According to a survey conducted by American Society of Radiologic Technologists, radiography educational program directors report that the number of enrolled students declined marginally in 2021, while educational programs in nuclear medicine and radiation therapy saw a slight increase.
Entering class enrollments and year-over-year enrollment data are among the findings released this month in the ASRT Enrollment Snapshot of Radiography, Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine Technology Programs ─ 2021. The survey also tracked the continuing impact of COVID-19 protocols on educational programs.
According to the survey results, an estimated 15,477 students were enrolled in radiography programs in 2021, down slightly from 15,620 in 2020. However, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy programs saw an increase over the same period. Nuclear medicine programs grew from an estimated 1,076 students in 2020 to 1,300 students in 2021. Radiation therapy program enrollments grew, but only slightly, from 1,182 students enrolled in 2020 to an overall estimate of 1,275 students in 2021.
“We also surveyed educational program directors about the effect of COVID-19 protocols on their programs,” said ASRT Associate Executive Director, Myke Kudlas, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(QM), CIIP, PMP, CAE. “When we asked whether their program allows students to perform exams on known or suspected COVID-19 patients, 61 percent said yes. That’s down from 74 percent in October 2020.”
ASRT sent the survey to all 961 directors of radiography, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine technology programs currently approved by the ARRT. In all, 277 participated, a response rate of 28.8 percent. ASRT has conducted the survey every year since 2001.
The Enrollment Snapshot of Radiography, Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine Technology Programs ─ 2021is available free of charge.
2021 Enrollment Snapshot of Radiography, Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine Technology Programs