Radiologic Technology

Please watch the recorded information session below.

RADT Recorded Information Session

Next, you will need to enter the information below in the link:

• Your name
• Your email
• 3 secret words from the information session

Verify your attendance.

If you still have questions after you have completed the form, please email xray@jjc.edu.

• Tuition
• Differential tuition: $232/credit hour
• Course Fees: $35/credit hour
• Books: $1,200
• Uniforms/Shoes: $200
• Travel associated with internships (car fuel): $1,000
• Background Check/Drug Screening: $100
• Trajecsys Clinical Management System: $150
• Photo sitting fee: $20

Please Note: The TEAS exam must be taken on-campus only.

Who Needs to Take the TEAS Exam?

Students applying for admission into the Radiologic Technology Program need to complete their TEAS 7 exam by the last day of November of each calendar year to be considered qualified for the admission process for the following Summer semester. 

TEAS Testing Locations

ATI TEAS exams will take place only at the following locations:

• Main Campus
• Romeoville Campus
• City Center Campus
• *Any outside TEAS scores will not be eligible and accepted for program admission. 

About the TEAS Exam

The TEAS exam is a timed, computer-based exam conducted by the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). "TEAS" stands for the Test of Essential Academic Skills. This three-and-a-half-hour exam includes 170 questions.

Cost & Fees

• The cost of the TEAS test is $97 plus tax.
• TEAS Exam fees are subject to change.

How to Register for the TEAS Exam at JJC

1. If you need testing accommodations, contact JJC's Disability Services department ahead of time at disabilityservices@jjc.edu or call 815.280.2613.
2. Purchase and schedule the TEAS test through ATI to test at JJC Testing Services. Choose the TEAS test for Nursing Students "In-Person, Proctored at an Institution" when registering. 
3. Follow on-campus appointment rules and safety guidelines (listed above).
4. Watch our On-Campus Safety video to prepare for your testing appointment.
5. Arrive at your scheduled location 10 minutes before your exam with your photo ID.

Photo IDs Required: Please bring a current, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport to your testing appointment.

Can I Take the TEAS More Than Once?

You are only allowed three attempts at taking the TEAS exam within a five-year period.

Program Specific Information: Review the TEAS Interpretation Guide for information about your TEAS scores, program advisor, retesting, and next steps. 

Students should only take the TEAS exam once per semester. A semester begins on the first day of classes for a given semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) and ends on the day before the first day of classes for the next semester. Visit our Academic Calendar for reference and view our chart below.

Please Note: With the new version of the TEAS (7) in June of 2022, the counter will be reset. Students who had taken TEAS (6) 3-times will now be able to take TEAS (7) 3-times in 5 years. Only the highest score of any semester is valid for ranking in our programs. All other attempts in a semester are counted against your total allowed attempts in 5 years.

Your TEAS Score

ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) will provide you with your TEAS score. After the test is completed, results are available within a few hours. Scores may be accessed on the “My Results” page found in your personal ATI online student account.

Ranking System

Admissions to the Radiologic Technology program will be determined by a point ranking system. Each eligible applicant will be given a number for anonymity by the admissions office. Applications will be sent to the Radiologic Technology Admissions Committee to be scored and ranked by the following criteria:

• TEAS composite weighted 42%
• GPA (calculated on courses required for the Radiologic Technology program only) - weighted 33%
• Number of general education classes completed (completion of both Bio 100 and Bio 251) - weighted 20%
• Experience- 5% (max, will use only the highest active license must show proof of licensure):
  • DMS/RT 5%
  • RN 4.2%
  • Paramedic 3.3%
  • LPN 2.8%
  • PCT/MA 1.5%
  • CNA 0.8%

Contact Information

Questions? Email testingservices@jjc.edu or call 815.280.2261

Joliet Junior College partners with healthcare facilities to provide clinical experiences for its students. These facilities prescribe various health requirements for all students who are placed at their clinical sites. Students who intend to participate in the clinical component of any program must submit documentation reflecting their compliance with the following clinical health requirements prior to the deadline established by their program coordinator.

• Measles (Rubeola) Titer
• Mumps Titer
• Rubella Titer
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) Titer
• Hepatitis B Titer
• 2-step TB skin test or QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test Annually
• Tdap Vaccine every 10 years
• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Annually
• COVID-19 Vaccination (encouraged)
• Physical Exam by Healthcare Professional
• American Heart Association BLS CPR for Healthcare Professionals every 2 years
• Background Check
• Drug Screen
• Medical Health Insurance – Upload Card Annually
   

Unless otherwise indicated, in writing, by a student's assigned clinical site, all of the above health requirements must be met before the student may participate in a clinical rotation. If a student is accepted into the program and fails the criminal background check or drug screen and/or does not have the mandatory vaccinations, the student will be removed from the program.  

Who is a radiologic technologist?

Radiologic technologists (also referred to as radiographers) are integral members of the health care team that image the human body utilizing ionizing radiation (x-rays). Taking X-rays on humans requires extensive knowledge of safe radiation practices and patient positioning.

Skilled radiographers save our population from unnecessary and unsafe levels of radiation exposure. Radiographers are generally employed in hospitals, doctor's offices, chiropractor's offices, as well as stand-alone imaging centers. Although imaging is the primary function of the radiographer, patient care is also emphasized as a vital function of the radiographer.

How long does it take to become a radiographer and what is the curriculum like?

Radiographers will go to school full-time for two years. Outside of general education requirements, courses will teach anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, the health care environment, radiographic procedures, radiographic positioning, radiographic physics, and patient care.

Additionally, students will spend several 8-hour days in a hospital setting per week as clinical training (days and times vary).

Is the radiologic technology program accredited and after I graduate, how do I obtain licensure?

The curriculum of the radiography program follows the curriculum outlined by the American Society of Radiologic Technology (ASRT) and as such, graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the radiography examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

In addition to passing the examination of the ARRT, graduates must also follow the guidelines of the state in which they intend to practice. In Illinois, for example, radiographers must show proof of ARRT registry and apply for state licensure.

Other than taking X-rays, what do radiographers do?

The primary role of the radiographer is to interpret physician orders and perform diagnostic X-rays as directed by the patient's physician and the radiologist. While some X-rays do require limited patient contact and care, certain tests require specialized patient care or procedures in order to complete the examination. This care may include the administration of various contrast medias via oral, rectal, or intravenous (IV) routes. As a result, the student radiographer is taught extensive patient care techniques including intravenous (IV) insertion and how to perform enemas. Therefore, patient assessment and care are vital skills learned by the student radiographer.

What type of X-rays do radiographers perform?

Virtually any part of the body can be visualized utilizing X-rays. Radiographers commonly perform x-rays on the chest, abdomen, head, and extremities. While some of these parts may require nothing more than a few images, some may require extensive imaging with complex procedures using contrasts. The student radiographer will learn to image the entire body utilizing established and accepted practices.

What is the difference between a radiographer and a radiologist?

The radiographer is a highly skilled member of the health care team that utilizes ionizing radiation to produce diagnostic images of the human body (x-rays). A majority of radiographers are trained at the community college level and obtain Associate in Applied Science degrees. On the other hand, radiologists are physicians with a residency in radiologic technology.

A radiologist is a medical doctor who directs the entire imaging department and is responsible for the interpretation of the diagnostic images produced within the department. Radiographers do not interpret diagnostic images.

Are radiographers exposed to radiation? If so, how is this safe?

Radiographers are exposed to some radiation while performing their duties. While this can not be prevented in some circumstances, radiographers are taught safe radiation practices in order to minimize their own exposure as well as exposure to others.

The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) has set exposure limits for radiation workers including radiographers and as a result, radiographers and radiography students wear monitoring devices that determine their radiation exposure. If radiographers utilize established practices for safe radiation exposure, their occupational exposure to radiation will be far below the limits set forth by the NCRP.

A radiographer's radiation exposure is generally safe but what if a radiographer becomes pregnant?

Pregnancy is always a concern with any radiation worker. If a radiographer or radiography student should become pregnant, certain procedures need to be followed as set forth by the NCRP. Student radiographers who become pregnant must immediately notify the Radiography Program Coordinator/Director and provide a physician's authorization to return to clinical practice. Pregnant radiographers must take special precautions in order to avoid radiation exposure to the fetus. These special precautions may exempt the pregnant student radiographer from performing the required training and procedures.

Although every effort will be made in order to assist such a student in graduating on time, it may be necessary for a student who becomes pregnant to either graduate late or to withdraw and reenter the program one year later. Each case is unique depending upon the student's completed requirements and the point at which they are in the program. Regardless of any difficulties involved in such a situation, no student should conceal a pregnancy from the Program Coordinator/Director and any student found doing so shall be dismissed from the program immediately.

As a radiographer, who will be my boss and who is my customer?

This is actually a more complex question than it seems. While the X-ray department will be structured like most other jobs with supervisors and managers, health care is a complex structure of allied health professionals, physicians, administration, and patients. While you will be accountable to some sort of boss, you will also be accountable to physicians and other professionals who are not technically a part of your departmental structure. The typical attitude in health care is that everyone is your boss and your customer. The ultimate goal of health care is to provide appropriate and satisfactory care to the patient. As a result, every person has a responsibility to each other in order to accomplish this goal.

Since patient satisfaction is an extremely highly regarded commodity in health care, the radiographer (and student radiographer) must treat every interaction at work as if the person they are communicating with is their boss and customer. Anyone considering a career in health care must possess the skills of empathy, respect, integrity, and humility in order to achieve this goal.

After I become a radiographer, in what ways can I grow professionally?

The great thing about becoming a radiographer is the growth potential. Just 30 years ago, imaging simply meant X-rays. Today, this ever-changing field has grown leaps and bounds due to technological advancements. We all have had or know someone who has had an ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, or positron emission (PET) exam. All of these new tests have developed through technology and are under the umbrella of imaging and radiologic technology. As a radiographer, you can grow professionally by learning these technologies through training or education once you have gained experience as a radiographer.

Additionally, some radiographers obtain higher degrees and become managers, educators, or administrators. In radiologic technology, the possibilities truly are endless.

If you are a JJC health care program student and are seeking tutoring, financial assistance, advising or any other type of support, please visit the CASH Program for more detailed information.