Grading, Policies and Scheduling
Program Specifics
During the four-month BI Advanced Certificate Training Program at UF Health Jacksonville, students complete 24 hours per week in 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In total, students complete roughly 400 hours of hands-on clinical experience. UF Health Jacksonville clinical sites include breast imaging departments in the UF Health Breast Imaging Center – Jacksonville, Emerson Medical Plaza, and UF Health Radiology – North.
Preparation for the ARRT® Mammography certification exam emphasizes self-paced study, supported by a wide range of self-study resources provided to students. Additionally, periodic in-person tutoring and mentorship sessions led by program staff provide opportunities for guided review, clarification, and interaction. A detailed schedule of these sessions, including times and locations, will be developed collaboratively with instructional staff and the student cohort. In-person attendance is crucial for enhancing understanding, reinforcing learning, and fostering peer engagement.
Program Calendar
Training begins two times annually, in March and October with exact dates set by cohort size. Each program lasts four months and ends as scheduled. Clinical training extensions are not allowed under any circumstances.
After the start date is set, students will receive their classroom schedule. Students must follow their assigned times and report promptly to clinical areas before and after instructor-led discussions to ensure effective integration of didactic learning with clinical practice, supporting skill development and professional growth.
BI Program students will not be scheduled to work during UF Health Jacksonville recognized holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Friday after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Clinical Experience Requirements
Clinical supervision is provided by supervisors and qualified technologists within their respective areas. Students should appreciate that both supervisors and technologists are continuously evaluating their performance and professionalism for potential future employability.
Students are expected to initiate and explore new and more advanced learning opportunities as they become available. In breast imaging education, unexpected cases, such as abnormal findings requiring additional imaging or biopsies offer unplanned but valuable learning experiences that enrich clinical training. Therefore, the student should take the initiative to become engaged in those activities as they present themselves.
To be eligible for ARRT certification in Mammography, students must complete a specified number of verified American Registry of Radiologic Technologists® (ARRT) Clinical Experience Requirements for Mammography, including at least 25 supervised mammography examinations to meet initial MQSA requirements. Additional experience must include at least 75 breast imaging procedures that demonstrate competency across designated clinical tasks.
- Patient Preparation/Education Tasks
- Mammographic Imaging Tasks
- QC Documentation (one submission per day, per test)
- Phantom Image Quality (10)
- Compression Thickness Indicator (5)
- Visual Checklist (5)
- Acquisition Workstation Monitor QC (5)
- Radiologist’s Workstation Monitor QC * (2)
- Compression Force (2)
- Facility QC Review (1)
- Repeat Analysis (1)
- Review of Medical Physicist’s Annual Survey Report (1)
- Mammographic Image Evaluation
- Elective Procedures
- Needle Localization
- Localization Imaging (postplacement)
- Surgical Specimen Imaging
- Breast MRI
- Breast Ultrasound (e.g., diagnostic ultrasound, biopsy)
- Stereotactic Biopsy with Clip Placement
- Stereotactic Specimen Imaging
- Tissue Marker Clip Placement Imaging
- Screening Breast Implant Imaging
- Diagnostic Mammogram
- Recall from a Screening Mammogram
These clinical experience requirements ensure hands-on proficiency with diverse protocols, equipment, and patient populations. Each procedure must be performed under supervision and documented according to ARRT guidelines. All clinical competencies must be validated by qualified technologists or clinical instructors and submitted for final review by the program faculty. Completing the clinical component is mandatory for program graduation.
Structured Education Requirements
During the four (4) month program, the student will be responsible for completing the self-study educational courses provided. Upon completing each module, a multiple-choice post-test is administered. The student must successfully earn 16 structured education credits in the required content areas by completing the post-test corresponding with each educational module. Successful completion of each module requires the student to achieve a score of at least 75% on each post-test. Up to three (3) attempts are available. Students must submit a copy of all post-test certificates to program faculty upon successful completion. Content categories include patient care, image production, and procedures. The program coursework will provide at least one credit in each category, along with the additional 13 credits required to meet the ARRT® Structured Education Requirements for Mammography.
Grading Scale
- 75 - 100% Passing
- 74.4% and below Failing
Program Completion Requirements
The student must maintain a minimum grade of 75% throughout the program, including achieving at least 75% on each self-study module post-test. Upon completion of the required structured education modules or continuing education activities, students must submit copies of all post-test certificates to the program faculty. These certificates serve as proof of successful completion and are required for final documentation and verification of ARRT eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all certificates are submitted on time and retained in their personal academic file.
Additionally, students are required to return all items and materials issued during their training. This includes, but is not limited to library books, identification badges, hospital meal cards, parking permits or tickets, and any borrowed instructional resources. Failure to return program property may result in a hold on final transcripts, certificates of completion, or documentation needed for their ARRT certification application.