Radiologic Technology Education

No. Massachusetts General Hospital does not have a Radiologic Technology Program. However, the Department of Radiology is a clinical training site for affiliated colleges, including: 

• Bunker Hill Community College
  Radiography Program
  250 New Rutherford Avenue
  Boston, MA 02129-2925
  Program Director: Donna M. Misrati
  Phone: 617-228-2197
  Class Capacity: 36
  Length: 22 months
  Award/Degree: Associates in Science

• Regis College
  Radiography Program, Lawrence Memorial Hospital 
  170 Governors Avenue
  Medford, MA 02155
  Program Director: Colin McGibbon
  Phone: 781-306-6753
  Class Capacity: 17
  Length: 2 years
  Award/Degree: Associates in Science
• Roxbury Community College
  Radiologic Technology Program (application [PDF])
  Address: 1234 Columbus Ave
  Boston, MA. 02120, Program Director: Gary L’Abbe
  Phone: 857-701-1643
  Class Capacity: 15
  Length: 2 years
  Award/Degree: Associates in Science

The American Registry of Radiological Technologists is the national organization that determines what competencies are required to become a registered technologist, radiographer RT(R). The ARRT administers a standardized, primary exam (ARRT Registry) for eligible students who must satisfactorily complete a Radiologic Technology Program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Students must pass the ARRT Registry exam in order to be employed as a radiologic technologist.

The ARRT administers secondary certification exams for additional imaging modalities: CT, MRI, vascular interventional radiography and mammography.

Yes. As a technologist, you are required to lift and slide patients of varying weights. In extreme cases, patients who need to be lifted could be comatose or morbidly obese. This is a physically active job where technologists are standing or walking most of the day and are responsible to move large pieces of radiography equipment. 

Yes, you must be either a radiologic technologist or a nuclear medicine technologist to become a CT technologist. Only registered technologists, radiographers RT(R)s and nuclear medicine technologists (NM)s are eligible to take the ARRT CT post-certification exam. 

Typically, eligible radiologic technologists take the ARRT MRI as a secondary certification exam to become an MRI technologist. However, the ARRT also offers a primary certification for MRI to include students who are not radiologic technologists. Please see the ARRT website for specific criteria. 

Yes. Scholarships are available through Mass General Brigham. Once you are enrolled in a Radiologic Technology Program, scholarships are also available through the Massachusetts Society of Radiologic Technologists (MSRT) and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

For detailed up-to-date information about job availability in your area, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn about job availability and pay scale.