CF readies radiography program – Ocala

Two years in the making

College of Central Florida is in the final stages of opening its new radiography program, one that will help hospitals, urgent care centers and other medical facilities fill job vacancies.

Radiographers, known in recent years as radiologic technologists or rad techs, are best known in general terms as X-ray technicians. It has been two years since CF announced its plans to launch the program.

Last fall, CF hired Mitchell Housenick, who will serve as the radiography program manager. Housenick launched three other radiography programs at colleges around the country, the last of which at Cambridge Institute of Allied Health and Technology in Atlanta. Housenick said he plans to make Ocala home for many years.

Housenick has been putting together the curriculum for CFs two-year course that will meet the strict accreditation standards set forth by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. CFs curriculum will meet that JRCERTs highest accreditation level Gold Seal status.

Gold Seal ensures employers that the students have taken the state approved curriculum, which based on high ethical standards and transparency.

Up until 2006, radiographers only needed a certification to work in the field. Since then, radiographers must have an associates degree. CFs two-year program will open in August with 20 students.

So far, about three dozen students have applied. CF will host three information sessions for students wishing to know more about careers in radiography. Three sessions will be offered at the CF, 3001 SW College Road: Friday, June 12 and June 15. All sessions will begin at 3 p.m. in Building 37, Room 103.

To qualify for the program, applicants must have 10 credit hours in mathematics, English and anatomy. Students must have a 2.5 grade point average. Students will be ranked based on a point system, which will use grade point averages and other data. Students will not be interviewed.

After completing the 77-credit-hour program, graduates will be eligible to take the certification examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Housenick said in all of the programs he has launched, every student has passed the certification examine on the first attempt. Students typically get three tries to pass the certification examine.

This (a radiography degree) opens the path into other areas of medical imaging, said Housenick, adding students need the radiography degree to further their careers into mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine or other related imagining specialties.

Florida labor statistics state there will be a need for 88 more radiographers in Marion, Levy and Citrus counties by the year 2024. Of those needed positions, 43 will be new positions and the remaining slots will be needed to fill vacated positions.

Local radiographer salaries range from about $35,000 to $50,000 annually. The lower salaries would be for employees of smaller medical groups and private offices and the higher salaries would be for employees working at a trauma hospital, officials said Thursday.

There is a need right now for radiographers in Ocala, said Deanna M. Stentiford, associate dean of health sciences.

For the past decade, CF and Marion Technical College (formerly known as Community Technical & Adult Education, or CTAE) have partnered to offer the degree program. Until now, radiography students took five or so prerequisite courses at CF and then completed the radiography coursework at Marion Technical College.

After finishing that coursework, CF would certify Marion Technical Colleges associate degrees. About 25 Marion Technical College students graduate each year in radiography.

But two years ago, CFs accrediting agency (the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS) revealed it could no longer accredit CF if it continued to certify off-site programs unless a CF employee was teaching courses in that field at the off-site facility.

The ruling meant that, CF can no longer enter into articulation agreements like the one with Marion Technical College, without a change in the way it was delivered. Deputy Superintendent of Schools Heidi Maier and CF President Jim Henningsen are discussing ways to create a certification pathway so that Marion Technical Colleges program will continue, as well.

We will still offer radiography at Marion Technical College, said Mark Vianello, the School Districts executive director of vocational and technical programs.

Lois Brauckmuller, CFs spokeswoman, confirmed that the school district and CF leadership are having conversations about forming a radiography partnership.

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

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CF readies radiography program - Ocala