Entering-Class Enrollments in Educational Programs in Radiography,Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine Technology, 1999 to 2006

摘要

Purpose: To track entering-class enrollments in primary programs in radiography, nuclear medicine technology, and radiation therapy and to anticipate trends in numbers entering those disciplines.Methods: The American Society of Radiologic Technologists' annual Enrollment Snapshot of Radiography, Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine Educational Programs has surveyed program directors in these 3 disciplines every fall since 2001, obtaining information on entering-class enrollments, retention rates, and program viability.Results: These survey results, together with American Registry of Radiologic Technologists statistics on the number of first-time certification examinees (which they foreshadow by about 2 years) show that the number of radiologic technologists entering these 3 disciplines declined steadily from 1995 to 2000, then increased steadily from 2000 to 2005. However, since 2005, entering-class enrollments have begun to level off, especially in radiation therapy and radiography.Conclusions: Entering-class enrollments provide an "early warning system" with respect to trends in the supply of radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists. Given the recent stabilization of entering-class enrollments in radiography and radiation therapy, we can anticipate a similar leveling off of the number of entrants into those 2 disciplines over the next 2 years.