Medical Radiologic Technology

Note

This program is subject to the high-demand admission process. It opens for application on October 1, and closes on February 15, each academic year. On February 15, paper applications are accepted until 4:30 p.m., and online applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Saskatchewan times). All supporting documentation is required by 4:30 p.m. (Saskatchewan time) on March 1.

If you’re considering a career in health - one that lets you work one-on-one with people and use state-of-the-art medical equipment - Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Medical Radiologic Technology program might be for you.

Radiological technologists produce images of body parts and systems using X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and breast imaging equipment. You need to be diligent, detail-oriented and committed to high work standards. You also need to be comfortable positioning and touching patients, as well as talking with them.

To apply to this program, see additional information under Admissions.

International applicants are not currently considered for admission to this high-demand program.

Medical Radiologic Technology is a nationally accredited two-year diploma program offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon campus . You’ll get hands-on training in the use of radiographic equipment, learn how to position patients to get the best images and learn to critique images. You’ll also develop knowledge and skills in:

• anatomy and physiology
• examination techniques
• patient care
• professionalism
• radiation safety and protection
• X-ray equipment

Practical, Hands-On Learning

Extensive clinical experience gives you a chance to apply what you learn in class in an actual clinical setting. You’ll get 50 weeks of clinical experience, including one week in your first year and the remaining 49 weeks during three separate practicums in your second year. When you graduate, you’ll be competent in radiographic procedures as applied to the human body.

Diploma to Degree

You can use your Medical Radiologic Technology diploma to ladder into a degree program at the University of Regina or Athabasca University in Alberta. A degree is usually required if you are interested in moving into management or teaching positions.

Nationally Accredited

After graduation, you’ll write the national Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) certification exam. CAMRT certification allows you to work anywhere in Canada and to become a member of the Saskatchewan Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (SAMRT), which is a requirement to work in Saskatchewan.

Serve in the Canadian Forces

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Medical Radiologic Technology program is recognized by the Canadian Forces, which means you can qualify for CF Paid Education funding. On graduation, you’ll also receive advanced standing as a Medical Radiation Technologist, which earns you a higher pay rate than graduates of non-CF recognized programs. Visit cafcod-rpfcfac.forces.gc.ca for more information.

Learning Environment

Each year, 20 students are accepted to this program. In the first year, students will experience a mix of traditional lectures, web-assisted learning, practical and simulation labs. Second year students continue their learning in a clinical practicum within the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

For this program, there is a heavy workload with 20 - 30 hours/week of homework. Classes are Monday - Friday with variable hours between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Clinical practicum hours will coincide with health care hours, and may include early morning start times (5 or 6 a.m.), evening, night or weekend shifts.

Lectures and Practical labs: Saskatoon

Clinical Practicum Experiences

• 50 weeks of clinical practicum (which includes 1 week in Year 1 and 49 weeks in Year 2) at an approved site in Regina or Saskatoon.

Clinical practicum experiences are assigned by the Medical Diagnostics Committee on Practicum Placements (COPP). Students will have an opportunity to rank their preferred location; however, there is no guarantee that students will receive their preferred clinical site assignment.

Students are responsible for travel, accommodation arrangements and costs to, during and from their clinical experience. Students will continue with their didactic studies through online learning while on their clinical experience, and stable internet access is required.

Enrolment in the program will require acceptance of a clinical placement anywhere within Saskatchewan. Clinical placements are determined during the program closer to the dates for practicum experiences.

Your Career

There are many career options open to nationally certified medical radiological technologists (MRTs). Choose a career in general radiography or specialize in computerized tomography, mammography or angiography. Hospitals are a major employer, but you also might work in a radiology clinic, cancer clinic, community health centre or private medical clinic. You could also explore careers in veterinary clinics, educational institutes and equipment sales.

Potential Careers

September

90 weeks

Year 1 - 41 weeks; Year 2 - 49 weeks

• Saskatoon

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 with a minimum grade of 70% in English Language Arts A30, English Language Arts B30, Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30*, Physical Science 20*, Chemistry 30 and Biology 30
• English Language Requirement (see Program-Specific ELP Requirements section)

*Previous Saskatchewan mathematics and physics requirements also accepted:

• Minimum of 70% in Math B30
• Minimum of 70% in Physics 20

Note

• Physics 30 will not be substituted for Physical Science 20 or Physics 20.
• All applicants are required to submit an Essay of Traits and Awareness Questionnaire by March 1. Applicants moving to Phase 2 of the selection process are required to submit the Situational Assessment. The cost of the Situational Assessment is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search upon admission into the program. At the discretion of the practicum agency, you may be declined access to a clinical or work placement based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search. The cost of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of CPR Health Care Provider (HCP), CPR Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR Level 'C' AED or equivalent certification upon admission into the program. CPR certification is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion regardless of the length of time indicated by the provider of the card or certificate. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of CPR certification is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide current immunization records and meet Saskatchewan Polytechnic immunization requirements prior to entry into clinical practicum.
• Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) certification upon admission into the program. TLR® certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of completion. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of TLR® certification is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of current N95 respirator mask testing upon admission into the program. N95 respirator mask testing is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion. Retesting may be required during your studies. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of 2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility.

Admission Method

High-demand programs consistently have more applicants than spaces available at each Saskatchewan Polytechnic location at which they are offered. High-demand programs have admission requirements plus additional selection criteria. The application period for high-demand programs is October 1 to February 15, each academic year. All supporting documentation is required by 4:30 p.m. (Saskatchewan time), March 1.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Selection Criteria

For required information on preparing your application, refer to the Selection Process Guide for Applicants.

Phase 1: Admission averages will be used to determine the applicants who progress to Phase 2 (based on highest admission averages). Admission averages will not be used in the Phase 2 process.

Phase 1 requires applicants to submit all of the following:

Transcripts

• High School Graduates: The admission average is calculated from the final marks in high school courses required for admission to the program. The high school average will be compared to any grade point average(s) (UGPA) presented for a minimum of 30 passed post-secondary credits from a recognized post-secondary institution - and the highest average considered for admission. Such applicants must be in good standing with the institution. If transcripts from more than one post-secondary institution are submitted, the highest UGPA will be considered against the high school average. Applicants are then ranked in the order of the highest averages.
• Current High School Students: The admission average is calculated from final marks provided by March 1. Conditional admission may be granted on this basis. Current high school students must order transcripts to be sent directly to Saskatchewan Polytechnic at the end of Semester 1 and the end of Semester 2 of the grade 12 year. The final grade 12 mark will be used where the course is completed. The final grade 11 mark will be used only in the absence of the grade 12 mark in the same subject.
• Post-Secondary Education: If applicable

• Essay of Traits. See the Essay of Traits - Applicant's Guidelines for Composition in the Selection Process Guide for Applicants.
  
• Awareness Questionnaire
• Applicants who move to Phase 2 of the selection process are required to submit the Situational Assessment.

Phase 2: Additional selection criteria is applied to applicants with the highest averages from Phase 1. Top ranked Phase 2 applicants will be offered a program seat:

• Relevant post-secondary education = 10%
• Essay of Traits = 40%
• Situational Assessment = 50%

2020/21 Academic Year

Year 1 - $14,260
Year 2 - $14,001

Additional programs costs that students are responsible for include:

• CPR C/AED (Health Care Provider) – recognized by the program for two years from date of certification. If expires during programming student must recertify.
  • approx. $75 to $125
• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search
  • approx. $75
• Immunizations
  • no cost if immunizations are completed with Sask Polytech health nurse.
  • completed outside of Saskatchewan Polytechnic range from $90.00 to $120.00 for Hepatitis B series
• Mask FIT Testing
  • N95 - approx. $75 to $125
  • Mask Fit testing is recommended to be updated annually, however, it is mandatory to be updated every two years. If expiry date occurs during programming student must re-submit proof of testing to the program. Cost of re-testing is the student's responsibility.
• Transfer, Lift, Reposition (TLR)
  • approx. $100 to $185
• WHMIS 2015 - Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification
  • Approx. $35
• Students will be required to purchase an iPad or tablet size device for use within the program. Associated expenses are the students' responsibility.

Year 1

APHY 191

Anatomy and Physiology 1

3

APHY 282

Anatomy and Physiology 2

3

CLIN 192

Clinical Introduction

2

ETHC 181

Patient Care in Radiography 1

2

ETHC 182

Patient Care in Radiography 2

2

ETHC 185

Professional Practices 1

3

ETHC 280

Professional Practices 2

2

IMRC 182

Image Recording Introduction

2

IMRC 183

Image Acquisition & Processing

4

INFC 180

Infection Control and Safety

2

MTER 180

Medical Terminology

1

PATH 179

Radiographic Pathology 1

2

PATH 184

Radiographic Pathology 2

2

PHYS 184

Physics

3

RDBG 184

Radiobiology and Protection

2

RDGR 179

Radiographic Technique 1

5

RDGR 180

Radiographic Technique 2

4

RDGR 190

Fluoroscopy

2

RDGR 283

Advanced Radiographic Technique 1

2

RDGR 284

Advanced Radiographic Technique 2

2

RDTM 280

Computed Tomography

2

RDTM 281

Sectional Anatomy

3

RGAN 180

Radiographic Anatomy

3

RSAP 180

Radiation Science and Apparatus 1

3

SIMU 281

Clinical Preparation

8

Year 2

CLIN 295

Clinical Radiography 1

43

CLIN 296

Clinical Radiography 2

43

CLIN 297

Clinical Radiography 3

29

RSCH 280

Applied Investigation

1

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.  See links below to more information about PLAR and detailed PLAR candidate guides for courses in this program.

• Candidate Guide
• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Medical Radiologic Technology (MRT) program is an accredited program. Program content is based on the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists competency profile with topics added as appropriate for addressing local needs.

Graduates are eligible to write the national Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) certification exam, which allows you to work anywhere in Canada. You are also eligible for licensure with the Saskatchewan Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (SAMRT).

• Combined Laboratory and X-ray Technology