Radiographers work as part of the healthcare team in a variety of areas such as the operating and emergency rooms, urgent cares, orthopedics, private practices and many other locations. Radiologic Technologists provide patient care, use technical equipment, and position patients to obtain quality images of various body parts using radiation (x-rays) with the least dose possible.

1. The program at SUNY Orange has taught students to become radiologic technologists since 1989; that’s more than 30 years!
2. Over the history of the program, our National Boards pass rate is higher than 99%.
3. There is job security in healthcare. Employers consistently seek to hire our graduates. Plus, let’s face it, looking inside someone’s body is pretty amazing.

Program Goals:

1. Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills
2. Students will demonstrate clinical competence in relation to their knowledge and technical skills
3. Students will exhibit professional behavior
4. Students will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills

Student Learning Outcomes:

• students will perform routine radiography exams
• students will perform non-routine radiology procedures
• students will evaluate radiographs for diagnostic quality
• Students will demonstrate knowledge through Clinical Test Exams
• students will practice patient safety and radiation protection
• students will demonstrate professional behavior
• students will demonstrate effective oral language skills
• students will demonstrate effective writing skills

After graduating and passing the national boards, you can advance to learn Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mammography, Interventional Procedures or a variety of other diagnostic modalities, as well as management/administration roles.

You need excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with patients, doctors and various members of the healthcare team to provide the best possible outcomes for patients.

The profession requires great attention to detail not only in reviewing the patient’s images, but also recording patient histories, medical charting, exam verification and other tasks where details are extremely important related to medical records and care.

Yes, we have to touch patients and see blood! There’s an odd, yet common, misconception that radiographers don’t have to talk to patients or touch them and will never see blood, which is very inaccurate. For more details see “What they don’t tell you about Radiology” on the department website.

 Academic requirements:

• high school diploma or HSE
• eligible to take ENG 101 (Freshman English I)
• eligible to take MAT 121 (College Algebra), or have completed MAT 102 (Intermediate Algebra) or equivalent with a 2.0 or higher
• completed High School AP Biology (score of 3, 4, or 5) or a passing grade in the Biology CLEP examination; or introduction to Biology or Anatomy and Physiology 1 with a grade of 2.0 or better (within 5 years of program entry)
• minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5

Department-specific requirements:

• attendance at a pre-admission orientation. At this orientation, students will receive and sign off on information pertaining to the Radiologic Technology program including technical standards, health forms, and criminal record policies.

Note: Admission to this program is selective. In addition to an application to the College, students must apply for acceptance into this program through the Admissions office. Consideration for admission is based on the completion of all mandatory academic and departmental-specific requirements, highest combination of CGPA and credits completed towards the degree, and seat availability. All requirements must be completed and an eligibility form must be submitted to the Admissions Office before February 1 in order for a student to be considered for acceptance into this program for the Fall semester.

At the time prospective students submit their applications to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the New York State Department of Health, they must make a statement about their conviction record, if any. If they would have to answer "yes" to a question about a felony conviction, they should contact the NYS Department of Health (518) 402-7580 AND The American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (651) 687-0048. Both of these agencies MUST be contacted to determine if students will be eligible to sit for the certification exam and/or to be licensed.

The A.A.S. degree is primarily intended to prepare students for immediate employment. However, some graduates have gone on to further study in radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, cardiac catheterization and education.

Career opportunities

• hospitals, clinics, medical imaging centers, doctors’ offices, educational facilities and equipment manufacturers as:
• radiographers and special procedures technologists
• mammographers, CT technologists and MRI technologists
• nuclear medicine technologists, PET/CT technologists
• radiation therapists
• sales personnel, educators, clinical instructors and hospital administrators

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Admission to the program is competitive with more applicants than there are seats. The application deadline is February 1. Each year, we accept 24 students who start their academic sequence in the Fall semester. Courses are offered during the daytime on the Middletown campus.