HCTC Radiography Program accredited for eight more years

In an historic move, the Radiography Program at Hazard Community and Technical College and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College is now accredited for eight more years, which is the maximum number of years awarded by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).

Homer Terry, Radiography Program Coordinator, is delighted with the great news, adding that further proof of the program s success is that all 2015 graduates wanting to be employed now have jobs and there is a 95 percent pass rate on the first attempt on the National Board exam offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

Terry attributes this success of the Radiography Program to several factors -- the expert faculty, the excellent clinical sites throughout the region and the clinical instructors employed there, the retention of students, the employment of students, JRCERT, and the expert college administration and administrative support at both HCTC and SKCTC.

Dr. Juston Pate, Interim President of HCTC, said he was very impressed with the powerful and dynamic program and how the program is serving the medical needs of the region.

Terry noted that since students pass the national exam, they are qualified to work at facilities throughout the nation. The program here expands a student s opportunities for employment, Terry said.

The continuing accreditation status of the program was considered at the Jan. 19 meeting of the JRCERT. The JRCERT is the only agency recognized by the United States Department of Education for the accreditation of traditional and distance delivery educational programs in radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance, and medical dosimetry. Specialized accreditation awarded by the JRCERT offers institutions significant value by providing peer evaluation and by assuring the public of quality professional education in radiologic sciences.

A letter to Dr. Pate, dated Jan. 22, noted that, If the accreditation award is maintained, the next site visit is tentatively scheduled for the Third Quarter of 2023.

Those wanting to be admitted to the next class beginning in August have a March 1 application deadline.