Mammography Fact Sheet

MammographyRadiography

What is the employment outlook? ment 40 hours of training/education specific Employment opportunities for mammogra- to mammography under the supervision of a phers are expected to increase due to the rise qualified instructor. in demand for mammography procedures as American women increase in age. According What are the admission requirements? to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Students need to apply to the college, submit employment of radiographers is expected to official transcripts, and apply to the Mam- increase by 12 percent from 2016 to 2026. Ra- mography Program by August 15 for the fall diographers with knowledge of more than one semester and December 15 for the spring diagnostic imaging modality, such as computed semester. The program is open to current tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging ARRT certified radiographers and students (MRI), and mammography will have the best enrolled in the sophomore year of a JRCERT employment opportunities. accredited program. All certified technologists must submit a copy of their current ARRT What is the estimated salary for a certification card and Maryland state license, mammographer? along with a current resume/curriculum vitae Earnings for the mammographer vary depend- to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment ing on experience, education, and skill level. Management. Admission requirements for the According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis- clinical education component of the Mammog- tics, the median annual wage for radiographers raphy Program include satisfactory completion was $58,960 in 2016 (source: www.bls.gov/ooh). of a health form and immunizations, drug screen, background checks through finger- What does a mammographer do? Why should I choose HCC? printing, and submitting a valid American Mammographers use sophisticated low-dose • Completion of the program will equip Heart Association Healthcare Provider card. x-ray equipment to produce images of the the student with the necessary clinical Students who have been out of the patient breast. A mammographer’s responsibilities requirements needed to apply for the ARRT care environment for more than two years may include performing breast imaging procedures, certification exam in mammography be considered for admission upon successful recording a patient’s clinical history, preparing • HCC is the only community college in completion of Patient Care for Advanced Medi- patients for procedures, operating and evalu- the state of Maryland to offer students ating breast images for technical quality, and the opportunity to acquire mammography cal Imagers (RAD-213) with a minimum grade assisting with interventional procedures and clinical requirements and become ARRT of 75 percent or higher. quality control tests. registry eligible What are the program requirements? • The RAD 216 (Mammography for Radiog- All mammography students must: Where do mammographers work? raphers) course provides the technologist Mammographers work in hospitals and outpa- with the 40 hours of initial mammography 1. Receive a minimum grade of 75% (C grade) tient care centers under the direct supervision education required by the ARRT and MQSA in each mammography course. of board-certified radiologists. Most full-time if the radiographer is going to have on-the-job mammographers work about 40 hours per training 2. Meet program competency requirements. week. This may include evening and weekend • Clinical education is completed in state-of- hours. the-art health care facilities 3. Enrollment in RAD 216A must be within one year of completion of RAD 216. What skills are needed to excel in this Program Overview profession? A letter of recognition in mammography is 4. Clinical education coursework must be • Good critical thinking skills being offered to radiographers who participate completed within two years to satisfy pro- • Good written and verbal communication in the RAD 216 course (Mammography for Ra- gram requirements and ARRT certification skills diographers) and RAD 216A (Mammography eligibility requirements. • The ability to work well with others and care Practicum I). The clinical practicum allows for patients 5. Students planning to enroll in the clinical students to obtain specific clinical education • A professional attitude and appearance education component of the program must and experience requirements that are needed meet with the program coordinator no later Note to students: You are entering a profession for the student to be able to sit for the ARRT than one month prior to the start of the that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, certification exam. Before the student can academic semester. and 365 days a year. Work shifts include day, participate in the clinical practicum, they must evening, and night hours. be a registered radiographer in good standing with the ARRT and the student must docu-

Hagerstown Community College • 11400 Robinwood Drive • Hagerstown, MD 21742 • 240-500-2000 • www.hagerstowncc.edu Students who receive a final mark of unsatisfac- tory in the clinical laboratory or clinical experi- ence, despite a passing theory grade, will not be permitted to progress in the mammography program and will receive a final grade of “F” for the course and are not eligible for readmission.

Students who do not meet program, course, technical, health and radiation standards that result in termination from the mammography program by the College, are not eligible for readmission. This includes students who can- not meet safety standards, and students who violate the college’s Honor Code and Stan- dards of Conduct, the radiography program’s Standards of Conduct, and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Standards of Ethics.

What are the requirements and expectations for the clinical component? Craniocaudal (CC) and Mediolateral Oblique (MLO) projections of a mammogram. Students must satisfactorily complete the fol- lowing: all requirements noted on the health Accreditation and certification form, a drug screen, and a background check eligibility Contact Information: done through digital fingerprinting. Students The practicum follows the accreditation Michelle McDaniel must also provide evidence of a valid American and national certification guidelines of the Heart Association Healthcare Provider certifica- Assistant Professor, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Medical Imaging Programs tion, ARRT certification, and state licensing. (ARRT). Upon completion of the education Students will also be required to obtain an ad- 240-500-2549 and clinical requirements, the student is eli- [email protected] ditional eight hours of documented education gible to sit for the ARRT national certification specific to digital mammography. This must be exam in mammography. The professional cer- completed before the student will be permitted Recommended Professional tification designation of the mammographer is Organizations to begin clinical. The course that the student R.T. (R) (M) (ARRT), Registered Technologist, will need to complete is designated by the mam- Radiography and Mammography. American Society of Radiologic Technologists mography program coordinator. Students are (ASRT): required to attend their clinical rotation site Ionizing pregnancy and radiation www.asrt.org a minimum of 120 hours per semester. The Reporting of pregnancy to program officials is The American Registry of Radiologic student’s clinical schedule will be determined by voluntary on the part of the student. Regulatory Technologists (ARRT): the student and the clinical site they’re attend- Guide 8.13, Instruction Concerning Prenatal www.arrt.org ing; therefore, clinical education schedules will Radiation Exposure, (www.nrc.gov) published vary based on the schedule that is established by the United States Regulatory Commission with the designated clinical site. The student provides information and guidelines. will complete their clinical experience at a clini- cal site designated by the college. Technical Standards There are technical standards and skill require- Additional information about admission and ments which students are expected to possess program requirements including criminal and demonstrate in order to be successful background checks, drug screening, readmis- in this program. More information on these sion to the mammography program, and trans- standards can be found at www.hagerstowncc. ferring from another college or mammography edu/medical-imaging. program can be found at www.hagerstowncc. edu/medical-imaging. Letter of Recognition Mammography

Program Requirements 5 Credits RAD 216 Mammography for Radiographers...... 3 RAD 216A Mammography Practicum I...... 2

Letter of Recognition Requirement...... 5 3/18

Hagerstown Community College • 11400 Robinwood Drive • Hagerstown, MD 21742 • 240-500-2000 • www.hagerstowncc.edu