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Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences

Radiologic Technology Certificate Program section navigation

Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences

Clinical Education, Obligations and Technical Standards

Clinical Education

The clinical portion of the program is comprehensive and rigorous, focusing on developing the hands-on professional skills needed to perform as a Radiographer. So, students must meet the physical requirements associated with the role. As a competency-based program, students will receive feedback in the form of evaluations, conducted by professional clinical staff (i.e. faculty, clinical preceptors and departmental staff).

Students spend approximately 20 hours per week in the clinical education environment. Students must wear approved uniforms for all clinical and class activities. During these rotations, students will utilize ionizing radiation and potentially encounter infectious diseases and body fluids. Therefore, this practical training also covers radiation protection, standard precautions and the proper use of personal protective equipment.

Weekly clinical rotations include general diagnostic, fluoroscopic, emergency and surgical imaging. In the second year, students may rotate through special modalities such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, mammography and more. Clinical hours primarily occur during day shifts, with occasional evening shifts every 5-6 weeks.

Students will be scheduled to rotate through Emory Decatur Hospital and other Emory Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, outpatient imaging centers and orthopedic clinics.

Clinical Sites

The SOM RT Certificate Program has 15 clinical sites approved by the JRCERT. Students rotate through each of these sites for their clinical education component.

Clinical Education Site Location Distance from EDH Campus
Emory Decatur Hospital (EDH) 2701 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033 0.0 miles
Emory Hillandale Hospital (EHH) 2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway, Lithonia, GA 30058 11.5 miles
Emory at Stonecrest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine 8225 Mall Parkway, Suite 150, Lithonia, GA 30038 14.9 miles
Emory at Decatur Orthopedics and Sports Medicine 1014 Sycamore Drive, Suite A, Decatur, GA 30030 0.2 miles
Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (ELTAC) 450 N. Candler Street, Decatur, GA 30030 1.6 miles
Emory Musculoskeletal Institute (EMI) 21 Ortho Ln, Atlanta, GA 30329 5.2 miles
Emory Winship Cancer Institute (WCI) 1365 Clifton Rd NE Building C, Atlanta, GA 30322 2.8 miles
Emory University Hospital (EUH) 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 2.5 miles
Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM) 550 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 7.0 miles
Emory Clinic at Emory University Hospital Midtown (MOT) 550 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 7.0 miles
Winship Emory Midtown (WEM) 36 Linden Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 7.0 miles
Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital (EUOSH) 1455 Montreal Rd E, Tucker, GA 30084 4.0 miles
Emory Sports Medicine Complex (Hawks)- Atlanta (Brookhaven) 1968 Hawks Ln, Brookhaven, GA 30329 4.0 miles
Emory at Spivey Station 7813 Spivey Station Blvd #220, Jonesboro, GA 30236 23.4 miles
Emory Imaging Center at Stockbridge 3625 Hwy 138 SE, Suite 47B, Stockbridge, GA 30281 21.1 miles


Clinical Obligations

As a condition of rotating through various clinical environments, students must comply with immunization requirements set forth by Emory University and Emory Healthcare.

Please Note: Immunization requirements are subject to change at any time.

If applicants are accepted into the program, their status is also contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check and drug screening prior to enrollment. Students may potentially be responsible for covering the costs of these screenings.

Vaccinations/Immunizations

Pre-Screening requirements: All accepted SOM RT Certificate Program students must maintain current immunizations and vaccinations throughout the entire program to participate in clinical rotations.

Please see the sections below regarding the list of possible requirements. All students of Emory University, including those participating in the SOM RT Certificate Program, must be 100% compliant with Emory University Immunization requirements, or they will be unable to register for classes/change their enrollment status. For more information regarding these requirements, please visit Emory Student Health Immunization Requirements.  

Medical Health Insurance Coverage

All students of Emory University, including those participating in the SOM RT Certificate Program, must have medical health insurance coverage, or they will be required to purchase Emory University Student Health Insurance Plan (EUSHIP). If students are already enrolled in their own medical health insurance plan, they must follow the steps to submit a Health Insurance Waiver.

Background Checks/Drug Screening

All students in the SOM RT Certificate Program, must undergo a criminal background check and drug screening prior to enrollment in the program. Please Note:  As we transition from the healthcare platform to the university platform these requirements are subject to change.

Current Healthcare Requirement: Employment Eligibility Requirements

  1. Completion of HR on-boarding process to include:
    • Background screening
    • Photo ID
    • New Partner Orientation
  2. Completion of Employee Health visit to include:
    • Vaccination record
    • TB testing
    • Drug screening
    • Nicotine screening
    • N-95 fit testing
  3. Program start date will be the first Tuesday in September after Labor Day of each year.

Current University Requirement

Criminal Background Check and drug screen

  • The Student Package (background check and drug screen) must be ordered online through the website. This process would take place after a student has been initially accepted, but prior to enrollment.
    • If the student has lived in states other than Georgia or has lived in other countries, additional fees for searches will apply
    • Results are accessed by EHC HR on-boarding partners
    • Unsatisfactory/positive results of the criminal background check and/or drug screen will result in ineligibility for admission to the program
 


Technical Standards

The student must be able to meet the physical and technical standards necessary for successful completion of the SOM RT Certificate Program. The physical and technical standards required are as follows:

Motor Skills
Students must possess sufficient strength, coordination and dexterity to:
  1. Physically perform duties associated with general patient care in various healthcare settings.
  2. Safely transfer patients between wheelchairs, stretchers, exam tables and beds.
  3. Operate and align medical imaging equipment, including transporting mobile radiographic machines, with speed and precision.
  4. Provide physical and emotional support during radiographic procedures.
  5. Administer first aid (including CPR) and emergency care until a physician is present.
  6. Physically clean and stock exam rooms; change linen
Observation Skills
Students must be able to:
  1. Accurately observe and assess physical status of patient during entire interaction.
  2. Recognize and interpret nonverbal communication during assessments and imaging procedures.
  3. Collect and document medical histories.
  4. Accurately evaluate surroundings while working in low-light conditions.
  5. Maintain situational awareness to ensure safe, efficient patient care with the healthcare team.
  6. Actively engage in classroom, clinical demonstrations and lab activities.
Communication Skills
Students must be able to:
  1. Accurately observe and assess physical status of patient during entire interaction.
  2. Recognize and interpret nonverbal communication during assessments and imaging procedures.
  3. Collect and document medical histories.
  4. Accurately evaluate surroundings while working in low-light conditions.
  5. Maintain situational awareness to ensure safe, efficient patient care with the healthcare team.
  6. Actively engage in classroom, clinical demonstrations and lab activities.
Affective Behavioral and Social Characteristics
Students must demonstrate emotional maturity, good judgment and respect for patient confidentiality while building effective relationships with patients, faculty, staff and peers. They must:
  1. Work professionally, respectfully and collaboratively within health care teams.
  2. Interact courteously and empathetically with patients, families and health care personnel.
  3. Manage heavy workloads, adapt to stress and maintain an emotionally balanced approach in professional and personal settings.
  4. Contribute to a positive learning environment, accept feedback constructively and assume responsibility and accountability for self-improvement.
  5. Exhibit compassion, integrity, motivation and strong interpersonal skills.
  6. Demonstrates cultural sensitivity with others and adapts to diverse cultural values and practices.
Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities
Students must possess strong cognitive abilities and effective learning strategies to process complex information. They must:
  1. Manage time efficiently and prioritize tasks effectively.
  2. Possess the ability to comprehend information through various methods, including classroom instruction, collaborative activities, independent study, presentations and utilize technological resources to enhance outcomes.
  3. Apply critical thinking and higher-order thinking skills to process information.
  4. Calculate and apply appropriate technical exposure factors to meet procedural standards and patient needs.
  5. Review and assess medical images for accurate positioning, appropriate radiographic exposure, accurate procedural sequencing and critique images for diagnostic quality.


The student must be able to meet these technical standards to be admitted or to continue in the program. If it is the judgment of the Admissions Committee that the applicant is unable to meet these requirements, the student must show certification of compliance with the standards to be considered for admittance or continuance in the program.

Americans with Disabilities Compliance

The program adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), fostering an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities. Students must be mentally and physically capable of meeting program objectives without compromising the safety of patients, themselves or others.

The program's technical standards define the required physical, mental, and emotional abilities but allow for reasonable accommodations to support students in completing the curriculum. Examples of reasonable accommodations include modified seating for hearing impairments, enlarged text or diagrams, and extended reading time for visual impairments. However, essential physical and technical standards required for patient care remain unchanged. Therefore, accommodations must not compromise patient care, safety, or the program's essential standards.

Applicants or students with concerns about these standards should contact the Department of Accessibility Services (DAS) promptly to discuss potential accommodations. Admission is contingent upon the ability to meet these standards, with or without accommodations, and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Students seeking accommodations must initiate the process by contacting DAS. The program director is available to address any questions about the technical standards and how they apply to individual circumstances.