Exploring the American Career College Radiography Program
Embarking on a career in radiologic technology requires careful consideration of the available educational pathways. American Career College (ACC) offers a comprehensive Radiography program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this vital healthcare field. This article delves into the details of ACC's Radiography program, covering aspects from admission requirements to curriculum highlights and career prospects.
Is ACC Right for You? Initial Considerations
Investing in your education is a significant decision. American Career College understands this and provides resources to help you make an informed choice. Their Admissions Advisors are available to answer your questions and guide you through the application process. Visiting a class is the best way to get a feel for what they do here. ACC encourages prospective students and their families to visit their campuses and experience the learning environment firsthand.
Admission to the Radiography Program
The application process at ACC is designed to be straightforward. It's easy to apply for admission at ACC. To be eligible for the Radiography program, you typically need a high school diploma or a GED. If you have your high school diploma, you will take a standardized entrance exam. Students may also participate in the College's Professional Readiness Program instead of taking the exam. For specific requirements, it's best to contact their admissions team to review specific requirements for your program of interest.
Addressing the HSE Academy
It's important to note that while ACC wants to see you succeed, the HSE Academy preparation program is not offered by or taught by American Career College. HSE Academy is not accredited by ABHES. While HSE Academy does offer no-cost HSE Test preparation program, choosing the HSE Academy program to fulfill the high school equivalency admissions requirement is in no way required to enroll at American Career College. There are many HSE Test preparation programs in the State of California.
Accreditation and Approvals
Yes, American Career College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). They also have 12 other major accrediations, approvals, and memberships. This accreditation ensures that the program meets certain quality standards and that graduates are eligible to sit for the examination given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The Radiography (Associate of Occupational Science) program at the Los Angeles, Orange County, and Ontario campuses is approved by the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch (CDPH-RHB).
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Radiography Program Overview
The Radiography program at ACC is an Associate of Occupational Science (A.O.S.) degree program designed to be completed In as little as 25 months. The program provides hands-on radiologic technologist training. ACC's Radiography program is designed to provide learning experiences that prepare our school's students for competent performance as a radiologic technologist. The goal of radiologic technologist school is to graduate professionals that enthusiastically display leadership responsibilities while providing competent care.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics essential for radiologic technologists. You'll learn how to prepare, operate and maintain the imaging equipment as well as imagining positions, procedures, techniques and processing. The program emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills through a combination of classroom instruction and clinical experience.
Some of the key courses include:
Introductory Course: This introductory course outlines the role of a radiologic technologist, the history of radiology, hospital and imaging department operations and exam reimbursement protocol.
Career Advantage: Career Advantage is a course designed to prepare students to develop career planning and job search skills. Thorough, relevant job search preparation is required to compete successfully for jobs in today's market.
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Medical Imaging Terminology: This course is an introduction to basic medical imaging terminology and prepares students for more advanced coursework in subsequent courses by providing an introduction to general medical imaging terminology.
Principles of Radiographic Imaging: This course provides the needed concepts of how a radiographic image is produced for diagnostic radiography, fluoroscopy, and mobile radiography.
Image Production and Evaluation: This course will provide a knowledge base about the factors of x-ray image creation, which will include the equipment accessories and exposure factors that affect the quality of a radiograph.
Radiographic Positioning I & II: These courses will provide the theory and laboratory practice for students to position patients for radiographic examinations of the respiratory system, abdomen, bony thorax, upper and lower extremities and related joints, as well as the vertebral column, cranium, facial bones, and sinuses.
Radiation Protection: This course will provide the concepts of proper radiation protection protocols for the general public and imaging personnel. Regulatory agencies, dosage, shielding, and radiation protection principles for radiography, mobile radiography, and fluoroscopy will be explained.
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Patient Care: This course will provide the basic concepts and skills that are required for the appropriate standard of care for patients, which include communication, medical history documentation, and patient assistance. Students will demonstrate competence in taking vital signs and patient transfers.
Advanced Radiographic Procedures: These courses will provide the theory and laboratory practice for students to position patients for radiographic examinations of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and special procedures using contrast material.
Venipuncture: This course provides the basic methods for the administration of contrast material and the basic practices of venipuncture for the radiologic technologist.
Clinical Practicums: These courses are practical applications of the concurrent theoretical learning, allowing students to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting. Competency based assignments in thorax, abdomen, extremities, vertebral column, cranium, facial bones, sinuses, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and special procedures with contrast, mobile radiography, surgical and interventional procedures will continue as well as clinical assignments for observing Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), under the supervision of certified Radiologic Technologists. Clinical rotation for observing additional imaging modalities will be assigned.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of ACC’s Radiography program are eligible to sit for the ARRT Radiography certification exam, a key step toward becoming a registered radiologic technologist. Radiologic technologists take images of a patient's body so that doctors can make a proper diagnosis. Our nationally accredited program will prepare you to work in a number of medical environments. Radiologic technologist, radiographer, x-ray tech - no matter what the job is called, it’s a role that is essential for the effective care of patients.
Job Duties
Radiologic technologists are responsible for maintaining and operating the equipment that takes effective x-rays and other diagnostic imaging examinations. They work directly with patients, providing customer and personal service.
Cost of Attendance
The purpose of the Cost of Attendance (COA) is to provide students and families with an estimated cost to attend American Career College. The COA includes both direct and indirect cost estimates. Direct costs are paid directly to American Career College and are listed in the table above. Indirect costs are not paid to American Career College and are estimates students may use to budget expenses they may incur while attending school. While actual indirect costs may vary, American Career College estimates these amounts based on the number of months in an academic year and whether students will live with parents or off campus. The tables below list an estimate of indirect costs for each program.
Estimated Total Charges for the Entire Educational Program listed below becomes effective for prospective students enrolling on or after December 1st, 2025 except for the Associate of Occupational Science Degree in Radiography, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy programs which are effective as of July 1, 2025 and the Associate of Occupational Science in Respiratory Therapy program which is effective as of July 23rd, 2025.
1All diploma program students, with the exception of Vocational Nursing, must pay a $20 nonrefundable application fee upon enrollment. Vocational Nursing students and all Associate degree program students must pay a $60 nonrefundable application fee upon enrollment.2Fees vary by program and include items such as customized uniforms, classroom consumables, administrative and technology fees. Fees also cover campus safety resources supporting training activities, acquisition and maintenance of security systems including but not limited to security cameras, access control and emergency broadcast systems. For clinical and degree programs, it also includes fees associated with health and background screenings, test preparation, examinations, licensure and certification.3Includes books, laptop computer, digital or electronic course materials, and other supplies for which students have the right to opt out and purchase from other sources. ACC is able to offer these books and supplies, including digital or electronic course materials to students below competitive market rates. Opting out does not require the school to provide you with an alternative delivery method and you will be responsible for obtaining all required course materials. Students that choose to obtain or purchase books and supplies from other sources must do so by the 7th day of class. If the course material is not available from any other source but the institution, students will not be able to opt out of those required books and supplies. ADN program fees = ATI fee in 1st term of $3,685, Other Program fees of $390 and Clinical Fees of $775 in terms 2 - 8.4Effective April 1, 2024 we will start collecting the Student Tuition Recovery Fund at the rate of zero dollars ($0.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges for students with a first payment scheduled after April 1, 2024. The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 1747 N. Market Blvd. A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of noncollection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.5Estimated total charges for the entire educational program does not include transportation costs to and from externship or clinical sites. This cost is the student’s responsibility. 6Nursing Core courses (identified with course code beginning NURS) are billed at a rate of $1,128 per credit.
Financial Aid
Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you.
Transfer Opportunities
If you decide to earn your A.A.S. degree in radiologic technology, you can transfer to complete your four-year degree. We have partnerships and transfer agreements in place with many colleges and universities so you can easily transfer when you're ready. Transfer agreements (or articulation agreements, as they’re officially called) are formal arrangements between institutions that allow certain credits to transfer seamlessly from one school to the other.
Privacy and Communication
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