Technical Standards for Radiography Program

Our program technical standards have been developed to help students understand nonacademic standards, skills, and performance requirements expected of a student in order to complete an associate degree in Radiography (Radiologic Technology). A prospective radiography student must demonstrate the physical and psychological ability to provide safe, competent patient care. Prospective students must assess their own abilities when choosing radiography as a career. To understand the physical and psychological qualifications needed for successful radiographers, the program technical standards are listed below.

If an accommodation is necessary to participate in the program, it is imperative to identify a reasonable accommodation to those students who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonableness is determined by Accessibility Resources and the program on a case-by-case basis utilizing the program technical standards. The accommodation needs to be in place prior to the start of the program, or it may delay the student’s ability to start the program. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Accessibility Resources and request accommodations.

Students will be asked to acknowledge their ability to meet the program technical standards by signing a confirmation statement at program’s orientation.

Skills Description Specific Examples
Communication Oral and written communication skills to communicate in English with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency with patients, their families, and other members of the healthcare team, including non-verbal communication, such as interpretation of facial expressions, affect and body language.
  • Communicate with clear dictation and in a concise manner to patients, visitors, and other healthcare professionals in various departments
  • Read, type, and write appropriate instructions and documentations in patients’ charts, notes, and medical records accurately
  • Elicit information and cooperation (i.e.: obtaining patient history, giving breathing instructions)
  • Describe changes in a patient’s mood, activity, and posture
  • Perceive nonverbal communication (i.e.: pain, lack of understanding)
  • Recognize and report critical patient information to other caregivers
Critical Thinking/ Problem-Solving Critical thinking and problem-solving skills sufficient for sound clinical judgment during the performance of radiography.
  • Organize and accurately perform in proper sequence, and within a specified time, the steps required for radiographic procedures
  • Ability to remember and recall large amounts of information
  • Ability to accurately read and transcribe illegible handwriting
  • Ability to quickly assess patients’ conditions and other emergent situations, determine appropriate courses of action, request assistance or delegate responsibilities to coworkers, and/or respond as needed
  • Solve problems (i.e.: mathematical computation)
  • Comprehend three-dimensional relationships (i.e.: anatomical relations)
  • Understand the spatial relationship of structures
  • Critical Thinking/ability sufficient for clinical judgement (i.e.: modification of radiographic procedures and/or technical factors to accommodate patient age/or condition
Emotional/Behavioral Emotional stability and appropriate behavior sufficient to accept responsibility/accountability for actions
  • Deliver unbiased patient care
  • Establish rapport with patients, healthcare workers, instructors and peers
  • Ability to calmly and respectfully cope in stressful situations, emergency situations, or in situations involving other personnel
  • Accept constructive and professional criticism
  • Follow all program, college, and clinical site policies
  • Expected to maintain confidentiality at all times
  • Expected to adhere to the ARRT/ASRT Code of Ethics and Rules of Ethics
Environmental Tolerance Radiography students may be exposed to communicable diseases and/or blood and body fluids, toxic substances, medical preparations, latex, and ionizing radiation.
Students shall use appropriate precautions at all times.
  • May care for patients with a communicable disease and shall provide all care using universal precautions
  • Possible exposure to chemicals, irritants, and latex and shall follow all safety and health protection guidelines
  • May be exposed to ionizing radiation and shall follow radiation protection guidelines at all times
  • Ability to work in a noisy environment with frequent interruptions
Hearing Auditory ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of patient health care needs and during performance of radiography.
  • Ability to understand, and respond appropriately to comments, questions, and instructions given in person, over the phone, or from a distance including those given when personnel are wearing surgical masks.
  • Ability to hear various equipment and background sounds during equipment operations
  • Hear normal speaking level sounds, auscultatory sounds, and auditory alarms (i.e.: equipment, monitors, fire alarms, call bells, emergency signals, and cries for help)
Motor Skills Motor abilities required for radiography include gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, strength, and functional use of all combined senses for the safe handling of patients, self, and equipment.
  • Regularly reach up to six (6) feet off the floor
  • Push, pull, or lift fifty (50) pounds of weight
  • Transfer immobile patients from stretcher to radiographic table with some assistance from other personnel
  • Push standard and oversized patient wheelchairs, as well as mobile (portable) x-ray equipment to and from various areas
  • Standing for extended periods of time along with frequent bending and kneeling
  • Wearing a five (5) pound lead apron for extended periods of time
  • Elicit information from patients by palpation, percussion, testing muscle strength and function, penetration of the skin, and other diagnostic maneuvers
  • Safely perform diagnostic, therapeutic procedures and/or laboratory procedures
  • Provide other patient services and patient associated services
  • Safely lift, manipulate, and use equipment
  • Manual dexterity for patient positioning and with accessory devices and equipment controls
  • Move within confined spaces such as treatment rooms, patients’ rooms, or operating rooms
  • Administer CPR and maintain current certification
Professional Attitudes and Interpersonal Skills Present with professional appearance and demeanor; follow instructions and safety protocols and maintain a positive attitude. Demonstrate honesty and integrity beyond reproach.
Possess interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, groups, etc. from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
  • Allow mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, healthcare workers, instructors, and peers (interpersonal skills)
  • Maintain all professional boundaries
  • Display flexibility and adaptions while working with diverse populations
  • Effectively work within a team and workgroups
  • Provide prompt and safe completion of all patient care responsibilities
  • Exhibit ethical behaviors and exercise good judgement
  • Display the following:
  • Compassion
  • Empathy
  • Integrity
  • Concern for others
  • Interest and motivation
Smell Olfactory ability sufficient to detect significant environmental and patient odors.
  • Detect odors from patient (foul smelling drainage, alcohol breath)
  • Detect burning and/or smoke
Technological Adaptability and skills to utilize current electronic, digital, and medical technologies.
  • Utilize keyboard or touchscreens for selection and inputting of clinical data into consoles, computers and charts
  • Adapting to different technologies within the medical field, especially medical imaging
Vision/Observation Visual ability sufficient for accurate observation and performance of radiography in bright, normal, or dim lighting.
  • Visually monitor patients
  • View anatomy and appropriate imaging techniques on radiographic images displayed on hard copy or computer screen, all within a low light environment
  • Observe changes in equipment operation (i.e.: warnings)
  • Safely work in dimly lit rooms
  • Observe and evaluate (i.e.: patient’s body habitus, image receptor sizes and selection of appropriate radiographic exposure factors.)
  • Skillfully use precision instruments such as microscopes, oscilloscopes, gauges, control panels, and other electronic and digital equipment
  • Observe the results of certain stimuli (i.e.: medication reaction, patient’s skin color changes such as cyanosis or pallor)
Other Adapting to Radiography Program course and clinical schedules, including any unforeseen changes.
  • Ability to work long and/or varied hours
  • Tolerate physically taxing workloads
  • Adapt to changing environments (i.e.: flexible schedules)

This document is intended to serve as a guide regarding the physical, emotional, intellectual, and psychosocial expectations placed on a student. This document cannot include every conceivable action, task, ability, or behavior that may be expected of a student. Meeting these technical standards does not guarantee employment in this field upon graduation. Ability to meet the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for any licensure, certification exam, or successful completion of the degree program.