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Admission Requirements I Technical Standards I Graduation Requirements I Certification

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Selection of applicants is made on a competitive basis and equal education opportunity is offered to all students who meet the entrance requirements without regard to race, sex, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. Preference is given to applicants who are legal residents of Mississippi. A student desiring admission to the radiography program must submit to The Office of Student Records and Registrar an application for admission, an official transcript of grades from high school and all colleges attended, and official ACT (American College Test) scores. Since the program has limited student capacity, selection into the program is competitive. Not every applicant who applies to the program will be selected. No applicant is accepted until the admissions process is complete, which includes an interview by the admission committee. Applicants should not present themselves for interviews until notified. Those applicants whom the admission committee deems advisable to interview are provided with sufficient notice of interview appointment. 

Students who wish to enter the program in Radiologic Technology must meet the following requirements:

  1. Provide evidence of satisfactory completion of a high school education with appropriate educational background in mathematics and science;
  2. Provide evidence of physical and mental aptitude for Radiologic Technology;
  3. Present a score of 19 or above on the American College Test (ACT) Exam and have an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale; and
  4. Complete the following minimum prerequisite requirements from an approved institution of higher learning, maintaining a "C" or better in each course:

Required courses are:

Courses Number of courses
English Composition 2
Speech 1
General Psychology 1
Human Anatomy and
Physiology with lab		 2
College Algebra 1
Sociology 1
Elective (Computer Science or Medical Terminology preferred) 1


TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Technical standards are the physical requirements necessary to successfully complete the program and enter the field of radiography. Applicants are not screened according to this criterion before or during the selection process. If selected, applicants will undergo a physical exam to be evaluated against the criteria. Full acceptance is contingent upon demonstrating that the accepted candidate can meet these requirements or provide reasonable accommodations.

Motor Skills:

  • Standing is required 95 – 100% of the time while assigned to the clinical setting. The duties cannot be performed without the ability to stand for extended periods of time.
  • Walking is required 90 – 100% of time assigned to the clinical setting.
  • Pushing and pulling at least 200 lbs is required to maneuver patients to and from tables/stretchers and to maneuver portable radiographic units. Other equipment may require pushing/pulling at times.
  • Must be able to frequently lift up to 25 lbs waist high and occasionally lift up to 75 lbs at least waist high
  • Must be able to squat and rise without assistance
  • Must be able to extend the hands and arms in any direction
  • Must be able to hold, grasp and turn with the hands
  • Must be able to reach up to six feet off the floor

Visual Acuity:

  • Correctable near vision to 20/40 in both eyes
  • Correctable far vision to 20/40 in both eyes

 Communication Ability:

  • Correctable hearing to pass a whisper test at 10 feet
  • Express and exchange information in English through written and verbal communicatio

Pregnancy Policy:

  •  Radiologic Technology students are informed of Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations regarding the declared pregnant student. The program’s pregnancy policy (radiation safety for the embryo-fetus) is consistent with the NRC regulations. All students are issued personnel dosimeters and the program is committed to the principal of keeping exposure as low as reasonably achievable. A pregnant student who voluntarily informs program officials of her pregnancy is issued a fetal dosimeter and may request reassignment to clinical areas where she may remain within the shielded controlled area; however, all clinical competencies must be met before a student can graduate.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS/OBJECTIVES

Radiographers are highly skilled professionals qualified by education to perform imaging examinations and accompanying responsibilities at the direction of a physician qualified to request radiologic procedures. To that end and for the safety and well being of patients and the community in general, it is the policy of the University of Mississippi Medical Center Radiography Program to assure that all graduates entering the profession of radiography have met the rigorous requirements for graduation, thus enabling their eligibility to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) board examination.


To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements / objectives must be met:

  1. Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology and positioning to competently and accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on a radiographic image.
  2. Determine exposure factors to achieve optimum radiographic results with minimum radiation exposure to the patient

  3. Evaluate radiographic images for appropriate positioning and overall image quality.

  4. Apply principles of radiation protection to patients, self and others.

  5. Understand the effects of ionizing radiation on living tissue.

  6. Provide basic patient care and comfort to patients across the age continuum.

  7. Recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate first-aid and basic life-support procedures.

  8. Demonstrate knowledge and proper use of medical terminology.

  9. Evaluate the performance of radiological systems, know the safe limits of equipment operation and report equipment malfunctions to the proper authority.

  10. Participate in radiologic quality control programs.
  11. Demonstrate effective verbal, non-verbal and written medical communication in providing patient care and maintaining professional relationships with other members of the health care team.
  12. Exercise independent judgment and discretion in the technical performance of medical imaging procedures.
  13. Apply problem solving and critical thinking skills in the academic and clinical settings

  14. Participate in a professional development activity approved by program faculty.

  15. Support the profession's Code of Ethics and comply with the profession's Scope of Practice.
  16. Demonstrate ARRT Board examination readiness.
  17. Complete all attendance and punctuality requirements as defined by the Attendance Policy.

  18. Pass all academic and clinical courses.

  19. Complete all required clinical competencies.

CERTIFICATION

A student satisfactorily completing the course will receive a certificate from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and will be eligible to take the examination for certification offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).