How Long Is a Rad Tech Program? What to Expect From American National’s Associate Degree

If you’ve started researching how to become a radiologic technologist, you’ve probably run into the term rad tech program more times than you can count. Here are straightforward answers to the questions people ask most, including specifics on what to expect from American National University’s Radiologic Technology Associate Degree Program.

How Long Does a Rad Tech Program Take?

Most rad tech programs are structured as full-time associate degrees that combine classroom coursework with hands-on clinical training. American National University’s Radiologic Technology Associate Degree Program follows this same format, pairing online coursework and virtual labs with in-person clinical rotations at hospitals, medical clinics, and imaging centers. Because clinical placement and course load can vary by student, the best way to get an exact timeline for your situation is to speak with an admissions advisor.

What Does a Rad Tech Program Cost?

Tuition is one of the biggest factors students weigh when comparing programs, and it’s worth comparing closely, since many online colleges charge extra fees for application, technology, or textbooks on top of listed tuition. At American National University, the total cost for the Radiologic Technology Associate Degree Program is $38,640, and that figure already includes fees, textbooks, and lab equipment where applicable.

What Do You Need to Get Into a Rad Tech Program?

Because rad tech students work directly with patients in clinical settings, most programs, including American National University’s, require a background check before you can sit for certification, along with proof of certain health and safety requirements before starting clinicals. These typically include:

• Childhood vaccination records
• Hepatitis B series
• Annual flu shot
• Annual TB test
• CPR certification
• COVID-19 vaccination series (where required by the clinical site)

Exact requirements can vary by clinical site, so it’s worth confirming specifics with your program’s externship coordinator early in the process.

Is a Rad Tech Program Hard?

Rad tech coursework blends science-heavy subjects like anatomy, physiology, and radiation physics with hands-on technical skills like patient positioning and operating imaging equipment. It’s a demanding course load, especially once clinical rotations begin. ANU’s program, for example, asks students to expect about two hours of outside study per hour of lecture. That said, the challenge is intentional. It’s designed to prepare you for a role where precision and patient safety both matter.

What Happens After You Finish a Rad Tech Program?

Completing an accredited rad tech program makes you eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)(R). Certification is required for employment at most healthcare facilities, so this exam is the final step between finishing your coursework and starting your career as a radiologic technologist.

Ready to see the full curriculum, schedule, and clinical requirements? Take a closer look at American National University’s Radiologic Technology Associate Degree Program, or call 833-388-1100 to speak with an admissions advisor.

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