School of Radiation Therapy

The 12-month course of study in Radiation Therapy awards a certificate from Grady Health System upon graduation. Students who satisfactorily complete the program are eligible to become a certified Radiation Therapist through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The School of Radiation Therapy has several affiliate clinical sites where student training is enhanced through exposure to many diverse people, various types of equipment, and cutting-edge radiation therapy procedures. This specialized program prepares the graduate for a rewarding career as a radiation therapist.

Vision

The Schools of Radiation and Imaging Technologies at Grady Health System will become a recognized center of excellence for the education of Radiographers, Radiation Therapists, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Vascular Sonographers, CT Technologists, and MRI Technologists.

Mission

It is the mission of the School of Radiation Therapy to provide a quality education that actively engages the student in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences that will produce an entry-level therapist and prepare the student to challenge the national certification examination.

Goals and Learning Outcomes

Goal 1:  Students will be clinically competent.

Learning Outcomes:

1.1         Students will accurately demonstrate reproducible patient treatment positioning.

1.2         Students will evaluate radiation therapy treatment prescriptions, images, and treatment records.

Goal 2:  Students will communicate effectively.

Learning Outcomes:

2.1         Students will demonstrate knowledge of good patient communication skills.

2.2      Students will demonstrate effective communication skills.

Goal 3:  Students will use critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Learning Outcomes:

3.1         Students will evaluate clinical situations using critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

3.2         Students will recognize inconsistencies in patient setups and be able to resolve them.

Program Effectiveness Data is also posted on the JRCERT website at www.jrcert.org/program-effectiveness-data/

See our Radiation Therapy Program Effectiveness Data

The Radiation Therapy Program sponsored by Grady Memorial Hospital/Grady Health System is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Successful completion of a JRCERT-accredited program assures that students are provided the knowledge, skills, and professional values required for career success.

The program was awarded five years of continuing accreditation at the last site visit.  The maximum length of continuing accreditation granted by the JRCERT is eight years.

JRCERT accredited programs must follow the JRCERT Standards for an Accredited Educational Program in Radiography.  The standards can be found here jrcert.org/jrcert-standards/

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 704-5300
[email protected]
 www.jrcert.org

The Radiation Therapy Program at Grady Health System fulfills the curricular requirements for the state of Georgia and the national certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The program is accredited by The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The state of Georgia does not currently require radiation therapy students to become licensed or certified to work in the state of Georgia.

Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement

The School of Radiation Therapy offers equal educational opportunities to students regardless of race, creed, color, sex, age, handicap, religion, or national origin.

1. Certification in good standingby the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or eligible to write, and subsequently pass, the ARRT certification examination by the end of the first semester if provisionally accepted.
2. Satisfactory physical, mental, and emotional health.
3. Minimum age of 18
4. A college entrance test is required: SAT, ACT, COMPASS, ASSET, or ACCUPLACER minimum exam requirements:
   1. Scholastic Aptitude Reasoning Test (SAT I) – minimum math and critical reading (verbal) total score of 830 (writing section not included)
   2. American College Test (ACT) – minimum composite score of 17
   3. COMPASS minimum reading score of 74, and minimum math score of 37
   4. ASSET minimum reading score of 40, and minimum math score of 40
   5. ACCUPLACER reading score of 61, and minimum Elementary Algebra score of 67.
   6. ACCUPLACER Generation Next minimum reading score of 237, and elementary algebra (previous to 2021) or Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) (after 2021) of 258

5. College-level courses at an accredited college (with a minimum 2.5 GPA) will be considered in the selection process, but not in place of, critical test scores.
   

   Courses must include:	Courses excluded from consideration are:
   Algebra or higher-level mathematics	Remedial courses
   English	Developmental studies courses
   Speech	Courses with essentially non-academic content (orientation, career courses, etc.)
   	Non-transferable courses (grades of “D” or lower)

6. A status of good standing (not on probation, suspension, or expulsion) at the last institution attended.
7. Graduate of a nationally or regionally accredited Radiologic Technology program.
8. Certification in good standing by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or eligible to write, and subsequently pass, the ARRT certification examination by the end of the first semester if provisionally accepted.
9. Completion of an Associate or higher-level degree from a nationally or regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary institution.  A degree and postsecondary education must be from an institution accredited by one of the following accrediting mechanisms acceptable to the ARRT:

• Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
• Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and Senior College Commission (SCC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
• Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
• Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
• Council on Occupational Training (COE)
• Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission (DETC)
• National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools of Middle States Association of College and Schools (MSA-CESS)
• Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation
• Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools Accreditation Commission
• Commission on Accrediting of Association of Theological Schools
• Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
• Conjoint Accreditation Services of the Canadian Medical Association
• Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA)

10. Applicants are required to visit the hospital when invited.  This includes a personal interview and a tour of the radiation oncology department.

Applicants from other Radiation Therapy programs will not be accepted as transfer students.  Advanced placement and/or transfer credit from another Radiation Therapy program is not accepted.

The School of Radiation Therapy begins only one time per year in the Fall. Applicants wishing to be considered for fall admission should have all required portfolio documents postmarked by April 1.

A qualifying applicant will be invited to Grady Health System for an interview and tour. The applicant will also receive Financial Aid information. This procedure takes approximately two hours.

Admission to the school is competitive and the Admissions Committee reserves the right, in every case, to accept or reject any applicant based on previous academic performance, motivation, personality, or health and character as determined by the application process, interview, and review of academic and sociological data, references and investigation.

Notices of acceptance or rejection will be emailed the week following the Admissions Committee meeting. Notices are given by email only.

Application Instructions

All application portfolio documents must be postmarked by April 1. Portfolio documents include the application, application fee, brief autobiography, official SAT I or ACT score, official high school transcript or documentation of GED, Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools, professional references and documentation of current certification or eligibility. Incomplete applications and/or those who do not adhere to the deadline dates will be not considered. All documents are mailed to:

Grady Health System
Schools of Radiation and Imaging Technologies
Admissions Office
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE – Box 26095
Atlanta, GA 30303-3050

Application Procedure

1. Apply ONLINE and pay the $35.00 nonrefundable application fee.
2. Applicants submit the following to the School:
   1. Application portfolio documents
      1. All official transcripts
         1. Official high school transcript or GED certificate.
         2. Official transcripts of courses completed in all colleges or other postsecondary programs of study.
         3. Official transcript from the Radiologic Technology program from which the applicant is attending or has graduated.
         4. Proof of any current national certification, if applicable.
      2. Critical Test Scores
         1. A college entrance test is required; either the Scholastic Aptitude Reasoning Test (SAT I) or the American College Test (ACT), Compass, Asset, ACCUPLACER, and/or ACCUPLACER Generation Next. Grady Health System’s SAT code is 5263 and the ACT code is 5329.
         2. TOEFL score, if applicable (see International Student Requirements).
      3. Military discharge papers (DD214), if applicable.
      4. References
         The applicant must provide names, professional email addresses of each reference for four (4) references who have supervised the applicant a minimum of six months in an evaluating position (such as supervisors, educators, etc.). Friends, relatives, clergy, or co-workers are not acceptable references. Applicants should contact references prior to submission of application.

Incomplete applications and those who do not adhere to the deadline dates will not be considered. An applicant’s application and portfolio documents will not be returned to the applicant, nor forwarded to another institution.

All correspondence and inquiries pertaining to applications should be directed to the attention of the:
Admissions Office
Schools of Radiation and Imaging Technologies
Grady Health System
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE – P.O. Box 26095
Atlanta, GA 30303-3050
(404) 616-3610

International Student Admission Requirements

An applicant will be classified as an “International Student” if the school credentials he/she submits for evaluation are from schools or colleges outside of the United States. This applicant, in addition to meeting the admission requirements outlined in the previous sections, must also meet the following requirements:

1. A non-citizen applicant is required to provide documentation from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) of permanent resident status by presenting his/her alien registration card. The school is not approved by the Department of Homeland Security to enroll non-immigrant (F-1) status students.
2. The applicant must present official secondary and post-secondary (college or university) certificates, credentials, or diplomas. Official documents must bear authoritative signatures, seals, and stamps. If possible, the institution issuing the document should send these. Certified original translation must accompany all documents not printed in English. Secondary grades should equal the equivalent of a “B” average. Applicants postsecondary courses must have earned satisfactory grades in all courses attempted and be in good standing. The average score should be equivalent to a “C” or better.
3. If the applicant’s native language is not English, one of the following must be submitted:
   • Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) with minimum subset scores for each test versions as follows:
     • PBT:  55 (Reading, Writing, Listening)
     • CBT:  21 (Reading, Writing, Listening)
     • iBT:   20 (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)
     • Essay Writing/TWE (PBT, CBT) subscores should not be below 4.0

• • The TOEFL test must have been taken within the last two years to be acceptable.
    • Georgia State Test of English Proficiency with the minimum progress of “Intermediate”.

Technical Standards – ADA Compliance

ARRT Ethics Review for Felony or Misdemeanor Conviction

Upon acceptance, the applicant must submit the following:

1. Physical examination, immunizations to include documentation of:
   1. MMR vaccine or Titer (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Must have one of the following:
      1. Documentation of 2 does after 1^st birthday and separated by at least 28 days or
      2. Laboratory evidence of immunity by positive measles titer, positive mumps titer, and positive rubella titer.
   2. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
   3. Hepatitis B and titer
   4. Varicella (2 doses) and/or titers
   5. PPD (TB screening). Additional TB testing is required if PPD is positive.

2. Criminal background check and drug screening test performed through www.advantagestudents.com.

3. Proof of professional liability insurance that documents coverage for term of enrollment.

4. Documented completion of CPR (BLS for Healthcare Providers – Part 1) online training module by the American Heart Association.

5. American Registry of Radiologic Technology certification in radiography certificate

Background Check – Drug Screen Policy

Student Handbook