Considering a Career in Radiologic Technology? Get to know the JRCERT. If you are considering a career in radiology, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) is the best way to become an invaluable professional.
What Is JRCERT?
It is a non-profit organization setting standards for education in everything related to the radiologic sciences and correlated fields of study. The organization features nearly 750 accredited programs in diverse fields of radiology, including:
- Radiation Therapy
- Radiography
- Magnetic Resonance / Medical Dosimetry
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology has been accrediting programs for more than 40 years. It is recognized by the United States Department of Education. That means, by pursuing a program accredited by JRCERT, you will be able to become a qualified radiology specialist. This affords you dramatically improved chances of landing any of the better positions available in this field of medicine. Whether you end up working in a hospital, private practice, or in any of the other health care facilities, jobs are available. As a trained technologist, you will more opportunities presented to you when you graduated from an accredited institution.
What Are The Benefits Of Opting For An Accredited Program?
JRCERT provides accreditation for a multitude of programs in radiology throughout the United States and there are multiple benefits that come with achieving this accreditation, both for students as well as for the ones initiating the program. First of all, as a student, you will be able to complete courses from an accredited program.
That step means that your credits and ultimately your degree will be recognized by those commissioned to vet your educational background. Clearly, graduating from an accredited radiology program sets you above your peers.
As for the ones initiating the accreditation program, they will benefit from ongoing professional consultations, assessment and analysis, peer reviews as well as program reviews and evaluations. At the end of the evaluation process the program will receive one of the following accreditation from: The American College of Radiology, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists, the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, or the Association for Medical Imaging Management. These accreditations are the life blood of any school that wants to maintain a sterling reputation amongst the medical community.
What To Look For In Radiology Program
Deciding which program fits you best may be time consuming and possibly nerve wracking, especially due to the seemingly vast array of options. Apart from numerous radiology schools, as previously mentioned, there are around 750 accredited or following accreditation radiology programs in the United States alone, each seeking for specialists. If you have a hard time considering the best program for you, here is what you should look for:
- Accreditation. Obviously, in order to be hired and be able to practice, you will be required to graduate from an accredited school program. Look for programs already accredited by JRCERT. You want to ensure that you won’t be investing your time and money in a school that the medical establishment does not recognize.
- Search for the trends. Before applying to a radiology program, it would be best to take a look on the radiology employment market and determine what the trends are. There are plenty of hospitals now providing radiological treatments for patients with tumors or cancers, but before undergoing a medical radiological procedure, hospitals require a complete team of physicians, specialists and technologists. Whether you are a specialist radiologist or a radiologist nurse, or even a specialist in dosimetry, it is imperative to know the market trends. Bear in mind that a plethora of specialists in the same field will determine a tougher employment market. Whereas niche specializations will be in demand and employers will be prepared to pay the specialists more.
- Confirm the quality of the schools. Do not be afraid to seek information from as many radiology schools as possible. Often enough, they do not offer the same classes and training, and there is also a difference in the quality of their teaching programs. Make sure you choose a school which not only specializes in teaching you about abdominal imaging techniques, but also prepares you for multiple specializations in the future.