Radiography Program

Most LCCC HSW students must complete clinical rotations for program completion.  These clinical rotations occur in clinical settings with clinical sites that have agreed to provide these educational experiences for LCCC students. In order to ensure the safest environment possible for their patients and staff, many of these clinical settings have included COVID-19 in their list of clinical clearance requirements, with limited exemptions available for students and employees. Because all clinical hours and/or clinical competencies must be completed to meet program requirements, this means you may be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination or have an approved exemption on file to enter and/or progress in the Radiography program. For additional information, regarding these requirements, please see the Health Sciences & Wellness Policies Handbook, Addendum and the Clinical Site COVID-19 FAQs.

Visit Career Coach for additional information about Radiologic Technologists and Technicians.

The radiography program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850 Chicago, IL, 60606-3182, Telephone:  312.704.5300, Email: mail@jrcert.org. This guarantees that students enrolled in the program have instruction based on an up-to-date curriculum, the opportunity to train on state-of-the-art radiographic equipment, appropriate supervision levels and that graduates have the ability to obtain a license in all U.S. states mandating this requirement.

The LCCC radiography program was awarded an eight-year accreditation status from the JRCERT in 2017 and maintenance of the accreditation award was given in 2021. The next JRCERT site visit is tentatively scheduled for the Fourth Quarter of 2024. General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found here: https://www.jrcert.org/programs/laramie-county-community-college/ 

Goal 1:

Graduates of this program will be technically proficient, being able to consistently produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality, on any given part of the human body. This includes proper positioning techniques and the proper setting of all exposure factors. 

Outcomes:

1. Students will apply proper positioning techniques. 
2. Students will select appropriate technical factors.

Goal 2:

Graduates will demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Outcomes:

1. Students will manipulate technical factors for changed patient and technical variables.
2. Students will adapt positioning and exam protocols due to patient condition/ history.
3. Students will evaluate radiographic images for diagnostic quality, identifying appropriate solutions for poor image quality.

Goal 3:

Graduates of this program will demonstrate communication skills.

Outcomes:

1. Students will use effective oral communication skills with clinical staff, patients and peers. 
2. Students will apply written communication skills.

Goal 4:

Graduates of this program will consistently employ principles of radiation protection and safety, and electrical safety, to avoid hazards to both patients and themselves.

Outcomes:

1. Graduates will employ principles of radiation protection and safety.
2. Students will employ safe work habits.

Goal 5:

Students will consistently exhibit a professional attitude and honor the ASRT Code of Ethics. 

Outcomes:

1. Students will exhibit appropriate professional and ethical behaviors. 
2. Students will demonstrate a respect for diversity and the ability to work with others and special patients populations.

Goal 6:

Graduates will have a high potential for advancement and leadership.

Outcomes:

1. Students will demonstrate workplace behaviors conducive to professional advancement.
2. Students will differentiate between the ARRT, ASRT, State Licensure Boards and additional certification opportunities.

Goal 7:

Graduates of the program will gain employment as an entry-level radiographer.

Outcomes:

1. Students will pass the ARRT national certification on the first attempt. 
2. Of those pursuing employment, students will be gainfully employed within six months post-graduation.
3. Students will complete the program.
4. Students will express satisfaction with their education.
5. Employers will express satisfaction with LCCC graduate performance. 

Graduates of this program, as entry-level radiographers, will be able to provide quality patient care and will be able to perform quality radiographic examinations with minimal radiation exposure to the patient and themselves in the full range of diagnostic procedures such as skull, chest, bone, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, bedside exams and surgical procedures. On occasion, the job may also require the ability to tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads. The ability to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and function effectively under stress and in uncertain conditions are also important job requirements.

To satisfy the requirements of the position and those of the program, certain essential functions must be performed in a satisfactory manner. These are outlined below.

The student must have the ability to:

• Analyze and comprehend medical and technical materials and instructions;
• Communicate effectively with patients and various members of the healthcare team, including the ability to perceive nonverbal communication;
• Set up and manipulate x-ray equipment in a safe, reliable and efficient manner;
• Practice and apply appropriate radiation protection and safety measures;
• Perceive the relationships of internal organs, the x-ray tube, and image receptor to obtain radiographs of diagnostic value;
• Adjust machine controls, and arrange and adjust various radiographic support devices;
• Handle radiographic cassettes and image plates, develop radiographic film and process digital radiographic images;
• Perform reaching, lifting and bending to assist or move patients and equipment in a safe, reliable and efficient manner, with or without assistance;
• Recognize and respond to adverse changes in patient condition, including those requiring emergency medical intervention;
• Evaluate radiographs to determine their acceptability for diagnostic purposes;
• Prepare and maintain radiologic reports and records;
• Respect the confidentiality of patients and demonstrate integrity, a motivation to serve and a concern for others.

If the applicant is unable to perform any of the designated tasks, upon request LCCC will make reasonable accommodations if these accommodations don't constitute an undue hardship on LCCC and that those accommodations do not interfere with the performance of any essential functions of a radiographer's duties.

All allied health students are required to submit a pre-clinical urine drug screen according to the policy of the Allied Health Programs at LCCC. The drug screen is completed after a student's program acceptance and at the student's expense.

At their discretion, clinical sites may also require a drug screening and/or a criminal background check prior to allowing students into the clinical setting. (If required, any associated fees will be the responsibility of the student.) In addition, LCCC and the clinical sites may require random drug testing and/or drug testing for reasonable cause. Generally, the urine drug test screens for alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or drugs that impair judgment while in the clinical agency. Testing positive on the screening or evidence of tampering with a specimen will disqualify a student from participation from clinical assignment.

In addition to drug screening, for the safety of patients and health care workers, allied health workers must also undergo a background check performed at the student's expense. The student's acceptance will not be final until LCCC has received background check information from the reporting agencies, and the background check is clear of disqualifying offenses. For more information, please see the complete School of Health Sciences & Wellness Policies for Allied Health Students posted on the school website. Certain criminal activities, as evidenced by a criminal background check, may also disqualify a student from clinical participation.

Students are advised that the inability to gain clinical education experiences can result in the inability to meet program objectives and outcomes. These circumstances may prevent acceptance into and/or progression through the program and may ultimately result in dismissal from the program.

NOTE: Applicants who have been convicted of a felony (or have pled guilty or nolo contendre to a felony) should request a copy of a letter concerning his/her eligibility status for licensure from the Wyoming State Board of Radiologic Technologist Examiners and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The Wyoming State Board of Radiologic Technologist Examiners can deny licensure if the Board feels that such denial is in the public's interest. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists can also deny certification for the same reason.

National Certification Eligibility

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national certifying examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The program's pass rate for this examination is very high; LCCC graduates have posted a 100 percent pass rate for more than a decade.

Immediate Employment

The majority of students are able to find employment in the field prior to or soon after graduation. Employment is expected to grow "faster than average" with an increase of almost 50,000 jobs by 2022 due to the aging population and increased demand for diagnostic imaging, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Fully Equipped Laboratory 

The radiography program's laboratory includes state-of-the-art imaging receptors and equipment, including a Paxis 200 Direct Radiography Digital U-arm imaging system. This system is totally filmless; once the exposure is made, the image appears on a computer monitor within four seconds. In addition, the lab is equipped with a PACS Network System and three C-arm fluoroscopic units. 

Effectiveness Measure	Annual Rate  (Class of 2023)	Five Year Rate  (2019-2023)
Credentialing Examination Pass Rate (First attempt)	8/8 = 100%	58/59 = 98.3%
Job Placement Rate (Graduates actively seeking employment within 12 months)	8/8 = 100%	57/57 = 100%
Program Completion Rate	8/9 = 88.9%	59/71 = 83.1%

The JRCERT has developed the following definitions and criteria related to program effectiveness outcomes:

Credentialing examination pass rate: The number of graduates who pass, on first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination, or an unrestricted state licensing examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within six months of graduation.

Job placement rate: The number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences. The JRCERT has defined not actively seeking employment as: 1) graduate fails to communicate with program officials regarding employment status after multiple attempts, 2) graduate is unwilling to seek employment that requires relocation, 3) graduate is unwilling to accept employment, for example, due to salary or hours, 4) graduate is on active military duty, and/or 5) graduate is continuing education.

Program completion rate: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The program specifies the entry point (e.g., required orientation date, final drop/add date, final date to drop with 100% tuition refund, official class roster date, etc) used in calculating the program's completion rate. When calculating the total number of students enrolled in the program (denominator), programs need not consider students who attrite due to nonacademic reasons such as: 1) financial, medical/mental health, or family reasons, 2) military deployment, 3) a change in major/course of study, and/or 4) other reasons an institution may classify as a nonacademic withdrawal.