Curricula Revision Process
The goal of each curriculum document is to outline a common body of knowledge that is essential to the particular imaging or therapeutic science. As the radiologic science profession evolves, the curricula must evolve with it.
Development and maintenance of a curriculum is a collaborative effort. Educators, subject matter experts and the general professional community all play a role in curriculum projects. The ASRT convenes project work groups to develop new curricula and to perform periodic updates to existing curricula. Work-group members are recruited from ASRT member volunteers and typically include practicing technologists, subject matter experts and educators.
Work conducted by curricula work groups involves inspection of existing documents, sharing of research data, collegial exchange of suggestions for proposed curriculum enhancement and editing of existing materials. The result is the development of a draft document that is posted on the ASRT website to give the professional community an opportunity to review and comment. Following the period of open comment, a final draft is prepared for formal recognition.
Members of ASRT chapter steering committees vote to formally adopt newly developed or recently revised curricula. Ballots are cast by members of the Chapter Steering Committee on Education and the chapter steering committee most aligned with the curriculum under consideration. For example, members of the chapter steering committees on education and computed tomography would be involved in voting to adopt revisions or updates to the ASRT Computed Tomography Curriculum. If the chapter steering committees vote for adoption, the curriculum becomes an official ASRT document.
It should be noted that the ASRT has no statutory authority to mandate that educational programs comply with the content of an official ASRT curriculum. ASRT curriculum documents are an expression of what the professional community supports as being essential for the educational preparation of individuals seeking entry into the profession or seeking to advance their scope of practice.
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists can impose expectations on educational programs to comply with instructional content that is aligned with a nationally recognized curriculum and can require that candidates seeking professional certification have completed an accredited program of study that, through the accrediting process, has demonstrated compliance with a nationally recognized curriculum.