For the past two decades, Chattahoochee Tech has been preparing students for high-demand medical careers in radiology departments and related healthcare businesses. The college’s Radiography program marked this achievement and honored its newest graduates with a pinning ceremony held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the college’s North Metro Campus.
Brandon Smith, president of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), served as the keynote speaker at this event. He noted that the Chattahoochee Tech Radiography program graduates are entering the third-largest healthcare profession in the United States, with nurses and physicians ranked first and second. Registered radiologic technologists are medical personnel who perform diagnostic imaging examinations and administer radiation therapy treatments. They serve every demographic of patient care in hospitals, clinics and physician offices, and in many clinical specialties.
Over the years, a total of 340 students have graduated from the Chattahoochee Tech Radiography program, according to Program Director Jamie Bailey. Just as the program’s previous graduates have done, the current graduating class of 18 students will step right into well-paying jobs available now in the local workforce. “All of these graduates already have job offers from Northside, Wellstar, Pinnacle Orthopaedics, Emory, Atrium Healthcare and American Health Imaging,” said Bailey. “Starting salaries are very competitive, and recent graduates are starting anywhere between $24 and $30 an hour based on days and shift differential.”
The Chattahoochee Tech Radiography program is a competitive admissions program, which is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Students who have completed all of the required prerequisite courses can complete the program in four semesters to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. Upon meeting all academic and clinical requirements, they are eligible to take the national licensure boards administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). For 14 years, 100 percent of Chatt Tech Radiography program graduates have achieved a first-time pass rate on the ARRT National Registry Exam.
