Medical Radiologic Technology (MRT) is one of the most exciting and varied fields of study in Medicine. The MRT program here at Lone Star College–CyFair is committed to helping each student master the basic skills needed to function as an entry-level staff radiographer. We work to help each student develop the desire to continue their professional development through advance certification and continuing education. Please visit the MRT program listing for more information on the additional entry requirements for our program.

We encourage you to explore the field of radiography. The professional society for radiographers, ASRT has a web site that will help you do just that.

The National Institutes of Health also has a career exploration site, Lifeworks, that may be of further interest.

Program Accreditation

The Lone Star College-CyFair Medical Radiologic Technology Program is accredited by:

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3182
312.704.5300

ASRT Video Clips

You may view these videos to learn more about the diagnostic radiography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and diagnostic sonography.

Technical Standards

All of the following standards must be met in order to successfully practice as a radiographer.

1. Behavioral and Social Skills Requirement
   • Possess adequate and sufficient behavioral and social skills to conduct oneself in a professional manner in a college and/or health care environment
2. Communication Ability Requirement
   • Communicate clearly and effectively through oral and written means with patients, coworkers and other health care providers by use of the standard English language and medical terminology
3. Hearing Ability Requirement
   • Respond to patient questions, concerns, and explanations while performing medical imaging procedures
   • Conduct effective communication with the patient and other health care staff without endangering the safety of the patient or staff, or impairing the performance of the procedure
   • Perform necessary vital sign patient monitoring
4. Visual Acuity Requirement
   • View radiographic images and medical reports
   • Assess direction of and correctly direct the central ray to the anatomical part being imaged and align the image receptor
   • Read departmental protocol for imaging procedures, the radiographic examination request and physicians’ orders
5. Motor Function Requirements
   • Manipulate and grasp small objects required to perform radiological imaging
   • Operate both mobile and stationary equipment
   • Transfer patient to and from imaging table, stretcher(s), wheelchair(s), and crib(s)
   • Provide appropriate balance, gait and support to perform duties safely and without placing the patient at risk
   • Provide strength to move and operate medical imaging equipment
   • Perform reaching movements over the imaging table to check patient positioning and alignment of the central ray
   • Manipulate the x-ray tube to the correct required distance and position
   • Stand unassisted for long periods of time

JRCERT Criteria for Evening/Weekend Rotations

1. A maximum of 25% of the student’s “total clinical clock hours” may be spent in evening and weekend assignments. The total clinical clock hours for this program are 1,424 hours. You will be scheduled for evening hours during your final year of training. However, you will never be asked to work more than 356 hours during the evening or weekend hours. Each student will participate in evening and weekend rotations during their second year of training.
2. The program’s utilization of clinical assignments must be clearly identified in appropriate program publications and must be made known to prospective and enrolled students. Clinincal assignments are identified in the Student Success handbook and on this web page for prospective and currently enrolled students.
3. The timing of assignments must be correlated with the didactic curriculum. Since the goal of the evening and weekend assignments is to gain experience in trauma and emergency radiography, it is unlikely that first-term students will benefit from those assignments. Evening and weekend assignments will occur only after students have acquired the knowledge base needed to actually benefit from the rotation. You can expect to participate in evening and weekend rotations during your last year of training.
4. A student’s combined didactic and clinical contact hours must not exceed 40 hours per week. It is also suggested that the combined hours not exceed 8 hours per day. We have structured your educational program “week” so that you will never exceed 40 hours per week. You will never be given a schedule that will not allow you enough time to get a full night’s sleep before the next scheduled didactic course.
5. A student to qualified staff ratio of 1:1 must be maintained at all times. The regular student to staff ratio of 1:1 will be maintained at all times during the evening and weekend assignments. Direct and indirect supervision is still in place. You are not to perform any exam without proper supervision.
6. Students must be allowed to complete clinical competencies during these assignments. Once they have completed training, all staff radiographers are permitted to test students on clinical competencies so you may perform any competencies that you can during the evening or on weekends.
7. Utilization of clinical assignments must be equitably applied to enrolled students. The benefits of completing evening and weekend rotations are provided to all students. We want to have equitable learning activities that promote fairness and an impartial education for every student. Every student will rotate through evening and weekends.
8. Program total capacity cannot be increased through the use of evening and/or weekend assignments. We have not added any additional clinical slots based on the addition of clinical rotations.