The following clinical competency process has been developed to measure the student's ability to perform at satisfactory levels of competency.
- Students participate in classes and position simulated patients in the lab.
- Students pass procedure tests, both written and on simulated patients in the lab.
- Students observe and perform the specific body part under direct supervision in the clinical area.
- Students request a competency evaluation in the clinical area.
- Students pass the competency evaluation with a grade of 80% or higher and perform these radiographic procedures under indirect supervision. Students who fail to achieve competency will return to step 3 above, gain remedial instruction, obtain additional experience in the clinical area, and then retake the competency evaluation. Students must remain under direct supervision until the successful completion of the competency. (Refer to the Clinical Supervision section in this handbook.)
- If Clinical Preceptors or Clinical Staff identify student inconsistencies, they will communicate the concerns with the Clinical Coordinator. A performance improvement plan is developed with the student, and a challenge competency examination may be recommended. The student must pass the challenge competency evaluation with a grade of 80% or higher. Failure to pass the challenge competency evaluation would result in further action, which may include dismissal from the Program, deemed necessary by the Dean in consultation with the Clinical Coordinator.
- In the final semester, students will take the final competency evaluation as directed by the Clinical Coordinator. If a student fails the final competency evaluation, they must take part in additional instruction and retake the final competency evaluation. Passing the final competency evaluation is indicative of entry-level preparedness for the field.
Registered Radiologic Technologists at the Clinical Affiliates are responsible for evaluating students for competency evaluations. The final competency evaluation will be performed in the MCHP radiology simulation lab during the last semester.
To progress in the clinical area, students must meet all clinical course requirements, including competency evaluations and clinical attendance. Students must achieve a minimum 74% (or 2.0) in each clinical course of the curriculum.
Clinical Competency Breakdown by Semester/Course (effective Class of 2026)
Semester I - RAD 135 Radiology Clinical I (2 credit hours)
- No competency requirement.
Semester II - RAD 160 Radiology Clinical II (4 credit hours)
- Completing at least 6 and no more than 10 competencies is required.
Semester III – RAD 180 Radiology Clinical III (6 credit hours)
- Completing at least 10 and no more than 15 additional competencies is required.
Semester IV – RAD 245 Radiology Clinical IV (8 credit hours)
- Completing at least 15 and no more than 20 additional competencies is required.
Semester V – RAD 280 Radiology Clinical V (6 credit hours)
- Completing all remaining competencies is required.
Clinical Competency Breakdown by Semester/Course (effective Class of 2027)
Semester I - RAD 135 Radiology Clinical I (2 credit hours)
- No imaging procedure competency requirements.
Semester II - RAD 160 Radiology Clinical II (4 credit hours)
- Completing at least 6 and no more than 10 imaging procedure competencies is required.
Semester III – RAD 180 Radiology Clinical III (6 credit hours)
- Completing at least 15 and no more than 20 additional imaging procedure competencies is required.
- 1-2 general patient care procedures.
Semester IV – RAD 245 Radiology Clinical IV (8 credit hours)
- Completing at least 15 and no more than 20 additional imaging procedure competencies is required.
- Remaining general patient care procedures (1-2).
Semester V – RAD 280 Radiology Clinical V (6 credit hours)
- Completing all remaining imaging procedure competencies is required.
Clinical Competency Requirements
As part of the education program, radiography students must demonstrate competence in the clinical procedures identified in the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Radiography Clinical Competency Requirements. Demonstration of clinical competence means that the student has performed the procedure independently, consistently, and effectively during their formal education. Competency of imaging procedures is completed on patients in the clinical environment. The guidelines for completing the clinical procedures are as follows:
- Ten mandatory general patient care procedures (Sterile/Medical Aseptic technique, Assisted Patient Transfer, and Care of Patient Medical Equipment procedures completed during clinical rotations);
- 36 mandatory imaging procedures;
- 15 elective imaging procedures selected from a list of 34 procedures;
- One of the 15 elective imaging procedures must be selected from the head section, and
- Two of the 15 elective imaging procedures must be selected from the fluoroscopy studies section.
One patient may be used to document more than one competency. However, each individual procedure may be used for only one competency (e.g., a portable femur can only be used for a portable extremity or a femur, but not both)
Students will refer to the ARRT Radiography Clinical Competency Requirements for details of the clinical procedures.