Radiography

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

On average, approximately 350 students apply for admission each application period. Of these, approximately 50 are typically accepted for the full-time fall cohort and 12 will be accepted for the part-time summer cohort.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:

• 35% will be awarded based on the grades earned from prerequisite courses, academic courses, and recommended courses.
• 40% will be awarded based on HESI cumulative scores in Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Math, and Anatomy & Physiology.
• 25% will be awarded based on the interview process.
• All application requirements must be satisfied by the close of the application window.

HESI Pre-entrance Exam Requirements

The HESI A2- Admissions Assessment entrance exam is required to apply for the Radiography program at HCC Coleman College.

Schedule HESI-A2 test: Please contact HCC Coleman College Testing Center via email: Coleman.testing@hccs.edu.
The cost of the HESI is $75.00 per attempt. Payment must be made by either credit or debit card.

HESI-A2 required sections: Applicants must take all sections listed below and submit PDF results with the Radiography program application. The application will be declined if HESI- A2 exam PDF results are not submitted with the application by the application submission deadline.
Applicant must score 80% cumulative or higher in the following required sections:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Math
• Reading

Fall full-time cohort: Scores are valid from May 22, 2024, to May 22, 2026.

• Applicants are allowed to submit up to two HESI transcripts for applying cohort for scoring purposes.
• Applicants may retake the unsatisfactory section(s) but are recommended to wait at least 30 days before retesting.
• Please note that HESI Remediation through Elsevier is free.

Student Success Course

EDUC 1300 - Learning Framework

Required only if new to college or transferring to HCC with less than 12 college-level credits.

Prerequisite Courses and GPA

A minimum of 3.3 or above GPA is required from the following prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of ‘C’ upon application submission. 

* Please check the course requirements before enrolling in the course 

Academic Courses

Academic courses are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to be taken in advance, but are not required for the application. Completion of each of the following courses with a grade of “C” or higher will give you additional points on your application score and go towards the completion of the program/degree plan.

Recommended Courses

Completion of the following courses with a grade of “C” or higher is suggested for success in the prerequisite course(s) and will earn bonus points for each course.

If You Are Offered Admission

If you are offered admission into the program, then you will be asked to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements by a specific due date to maintain eligible status. Information on how to complete these requirements will be provided with your admission acceptance email. Please check your email regularly for updates and information.

• Complete and send the Letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email. The offer and blank intent form will be sent to your submitted email address with the application form.
• CPR certification required – American Heart Association (BLS) Healthcare Provider. Completion of CPR certification by program enrollment date.
• Proof of personal health insurance
• Physical exam
• Immunization record showing: Completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months), Hepatitis C Status, MMR – 2 shots or titer, Tdap – every 10 years, TB skin test or chest X-ray – every year, Varicella – 2 shots or titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) Completed by the application deadline and Influenza - after September 1st.
• Passing drug screen and background check prior to the start of class.
• Cleared Criminal Background - If you have ever been charged with or convicted in court of a misdemeanor or felony (including conviction of a similar offense in a military court-martial) you must contact the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) at 651-687-0048 for eligibility requirements. ARRT pre-eligibility approval for candidates who disclosed a positive criminal history. A positive criminal history will require the candidate to submit to the ARRT a pre-eligibility application at their own expense prior to the program’s new student orientation.
• Complete the mandatory program orientation and student service orientation on the date provided in your admission email. (if you are offered admission, please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations as follows: Summer Term - plan to attend program orientation in May month; Fall Term – plan to attend orientations between July and August

HCC Coleman College Grading Scale

To best prepare students for success in their chosen fields, Health Sciences Programs have high standards for progression. Unlike other HCC programs, the Radiography program requires a C (75%) or better to progress to the next course or semester in the program. For specific questions about grades, grading, and progression within Health Science programs, please contact Coleman College at co.radiography@hccs.edu. 

Radiography Program Grading Scale

• A = 100 – 90 %
• B = 89 – 80 %
• C = 79 – 75 %*
• D = 74 – 60 %
• F = 59 – 0 %

*A grade of C (75%) or better must be achieved to progress to the next course or semester. 

Radiography Clinical Obligations

Each semester, students of the Houston City College Radiography Program will be assigned to clinical sites in and around the Greater Houston Area. Students will be assigned to multiple clinical sites over the course of their six semesters within the program. The clinical coordinator will assign sites based on availability and these assignments will allow for a well-rounded clinical education. Students may be required to travel up to 50 miles away from campus to their assigned clinical sites. Students must provide their own transportation to these sites.

Full Time Radiography students will be assigned the following clinical rotations days as outlined below:

• Semester 1 (Fall) – Either Thursday or Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Semester 2 (Spring) – Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Semester 3 (Summer) – Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Semester 4 (Fall) – Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Semester 5 (Spring) - Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Semester 6 (Summer) – Monday and Wednesday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Friday 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM

The above outlines the typical clinical schedule of most students. Some students may be assigned afternoon (12:00 PM – 8:30 PM) or evening (2:30 PM – 11:00 PM) rotations which will vary differently to the scheduled days and times listed above.

Part-time radiography program are required to complete 12-20 hours of clinical education per week at affiliated healthcare facilities.

Part-Time Clinical Scheduling

To accommodate the part-time program structure, clinical hours are scheduled during the following time periods:

• Weekdays: Clinical rotations may be scheduled after 5:00 PM on Monday through Friday
• Weekends: Clinical rotations may be scheduled anytime between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday
• Special Clinical Requirements: During the second year of the program, students may be required to complete daytime weekday clinical rotations to obtain essential fluoroscopy experience, as these procedures are typically performed during regular business hours

Students will not attend clinicals during observed school closures. If a weather emergency presents itself, the program director and clinical coordinator will follow established protocols to alert students of any clinical disruptions.

Clinical sites may require students to complete extra requirements to enter their facility. These requirements vary per site; faculty of the radiography program will notify students before the start of a clinical semester to ensure the student is informed of any additional obligations.

View a list of current clinical sites used by the program. 

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

Accreditation Status: Accredited

Current Award Letter

The HCC Coleman College Radiography Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The program had a site visit in 2021. Following the site visit, the JRCERT awarded HCC an 8 year accreditation award - the maximum award given.

An interim report will be required in the third quarter of 2025. If the accreditation award is maintained, the next site visit will be tentatively scheduled for the third quarter of 2029.

Concerns or questions regarding the program’s status of accreditation and compliance with these Standards should be directed to the program director.

Last Updated:7/5/24

JRCERT contact information is:

20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182.
Phone: 312-704-5300
e-mail: mail@jrcert.org ; web: jrcert.org 

Houston City College (HCC) is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the regional accrediting body. sacscoc.org.

The following is the most current program effectiveness data. Our programmatic accreditation agency, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), defines and publishes this information. The information can be found directly on the JRCERT webpage.

Credentialing Examination: The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination, or an unrestricted state licensing examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within six months of graduation. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Job Placement: The number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences within twelve months of graduating. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Program Completion: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 75%.

MISSION STATEMENT

Consistent with the mission of Houston City College, the faculty of the Radiography Program is committed to providing quality instruction to educate competent entry level radiographers to meet the needs of the ever changing, diverse, and multi-cultural health care community. The Program strives to develop within all students, an appreciation and desire for the continued quest for knowledge, lifelong learning, integrity, and community-mindedness.

Goal 1: Maintain Outstanding Clinical Performance and Competency

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to accurately position the patient
• Students will apply appropriate radiation safety measures
• Students will produce an image of diagnostic quality

Goal 2: Practice Effective Communication Skills

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will effectively communicate with healthcare professionals
• Students will demonstrate effective communication skills with patients
• Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills

Goal 3: Develop Problem Solving Capabilities and Critical Thinking Skills

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate improvement in critical thinking skills upon graduation
• Students will demonstrate decision-making and problem solving abilities to decide if patient vitals are normal vs. abnormal, and the correct course of action in various other clinical scenarios

Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). Results for the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023,2924 calendar years are provided for comparison.