link:

APPLY NOW

The radiography admission process can be reviewed by clicking on the following link:

RADIOLOGY ADMISSION

The radiography program can admit a maximum of 30 students per year.

There is no waitlist at the beginning of the admissions process in January; however, once a class is filled with the maximum number of students, a waitlist will be formed if there are additional qualified applicants. Qualified applicants on the waitlist will be ranked according to GPA, math/science course grades, and other admission criteria. Based on that ranking, waitlisted applicants will be offered a position in the class if an opening occurs. Once the radiology program of study begins in late August, the waitlist is disbanded. Any students who were placed on the waitlist but still want to be considered for the radiology program will need to reapply for the following year.

The minimum GPA for radiography program admission is 2.50. This would include both high school and college experiences; however, if a student has completed more than 24 credits of college-level work, the high school GPA will not be considered. Although the minimum GPA for admission is 2.5, the average GPA

If the number of qualified applicants for the radiography program exceeds the maximum space available, the program will establish a waitlist. The waitlist is ranked based on academic qualifications and individuals on the wait list will be notified of any openings in the program. The waitlist does not automatically roll over to the following year. If candidates on the waitlist are not admitted to the program but still seek admission, they will need to re-apply for the following year.

The radiography program begins one cohort per year and that occurs in the fall term, usually during the last week of August

Kettering College is fully staffed to assist with any questions you may have regarding financial aid. You can learn more about financial aid by clicking on the following link:

FINANCIAL AID

Ideal candidates for the Radiologic Technology program at Kettering College excel academically in the classroom, have solid communication skills—both written and verbal—have a high-grade point average (GPA) with a strong background in math and science courses, enjoy helping people, and work well with others since the main component of healthcare delivery is patient-centered teamwork. Top candidates for the program demonstrate an exceptional high school and/or college educational record in algebra, physics, biology, and anatomy and physiology. With the program’s emphasis on human anatomy and physiology as well as the physical principles of radiographic equipment and the characteristics of ionizing radiation, students with these strengths have the best prediction for success.

There are no academic prerequisites for the radiography program; however, students can choose to complete or transfer some or all of the required arts and sciences courses prior to admission to the program.

Once you apply and are admitted to the college, all previous transcripts (high school and college) must be forwarded to the Kettering College Admissions Office. The transfer credit committee will review a student’s transcripts and determine what courses can transfer for any of the required program courses. Any questions a student may have regarding transfer credit should be directed to the college’s Admissions Office or their academic adviser.

No. Pregnancy will neither prevent a student from being accepted into the radiography program, nor require the student to drop out of the program. It is up to the student to declare her pregnancy. If she does, program officials will counsel her regarding proper radiation safety practices and provide her with a second radiation monitoring badge that will determine how much, if any, radiation is received by the fetus. The student will also have the option to choose to remain on full clinical duty or be placed on restricted duty that will limit radiation exposure to the fetus. However, the student must meet all clinical requirements and any clinical time and/or course work missed due to maternity leave must be made up.

A job shadow is not required. However, to observe what a radiologic technology student will experience on clinical rotations they are encouraged to schedule a job shadow on their own prior to enrollment into the program.

There are no restrictions on students working while in the program; however, the program curriculum is highly intense with a combination of didactic and clinical education. Students may be encouraged to limit their working hours if it begins to impact their education performance. Per accreditation requirements, students cannot be paid while in clinicals.

Students accepted into the program must request and pay to have a background check performed by the College-approved service. Program official will send pertinent information upon student’s acceptance of admission letter. Background checks must be completed between June 1 and August 31 prior to the year of enrollment in the radiography program. While acceptance into the program may not be denied by a negative background check, approval to take the ARRT national certification examination may be compromised. You can learn more about the ARRT ethics requirement by clicking on the following link: https://www.arrt.org/earn-arrt-credentials/requirements/ethics-requirements

Occurrences that may appear on a background check will not necessarily prevent a student from being admitted to the college or the radiologic technology program; however, it may prevent a student from attending certain clinical sites. This would be a decision made by the clinical site and not the college or the program. Background check occurrences or ethics violations must also be reported to the ARRT prior to applying to sit for the ARRT national certification exam. It is up to the student to initiate the ethics violation review with the ARRT and the review must be satisfactorily resolved before the student will be permitted to sit for the exam. You can learn more about the ARRT ethics requirement by clicking on the following link: https://www.arrt.org/earn-arrt-credentials/requirements/ethics-requirements

All course work, both professional program courses and the arts and science courses, must be passed with a minimum grade of “C”. Courses with a grade of “C-“ or lower will not count toward graduation and will need to be repeated.

Kettering College’s radiologic technology program has affiliations with 15 full-service clinical sites, including most of the hospitals associated with Kettering Health. All clinical sites that serve the radiography program are located within a one-hour driving distance from the college. Clinical site rotations are assigned during the first semester of the program and students will have some influence over clinical site assignments. Students will remain at the same clinical site for the first two semesters of the program and then will change to a new site for the final three semesters.

No. The program is designed as a full-time endeavor; however, students who complete the arts and science courses prior to matriculation into the program or transfer those courses will experience a lighter didactic load once in the program. During the first two semesters of the program the clinical experience consists of two, 8-hour days at an assigned clinical site in addition to the didactic instruction; during the final three semesters of the program, the clinical experience consists of three, 8-hour days. These clinical assignments include second shift rotations as well.

No. The radiography program is entirely face-to-face. Some of the advanced imaging modality instruction is conducted online, as is the bachelor completion in health sciences.

No. At this point, the Radiologic Sciences and Imaging program does not include mammography.

Absolutely. Graduates of the radiography program are strongly urged to continue their education in advanced imaging and complete a bachelor’s degree in health sciences (BSHS). As part of the bachelor’s completion program at Kettering College, students can receive training in multiple advanced imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), vascular interventional technology (VIT), and cardiovascular interventional technology (CIT). The training students received in the advanced imaging modalities will qualify them to sit for the post-primary ARRT national certification exams. Radiography graduates can also earn a bachelor’s degree without an emphasis in advance imaging. In this case, the student would decide to focus on management or education.

Advanced imaging is a series of higher-level imaging modalities that build in the foundational didactic and clinical instruction of the radiography program. Advanced imaging modalities include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), vascular interventional technology (VIT), and cardiovascular interventional technology (CIT). In order to receive training in and sit for the post-primary ARRT certification exam in any advanced imaging modality, students must complete the radiography program and pass the primary certification exam in radiography.

Yes. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) administers the ARRT national certification exam. The ARRT exam in radiography is considered a primary pathway exam and serves as the foundation for post-primary or advanced imaging exams. Students must qualify to sit for the exam by completing an accredited educational program recognized by the ARRT and complying with the ARRT’s ethics requirement. Following the successful passage of the ARRT exam, RTs will need to comply with the continuing education (CE) requirements in order to maintain their credentials.

Take a look at our radiology careers page for information about the field, pay, and job outlook!

Radiology Careers

Yes. Prior to the beginning of the student’s clinical experience, the clinical coordinator will provide each student with a radiation monitoring badge that the student will wear at all times while at the clinical site. The badges are exchanged and analyzed quarterly so that the students can monitor their exposure. Students are strongly encouraged to read these reports to ensure that they are employing safe radiation safety practices. At the beginning of the program but prior to the start of clinical rotations, students are instructed in radiation safety practices and are presented with a radiation safety lecture by the Radiation Safety Officer of Kettering Medical Center.

There are very specific limits to radiation exposure that a student radiographer can receive. The annual effective absorbed dose equivalent limit is 5 rem (50 milliSievert or mSv). For a pregnant student, the radiation exposure limit for the entire gestational period is 0.5 rem (5.0 mSv); the radiation exposure limit per month for a pregnant student is 0.05 rem (0.5 mSv). Radiography students under the age of 18 are limited to 1 rem (10 mSv) per year. Because of this, the radiology technology program does not permit students to begin their clinical rotations if they are under 18 years of age. The students are made aware of these exposure limits at the beginning of the program and they are reinforced throughout the program. The students’ radiation exposure throughout the program is closely monitored by the use of radiation monitoring badges.

Yes. Kettering College’s Radiologic Technology program is accredited by the Joint Review Commission on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The program has been accredited by the JRCERT for more than three decades and has received the maximum 8-year accreditation for the past three accreditation cycles. Students are made aware of the JRCERT accreditation and its standards early in the program. Once the program and college appeals or grievance processes have been exhausted, any student who believes he/she has been treated unfairly or believes the conditions at the program appear to jeopardize the quality of instruction or general welfare of the students may report these allegations to the JRCERT.

The credit hour ratio for radiography program’s classroom (didactic) courses, laboratory courses, and clinical courses are:
• Didactic: 1 credit hour = 1 contact hour (50 minutes)
• Laboratory: 1 credit hour = 2-3 contact hours
• Clinical: 1 credit hour = 8 contact hours