- Connecticut (CT) has eight colleges and universities accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)(1).
- Some of the colleges that offer accredited radiologic technology programs include Capital Community College, St. Vincent’s College, Middlesex Community College, and the University of Hartford.
- To become a radiologic technologist in CT, one needs to complete a JRCERT-accredited program and pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam.
- The Connecticut Department of Public Health offers state licensure for radiologic technology professionals.
- According to Projections Central, radiology tech jobs in Connecticut could experience a 6% increase by 2026(2).
Best Radiology Schools in Connecticut
There are eight colleges and universities with radiology technology programs in Connecticut(3). These schools are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Students may pursue a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree program. Some colleges also offer master’s or advanced degrees in radiologic science.
Most schools require a high school diploma to get into the program. If the student meets the grade point average (GPA) requirement, some programs may also grant financial aid.
Radiologic technology programs may include specialty areas, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sonography, computed tomography (CT), mammography, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine.
JRCERT accreditation uses the program effectiveness data, including students’ completion rate, credential exam pass rate, and job placement rate.
Here are the radiology tech schools in CT with JRCERT-accredited programs.
| Name of Colleges | Program Type | Degree Level | Program Duration | Program Effectiveness(4)* | ||
| Completion Rate | Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | ||||
| Capital Community College | Radiography | Associate of Science | 21 months | 73% | 78% | 97% |
| Gateway Community College (New Haven) | Radiography | Associate of Science | 20 months | 78% | 90% | 100% |
| Gateway Community College (New Haven) | Radiation Therapy | Associate of Science | 22 months | 50% | 93% | 100% |
| Manchester Community College | Radiation Therapy | Associate of Science | 21 months | 60% | 0% | 0% |
| Manchester Community College | Radiography | Associate of Science | 22 months | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Middlesex Community College (Middletown) | Radiography | Associate of Science | 22 months | 95% | 91% | 100% |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury) | Radiography | Associate of Science | 22 months | 83% | 99% | 91% |
| Quinnipiac University (Hamden) | Radiography | Bachelor of Science | 36 months | 74% | 98% | 93% |
| St. Vincent’s College at Sacred Heart University | Radiography | Associate of Science | 24 months | 87.50% | 86.67% | 97.1% |
| University of Hartford (West Hartford) | Radiography | Certificate and Bachelor of Science | 21 months (Certificate) and 50 months (Bachelor of Science) | 91% | 88% | 98% |
*Data retrieved on Sept. 3, 2020. Changes may occur when new information comes in.
Capital Community College
Capital Community College offers an Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology, which takes two years to complete.
Students follow a predetermined course of study where they take courses in sequence and complete a clinical rotation.
Radiologic technology coursework covers anatomy, physiology, radiation physics, and radiation protection. Meanwhile, clinical education takes place at local hospitals and medical facilities.
Graduates of the program are eligible to take the ARRT certification exam.
Capital Community College also offers students the opportunity to transfer to the University of Hartford and complete a four-year Bachelor of Science degree.
Applications are evaluated based on the applicant’s grades and high school GPA. Applicants with the most points are offered admission to the program.
The program’s tuition costs $6,800 for residents and $10,100 for non-resident students(5).
Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College offers an associate degree in radiologic technology, which takes 22 months to complete. The program prepares students for entry-level positions as radiologic technologists.
The academic component of the curriculum is completed at Middlesex Community College. Meanwhile, laboratory and hands-on experiences are completed at Middlesex Hospital.
Students also complete a five-month internship between the months of January and May as part of the program.
Due to the limited slots of the clinical facility, admission to the program is competitive.
Applicants must fulfill the college’s and the radiologic technology program’s general admissions requirements to submit an application.
Final admission is based on the application, an interview with program faculty, and a background check.
Graduates of this JRCERT-accredited program have a historically high pass rate on the ARRT certification exam.
The program’s tuition costs $3,500 for residents and $10,575 for non-resident students(6).
St. Vincent’s College
St. Vincent’s College at Sacred Heart University is a healthcare college affiliated with St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport.
The college offers an associate’s degree in radiography, which takes 24 months. Students learn to perform diagnostic imaging and radiographic procedures to aid radiologists in treating patients appropriately.
The program provides aspiring radiographers with skills in the technical administration of radiation and imaging equipment, patient care, and radiation protection.
General coursework also includes human anatomy and physiology, introduction to information technology, elements of physics, and critical thinking.
Admission to the program is based on the successful fulfillment of the college admission requirements.
The program’s tuition costs $16,200 for residents and $22,680 for non-resident students(7).
St. Vincent’s College also offers short-term certificate programs in ultrasound, CT scan, mammography, and bone density imaging.
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford offers a certificate program in radiography that takes 21 months.
After completing the certificate program, students may take a full-time Bachelor of Science degree in health science.
The radiography program consists of general education courses, such as math, science, humanities, arts, and social sciences.
Students also take professional radiography core courses and gain hands-on experience in a fully-functioning lab on campus.
Clinical rotations take place at affiliated medical facilities, including Manchester Memorial Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and Open MRI of CT.
Prospective students must meet the application requirements established by the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions.
Applicants must complete high school or college courses in mathematics, biology, and either chemistry or physics.
To be eligible for progression, first year students must also maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 and complete 20 hours of internship experience.
The program’s tuition costs $33,358 for resident and non-resident students(8).
How to Become a Radiology Technologist in CT
Radiologic technologists or technicians are required to obtain a license from the Connecticut Department of Public Health(9).
To be eligible for state licensure, radiology technologists must complete an accredited radiologic technology program. It may be a certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree program.
Rad techs must pass the ARRT certification exam. ARRT-certified radiology techs must also renew their certification every two years.
To be granted an ARRT renewal, a rad tech must complete 24 continuing education credits and pay all related fees.
The Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists (CSRT) is the state affiliate of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT)(10).
The CSRT aims to provide education, legislative representation, and facilitate communication for its members.
Its official website contains job postings and links to other professional organizations affiliated with radiologic technology practice.
The Connecticut State Radiological Society in Norwalk and Connecticut State Department of Health in Hartford also provides additional resources for radiology techs.
Through these resources, radiology techs may find information regarding the requirements and process for license application, renewal, and frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Career and Salary
Rad tech graduates may become radiographers, X-ray technicians, sonographers, MRI technologists, or nuclear medicine technologists.
Employment opportunities are also available in various settings, including imaging centers, doctors’ offices, medical centers, and hospitals.
Major employers in Connecticut include Advanced Medical Imaging, Bayer, Greenwich Hospital, Jefferson Radiology, MidState Radiology Associates, Stamford Hospital, and Yale-New Haven Hospital.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), radiology techs in CT earn an average annual salary of $69,400 and make $33.37 per hour(11).
The primary responsibilities of a radiologic technologist include conducting tests and operating equipment for diagnostic imaging.
Other rad tech professionals in CT, like X-ray techs, earn an average salary of $53,194 per year(12).
Projections Central reported 6% job growth for radiologic technologists and radiology technicians in Connecticut between 2016 and 2026(13).
Conclusion
Some of the best radiology tech schools in Connecticut include Capital Community College, St. Vincent’s College, Middlesex Community College, and the University of Hartford.
These schools have radiologic technology programs accredited by the JRCERT. Students may choose from a one-year certificate program, a two-year associate’s degree, or a four-year bachelor’s degree.
To become a radiologic technologist in CT, one must complete a JRCERT-accredited program and pass the ARRT certification exam.
Radiologic technologists or radiology technicians are also required to obtain a license from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Connecticut’s radiology tech career opportunities could experience a 6% increase by 2026.
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. (Accessed 2020). Program Effectiveness Data. Retrieved from: https://www.jrcert.org/resources/program-effectiveness-data/
- Projections Central. (Accessed 2020). Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
- National Center for Education Statistics. (Accessed 2020). College Navigator. Retrieved from: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
- Program Effectiveness Data. op. cit.
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. (Accessed 2020). Accredited Program Details. Retrieved from: https://portal.jrcertaccreditation.org/accredited-educational-programs/details/21a7f292-4cc4-4a67-a541-9cdc108c988f
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. (Accessed 2020). Accredited Program Details. Retrieved from: https://portal.jrcertaccreditation.org/accredited-educational-programs/details/1022746f-a630-437c-9c52-0bd74602aaf6
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. (Accessed 2020). Accredited Program Details. Retrieved from: https://portal.jrcertaccreditation.org/accredited-educational-programs/details/2effb68c-a7e1-4e78-99d2-80021a13734f
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. (Accessed 2020). Accredited Program Details. Retrieved from: https://portal.jrcertaccreditation.org/accredited-educational-programs/details/acdadf47-cc85-4aac-9e7a-15aa01db628a
- Connecticut State Department of Public Health. (Accessed 2020). Radiographer Licensure. Retrieved from: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Radiographer/Radiographer-Licensure
- RadiologyED.org. (Accessed 2020). Become a Radiologic Technologist in Connecticut. Retrieved from: https://radiologyed.org/schools/connecticut/
- US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). (May 2019). Connecticut May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimate. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ct.htm
- Zip Recruiter. (Accessed 2020). Radiology X Ray Technician Salary in Hartford, CT. Retrieved from:https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/How-Much-Does-a-Radiology-X-Ray-Technician-Make-a-Year-in-Hartford,CT
- Projections Central. op. cit.