About Programs and Accreditation

The mission of the Medical Imaging Program is to graduate baccalaureate level professionals who are educationally prepared to successfully demonstrate clinical competence, professional behavior, communication and critical thinking skills to function as a member of the health care team.

Students in the Medical Imaging Program receive a liberal arts education that will prepare them for a career in the field of medical imaging, namely, the practical application of ionizing radiation in a variety of settings, including off-campus clinical placements as well as laboratory facilities on-campus.

Program Options

General Program

This curriculum provides the same solid education as the others, but allows for more flexibility to pursue other areas of interest through free electives. View the medical imaging major curriculum guide.

Medical Imaging Major, Combined Certificate Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Students may complete both the B.S. in medical imaging and the DMS Certificate in less than 5 academic years following this sequence. View the Medical Imaging Major with a combined Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography curriculum guide.

Accreditation

Misericordia University's Medical Imaging Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT): 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182 (312.704.5300), mail@jrcert.org, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Re-accreditation was awarded by the JRCERT in 2023 for an eight-year period. The JRCERT is the only agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the accreditation of educational programs in radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance and medical dosimetry.
View the JRCERT Standards for an Accredited Education Program.

General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found Here

Re-accreditation Award 2023

Careers in the Field of Medical Imaging

Who are Radiologic Technologists?

ASRT RADCADEMY: Radiologic Technology 101

Careers in Radiography

Radiographer(R)

Computed Tomography Technologist (CT)

Mammographer (M)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist (MR)

Nuclear Medicine Technologist (N) Or (CNMT)

Sonographer (RDMS)

Radiation Therapist (T)

Sales Representative

Cardiovascular Interventional Technologist (CV)

Interventional Technologist

Bone Densitometrist (BD)

Health Physicist

Administrator

Teacher

Medical Imaging vs. Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Medical Imaging

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Similarities

Both professions require individuals to be properly educated, detail oriented, and have a desire to work in a direct patient care field. Each of the two fields produce diagnostic images that are interpreted by a qualified physician to assist the patient in acquiring an accurate diagnosis.

Job Titles

Radiographer
Radiologic Technologist

Sonographer
Ultrasound Technologist

Roles

Diagnostic radiographic images, Computed Tomography, Mammography, Cardiac Catheterization, Special Procedures and Bone Densitometry images are produced utilizing ionizing radiation. The images may evaluate bony anatomy and/or internal organs.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging utilizes a magnetic field and radiofrequency pulses to produce diagnostic images.

Radiation Therapy employs radiation to treat malignancies of many parts of the body.

Radiographers and individuals credentialed in specialty areas are responsible for acquiring quality images or administering treatment with great attention to radiation protection practices for the patient and the public.

Sonography images from the unborn to the geriatric; head to toe using high frequency sound waves to produce images of internal anatomical structures.

Sonographers are responsible for performing the examination, optimizing image quality, assessing the image, and generating a worksheet to describe the examination findings to assist the interpreting physician in making the final diagnosis and report.

Specialty Areas

Computed Tomography (CT)
Nuclear Medicine
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Mammography
Cardiac Catheterization
Mammography
Special Procedures
Bone Densitometry
Radiation Therapy

Abdominal
Breast
Gynecology
Obstetrics
Thyroid
Urology
Vascular

Employment Opportunities

Medical Imaging professionals have many employment opportunities that include:

Medical Imaging (Radiology) departments in a hospital
Out-patient Imaging Centers
Mobile Imaging
Pediatric Hospital
Pain Management Clinics
Urology office
Women’s Imaging Centers
Cancer Treatment Centers

Sonography specialties and areas in which sonographers can be employed include, but not limited to:

General Sonography departments in a hospital or out-patient imaging center (abdominal, thyroid, pelvis, OB, vascular)
Mobile Imaging
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pediatric Hospital
Perinatology centers
Urology office
Vascular surgeon offices
Women’s Imaging Centers

Professional Societies/National Credentialing Organization

ASRT – www.asrt.org

ARRT – www.arrt.org

SDMS - www.sdms.org
AIUM - www.aium.org
ARDMS - www.ardms.org
ARRT(S) - www.arrt.org

Program Accreditation Information

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS)

Program Effectiveness Data

As required by our accrediting agency, The Joint Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), in Standards for an Accredited Educational Program in Radiography, Standard 1.6,"The program publishes program effectiveness data (credentialing examination pass rate, job placement rate, and program completion rate) on an annual basis". The Program Effectiveness Data may be found at: www.jrcert.org.

Credentialing examination pass rate is defined by the JRCERT. as: "the number of graduates who pass, on first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination...". Per the JRCERT. Standards, "Five year average credentialing examination pass rate of not less than 75 percent at first attempt". Five year average (2021 - 2025) - 99/125 = 79.2% pass rate on first attempt of ARRT. exam (99/125 first-time test takers passed).

5 Year History (2021 - 2025)

Credentialing Examination Rate

number passed on 1st attempt divided by number
attempted within 6 months of graduation

Year

Results

Year 1 - 2021

32 of 40- 80%

Year 2 - 2022

18 of 23 - 78%

Year 3 - 2023

15 of 18 - 83%

Year 4 - 2024

15 of 19 - 79%

Year 5 - 2025

19 of 25 - 76%

Program 5-Year Average

99 of 125 = 79.2%

Job Placement Rate is defined by the JRCERT. as "the number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences within 12 months of graduation compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences."

The JRCERT requires a "Five year average job placement rate of not less than 75 percent within twelve months of graduation."

Job Placement Rate

Number employed divided by number actively
seeking employment within 12 months of graduation

Year

Results

Year 1 - 2021

32 of 32 - 100%

Year 2 - 2022

14 of 14- 100%

Year 3 - 2023

23 of 23 - 100%

Year 4 - 2024

17 of 17 - 100%

Year 5 - 2025

11 of 11 - 100%

Program 5-Year Average

97 of 97 - 100%

Program completion rate (PCR)The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 70%.

Program completion rate (PCR), as per the JRCERT , is defined as the number of students who complete the program within the stated program length

Program Completion Rate

Number of graduates divided by the number that
started the program

Year

Results

2024

19 of 21

Program Annual Completion Rate

90.4%

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Careers in the Field of Medical Imaging

Medical Imaging vs. Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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