The Mammography program at College of DuPage is a one-semester post-radiography advanced certificate program available to graduates of an accredited Radiography program.
Mammographers are highly-trained professionals who work with sophisticated low-dose X-ray equipment to produce both screening and diagnostic images of the breast. Professional duties include performing breast imaging procedures, recording a patient’s clinical history, preparing patients for procedures, operating and evaluating breast images for technical quality and assisting with interventional procedures and quality control tests.
The program curriculum incorporates the standards established by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the guidelines set forth by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The curriculum includes the initial Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) training and education requirement. Upon successful program completion, students will be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national certification examination in Mammography.
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ARRT Requirements
According to the ARRT, all candidates must demonstrate core clinical procedures to establish eligibility for ARRT certification. The candidate is required to perform the procedures, document performance, maintain records and apply for certification.
The following requirements are the minimum core clinical procedures necessary to establish eligibility for ARRT Mammography certification:
- Sixteen (16) hours of structured education related to the content specifications of the ARRT mammography exam
- A minimum of one (1) hour in each of the following: Patient Care, Education and Assessment, Instrumentation & Quality Assurance, Breast Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, Mammography Technique and Image Evaluation, and Breast Imaging Procedures
- Forty (40) hours of training/education specific to mammography under the supervision of a qualified instructor
- 25 screening mammograms under direct supervision of an ARRT registered Mammographer or Radiologist
- 75 mammograms – screening and/or diagnostic
- Quality control procedures
- Selected special procedures including interventional and special examinations
- Mammographic review and critique with radiologist
Training requirements must be completed within 24 months immediately before applying for certification. All procedures must be performed within the 12-month period immediately before applying for certification.
Candidates must use the Mammography Clinical Experience Documentation Form online to record the performance of each procedure and must keep this form for at least 24 months after the application for certification is submitted.
Additionally, candidates must complete the verification section of the ARRT application, attesting to completion of the requirements. The ARRT conducts audits of some applications for certification. NOTE: Submitting false documentation to the ARRT as part of the application process is a violation of the ARRT Standards of Ethics and may result in revocation of eligibility for certification in all categories, including those already held.
FDA Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) Requirements
To meet FDA Mammography Quality Standards students must:
- Obtain state licensure
- Obtain certification in General Radiology
- Complete requirements in no longer than two years
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"I wanted to help females on a very personal level. The courage a woman must have to take time out of her busy life and complete a cancer screening exam is the only reason I need to show up to work for the day." - Tara Logan
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"All of the professors modeled pride in their work and chosen profession. The program’s close relationships with the clinical sites were essential in providing a well-rounded, thorough instruction." - JoLynn Mohan
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Please visit the Program Contacts page for detailed information.