- Massachusetts (MA) has numerous radiologic technology programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
- Some of the colleges that offer good radiology technology programs include Bunker Hill Community College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Massasoit Community College, Middlesex Community College, North Shore Community College, and Quinsigamond Community College.
- To become a radiologic technologist in MA, one needs to complete a program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam.
- Massachusetts is one of the top-paying states in the United States for radiologic technologists(1).
Best Radiology Schools in Massachusetts
| Colleges | Program Type | Degree Level | Duration | Program Effectiveness(2)* | ||
| Completion Rate | Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | ||||
| Bunker Hill Community College (Boston) | Radiography | Associate of Science (AS) | 21 months (full-time) 35 months (part-time) | 93.5% | 85% | 100% |
| Holyoke Community College | Radiography | AS | 21 months | 29% | 93% | 100% |
| Laboure College | Radiation Therapy | AS | 24 months | 90% | 81% | 96% |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College (Framingham) | Radiography | AS | 21 months | 88% | 75% | 88% |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences University | Radiography | Bachelor of Science (BS) | 32 months | 100% | 82% | 100% |
| Massasoit Community College (Brockton) | Radiography | AS | 21 months | 95% | 86.5% | 87% |
| Middlesex Community College (Bedford) | Radiography | AS | 21 months | 84% | 82% | 93% |
| North Shore Community College (Danvers) | Radiography | AS | 21 months | 76% | 93% | 96% |
| Northern Essex Community College | Radiography | AS | 21 months | 88% | 89% | 100% |
| Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester) | Radiography | AS | 24 months | 79% | 98% | 99% |
| Regis College (Medford) | Radiography | AS | 22 months | 69% | 81.4% | 100% |
| Roxbury Community College | Radiography | AS | 20 months | 92% | 64% | 90% |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Radiography | AS | 23 months | 69% | 78% | 100% |
| Suffolk University | Radiation Therapy | Certificate or BS | 21 months | 100% | 82.1% | 83% |
*Data retrieved on August 31, 2020. Changes may occur when new information comes in.
Numerous radiology schools in Massachusetts offer programs from general practice to specialty areas, such as sonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography, computed tomography (CT), and nuclear medicine.
Most of these schools require a high school diploma to get into the program. If the student meets the required grade point average (GPA), some programs may also grant financial aid.
The radiology programs are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
This organization evaluates the quality and safety of radiography, radiation therapy, and magnetic resonance educational programs.
JRCERT–accredited programs are also determined by the program effectiveness data, including completion rate, credential exam pass rate, and job placement rate.
Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College offers two options for its radiography program: a 21-month full-time program and a 35-month part-time program.
Both programs train students for entry-level positions as radiologic technologists. Learning takes place in a classroom and clinical setting.
Students learn to evaluate diagnostic images, apply positioning skills and radiation protection, provide patient care, demonstrate verbal and written communication skills in the classroom, and pursue continuing professional development in clinical settings.
The courses also include radiologic imaging, patient care in medical imaging, positioning, imaging technology, medical radiography, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology of radiology(3).
The program’s part-time option is designed to provide students with more schedule flexibility, especially those who cannot commit to a traditional class schedule.
The Bunker Hill radiography program is JRCERT-accredited.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) offers a Bachelor of Science in Radiography, which takes 32 months to complete(4).
This radiography program is ideal for students looking for a more in-depth understanding of radiologic technology.
The BS program integrates professional coursework, clinical experience, and classroom instruction in the applied sciences, liberal arts, and social sciences.
Students complete a core curriculum in the first year and more specified coursework in the second and third years.
The courses include radiographic procedures, X-ray radiation physics, patient care in imaging, introduction to interpersonal communication for health professionals, and healthcare ethics.
Students also complete clinical rotations and internships at affiliated hospitals, such as the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Cambridge Hospital, Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Charlton Memorial Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, and Tuft’s New England Medical Center.
Radiography graduates at the MCPHS University are eligible to take the ARRT exam.
Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College offers a JRCERT-accredited radiologic technology program. It takes 21 months with 12 weeks of clinical rotations.
This program prepares students for entry-level careers as radiographers who demonstrate problem-solving skills, critical thinking, effective communication, and ethical behavior.
The courses include radiologic technology, anatomy, physiology, principles of radiographic exposure, radiation science, positioning, and advanced imaging procedures(5).
Admission to this program is selective and highly competitive.
Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College offers an associate degree program in radiologic technology. It prepares students for license eligibility and entry-level employment as rad techs.
This 22-month program is offered by Middlesex Community College in collaboration with Middlesex Hospital.
The coursework includes radiologic positioning and fundamentals of radiobiology and clinical experience with 68 credit hours(6).
General education courses are held on campus, while courses requiring specialized laboratories, equipment, and hands-on practical experience are held at Middlesex Healthcare system facilities.
As per JRCERT accreditation guidelines, enrollment in the program is restricted by clinical facility capacity.
North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College offers an Associate of Science degree in radiologic technology. This program takes 21 months to complete.
The coursework is closely interwoven with supervised clinical instruction at affiliating local hospitals. Courses include radiologic science, principles of radiologic technology, digital radiography, and clinical experience(7).
Graduates of this JRCERT–accredited program are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Quinsigamond Community College
Quinsigamond Community College offers an associate’s degree in radiologic technology, which takes 22 months to complete.
Since 1973, Quinsigamond has produced over 400 graduate radiographers working within different healthcare areas, such as diagnostics, mobile radiography, computer tomography (CT), MRI, sonography, research, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy(8).
The radiologic technology program prepares students to serve the local community as medical imaging professionals.
The coursework includes medical imaging, radiation science, patient care and ethics in radiology, and clinical experience.
Other Schools to Consider
Aside from these well-known schools, here are other radiology schools in MA also worth considering(9).
Holyoke Community College
Holyoke Community College offers an associate degree program in radiologic technology. This 70-credit hour program prepares students for license eligibility.
The coursework includes radiographic techniques and controls, patient care, clinical education and lab experience, radiologic instrumentation, and internship experience.
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College offers an associate degree program in radiologic technology.
Students may choose from two options: a two-year, full-time day program or a three-year, part-time evening program.
The curriculum includes radiographic imaging, radiographic positioning, radiographic physics, and clinical experience.
Springfield Technical Institute
Springfield Technical Institute offers an associate degree program in diagnostic imaging with 65 credit hours.
The coursework includes radiographic positioning, equipment operation and maintenance, radiologic physics, and clinical experience.
Radiography Program vs. Radiology Program
Radiography programs typically require completion of one to four years. A prospective student must be a high school graduate to pursue available degree programs in radiography.
Aspiring radiologic technologists or radiographers may choose from a one-year certificate program, one to two-year associate’s degree, or a four-year bachelor’s degree.
A master’s degree program may also be pursued by students seeking advanced knowledge in biomedical imaging.
The general courses for this program include anatomy, pathology, patient care, medical ethics, radiation physics, and protection.
Radiography specializations may also be taken and usually depend on the educational level attained by the individual.
Some specializations include radiologic technology, radiation therapy or radiotherapy, sonography or ultrasound, nuclear medicine technology, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Meanwhile, radiology programs are for individuals who want to become a radiologist. Radiologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat diseases using medical imaging(10).
A radiology student must attend four years of medical school. Once an individual attains a bachelor’s degree in medicine, prospective radiologists must serve two years as a medical intern in an accredited hospital.
After two years of clinical rotations, radiologists must work as a radiology resident for four years. Radiology residents may continue their education while practicing.
Additional educational programs are also available for radiologists who want to expand their specialties.
After completing their residency, a prospective interventional radiologist must also serve two years of fellowship training. Radiologists may pursue a master’s degree or graduate school.
Moreover, the continuing developments of new technology in the medical imaging industry require radiologists to undergo further training.
How to Become a Radiologic Technologist in MA
To become a radiologic technologist in Massachusetts, one must meet the requirements set by the state law(11).
First, applicants must be a graduate of an accredited two-year radiology program and have successfully passed either the ARRT exam or the Nuclear Medicine Technologists Certification Board (NMTCB) exam.
Students who have graduated from a two-year program are eligible for a one-year temporary licensure, even if they have not yet completed the exam(12).
Initial full licenses and renewal licenses are valid for a two-year period, during which rad techs are required to obtain a minimum of 24 CEUs (continuing education unit).
CEUs are equivalent to one contact hour per credit. One contact hour equals 50 minutes of educational instructional activity.
Meanwhile, aspiring radiology technicians must also complete a two-year program accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) to be eligible for license examination(13).
Career and Salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 4,910 radiological technologists and radiology technicians are employed in Massachusetts(14).
Other career opportunities for rad tech graduates include radiographers, X-ray technicians, sonographers, MRI technologists, or nuclear medicine technologists.
Rad tech professionals may work in diagnostic imaging centers, such as Alliance Imaging Inc., Bay Radiology, BIH Radiologic Foundation, Beth Israel Radiology, Cape Diagnostic Imaging, or Radiology Associates of Norwood.
Radiologic technologists and radiology technicians may also find employment at one of the state’s many hospitals, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Fairview Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, Pembroke Hospital, or UMass Memorial Medical Center.
Radiologic technologists in MA earn an average annual salary of $78,300, making Massachusetts one of the top-paying states for this occupation(15).
The average salary for other radiology professionals, like X-ray technicians, is $51,701 a year(16).
According to Projections Central, radiology tech employment in Massachusetts is projected to increase by 7.6% during the decade ending in 2026(17). The number is lower than the projected national job growth rate for rad techs of 12% during the same year.
Conclusion
Numerous radiology schools in Massachusetts offer JRCERT–accredited programs. They are determined by the program effectiveness data, including completion rate, credential exam pass rate, and job placement rate.
Rad tech students may pursue a one-year certificate program, a two-year associate’s degree, or a four-year bachelor’s degree. The majority of programs in MA may be completed in two years.
Some of the best radiology schools include Bunker Hill Community College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Massasoit Community College, Middlesex Community College, North Shore Community College, and Quinsigamond Community College.
Radiography programs are usually completed within one to four years. An aspiring radiographer may also pursue specializations.
Meanwhile, radiology programs are pursued by individuals who want to become a radiologist. Radiology programs involve going to medical school and completing internship, residency, and graduate studies.
Massachusetts is one of the top-paying states in the US. Radiologic technology graduates have different options for specializations, career opportunities, and workplace environments.
Career opportunities include radiographers, X-ray technicians, sonographers, MRI technologists, or nuclear medicine technologists.
- US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). (May 2019). Occupational Employment and Wages, Radiologic Technologists. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292034.htm
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. (Accessed 2020). Program Effectiveness Data. Retrieved from: https://www.jrcert.org/resources/program-effectiveness-data/
- Bunker Hill Community College. (Accessed 2020). Medical Radiography. Retrieved from: https://www.bhcc.edu/academics/divisions/healthsciences/medicalimaging/medicalradiography/
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. (Accessed 2020). Radiography. Retrieved from: https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/school-of-medical-imaging-and-therapeutics/radiography
- Massasoit Community College. (Accessed 2020). Radiologic Technology. Retrieved from: https://massasoit.edu/program/radiologic-technology/
- Middlesex Community College. (Accessed 2020). Radiologic Technology Degree. Retrieved from: https://mxcc.edu/catalog/academics/radiologic-technology/
- North Shore Community College. (Accessed 2020). Radiologic Technology. Retrieved from: https://www.northshore.edu/academics/programs/rad/
- Quinsigamond Community College. (Accessed 2020). Radiologic Technology. Retrieved from: https://www.qcc.edu/radiologic-technology
- Study.com. (July 20, 2019). Radiology Tech Programs in MA with Course Descriptions. Retrieved from: https://study.com/radiology_tech_programs_ma.html
- American College of Radiology. (Accessed 2020). What Is a Radiologist?. Retrieved from: https://www.acr.org/Practice-Management-Quality-Informatics/Practice-Toolkit/Patient-Resources/About-Radiology
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (Accessed 2020). Licensing of Radiologic Technologists. Retrieved from: https://www.mass.gov/doc/105-cmr-125-licensing-of-radiologic-technologists/download
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Accessed 2020). Apply for a temporary Radiologic Technologist license. Retrieved from: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-temporary-radiologic-technologist-license
- Study.com. op. cit.
- US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). op. cit.
- Ibid.
- Zip Recruiter. (Accessed 2020). X Ray Technician Salary in Massachusetts. Retrieved from: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/How-Much-Does-a-X-Ray-Technician-Make-a-Year–in-Massachusetts
- Projections Central. (Accessed 2020). Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm