Highlands College

Radiologic Technology

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Program Overview

Radiologic Technologists are medical professionals with a primary responsibility to create images of patient’s bodies using medical equipment, helping doctors diagnose and treat diseases and injuries; all while promoting radiation safety and providing quality patient care.  Students in this program learn to master the required technology and become vital members of the patient care team, with time spent in both clinical and classroom settings.  After successful completion of the requirements for the associates degree are met, the student must sit for the national certification exam administered through The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, to become a Registered Technologist RT (R), before entering the workforce.   

A career in radiologic technology can lead in many directions, and there is strong demand for work across the country. Work settings after graduation can vary widely from hospitals, to clinics, physician offices, mobile units, education, management, research, public health, and sales or service of radiographic equipment.  There also are many opportunities after becoming a registered technologist to specialize and gain certification in additional radiologic modalities, including: MRI, computed tomography (CT), radiation therapy, mammography, nuclear medicine, interventional cardiac or vascular radiography, and sonography.

The Radiologic Technology Program includes studies in:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Radiographic Procedures
• Radiation Safety
• Radiographic Image Production
• Radiologic Sciences – Physics and Biology
• Patient Care
• Medical Law & Ethics

Admission

Admission to Highlands College does not guarantee acceptance into the Radiologic Technology Program. Students entering with the intent to become a Radiologic Technologist are accepted into the program through a formal selection process.

Students planning to study radiologic technology need a strong educational health core and must be competent in computer skills. The plan of study includes 16 credits that make up the basis for selecting students into the program.  The minimum selective GPA for consideration into the RT program is 2.75, however the selective GPA from the pre-requisite courses is a large part of the selection process so a higher GPA will increase chances of admittance to the program.

A limited number of students are admitted to start spring semester of each year, due to limited clinical space available. If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the available clinical space, not all qualified applicants will be accepted.

For more information, about Montana Tech's academic programs, view the Montana Tech Catalog.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

When a student has completed or is enrolled in all program pre-requisite courses during fall semester they may submit an application to the program. Applications for the Radiologic Technology program have additional requirements that must be met in order to be considered for placement into the program. These include but are not limited to –

• Job shadow / work experience – applicants must provide proof of a job shadow experience with a registered technologist, additional information and verification forms can be obtained from the Health Programs offices at Highlands College
• Letters of reference – applicants may submit up to 3 letters of recommendation with their application
• Vaccination records – proof of MMR and 3 dose-series of Hepatitis B vaccine, often varicella (chicken pox) and flu vaccines are additionally required depending on clinical site placement
• Annual proof of freedom from TB
• Current CPR certification – BLS for Healthcare Providers/Professional Rescuer and first aid training
• Background check – directions to obtain this handed out with application at advising meeting
• Attending an advising meeting – applications are handed out at this meeting, there are multiple days and times offered throughout the month of September at Highlands College, times and dates posted at Highlands College or contact tharp@mtech.edu at the beginning of September for meeting information
• Proof of computer proficiency – passing grade in CAPP 131 (or similar course), successful challenge of the course or verification from employer of computer skills

**Applications are available during the month of September at an advising meeting

**Applications are due the third Thursday in November

Additional Program Costs and Travel Requirements

• Due to limited clinical space available in the Butte area, students may be required to travel to their assigned clinical site. Travel arrangements and associated costs are the student’s responsibility.
• Current clinical sites include: Butte, Bozeman, Dillon, and Helena; students cannot be guaranteed their preferred site
• Students are responsible for purchasing scrub uniforms
• Students are responsible for the cost of the background check submitted with the program application
• Associated lab fees cover costs of malpractice insurance, lab supplies and other costs

Placement