All 2011 PCC Radiologic Program Students Pass National Exam

The entire 2011 graduating class of the Radiologic Technology program at Pasadena City College has passed the national board exam and received their national certification and state licenses.

“The students that come into this program are really dedicated,” said Barbara Kissel, program director.

The radiology program is a two-year nonstop curriculum, totaling up to 72 ½ units, and more than 2,000 clinical hours.  The curriculum includes classes such as: anatomy and positioning, ethics, radiation protection, physics, special procedures and Computed Tomography (CT), cross-sectional anatomy, fluoroscopy, and more.

“Students have to take and pass all units and maintain clinical hours and a certain GPA, and meet the requirements of JRCERT (Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology), the state of California and PCC before they can take the board exams,” Kissel said. One of the contingencies is to pass all of the courses each semester before moving onto the next semester.

This year’s graduating class had 23 students. According to Kissel, the program is in high demand and has a very high retention rate.

“More than half of those students who graduated in June have jobs already,” Kissel said.

Students usually end up working at hospitals or doctors’ offices, some focusing on radiation therapy or CT scans. Sometimes they come back to PCC as full-time or adjunct instructors, Kissel said.

“My clinical coordinator is a former student of mine,” she said.

The program helps students graduate with the skills and competency necessary for routine radiographic procedures within a radiology or diagnostic imaging center.

Students are taught the proper ways to communicate and the critical thinking and analysis skills that are required for entry-level radiologic technologists. The program also establishes and maintains and ongoing assessment of the skills and knowledge to be a practicing radiologic technology professional.

The program draws people from as far away as the East Coast and the Philippines, Hawaii, and Northern California.

“We’ve always had a high success rate,” Kissel said.

For more information, please call the PCC Health Sciences Division at (626) 585-3378.