Radiographic Procedures I

Course Description

RTE1503C – Radiographic Procedures I is a 3-credit, integrated lecture-and-laboratory course providing foundational instruction in radiographic positioning and procedures. The course is the first in a sequence of procedure courses within Florida Associate in Science (AS) Radiography programs, addressing the routine radiographic examinations that radiographers perform daily: chest, abdomen, upper extremity, lower extremity, and axial skeleton imaging. Content includes radiographic anatomy specific to each examination; appropriate patient positioning; technical-factor selection; image-receptor placement and beam alignment; image evaluation criteria; pathology relevant to each procedure at introductory level; and substantial laboratory practicum with phantoms and live-anatomy practice (using fellow students with appropriate radiation-safety precautions during practice). Standard format is 2 lecture hours and 2 laboratory hours per week for 15-16 weeks (60 total contact hours).

The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Radiography and Medical Imaging > Radiographic Procedures and is offered at approximately 27 Florida public institutions with AS-Radiography programs. RTE1503C is delivered only at JRCERT-accredited (Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology) Florida programs. Florida AS-Radiography programs are limited-access, competitive-admission programs typically requiring substantial pre-program preparation in anatomy and physiology, mathematics, and general education. Florida's substantial healthcare sector — anchored by major systems including AdventHealth, Orlando Health, BayCare, Lee Health, Memorial Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, Tampa General, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Mayo Clinic Florida, plus substantial outpatient imaging centers, urgent care centers, and physician-office imaging — creates persistent strong demand for licensed radiographers.

RTE1503C is the first procedure course in a typical Florida radiography program sequence. Subsequent procedure courses (RTE1513C — covered in this corpus, RTE1523C, RTE2533C, etc.) build on RTE1503C foundations to cover progressively more complex examinations including skull and facial bones, contrast studies, mobile and surgical radiography, and trauma radiography. Radiography graduates pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination for the Radiographer (R) credential and apply for Florida Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control licensure under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-3.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of RTE1503C, students will be able to:

• Apply principles of patient care and radiation safety in radiographic procedures: patient identification (the most critical safety step in radiology); appropriate patient communication and consent at radiographer level; ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) radiation-safety principle; collimation; appropriate shielding (gonadal, breast, thyroid where indicated); appropriate use of immobilization devices; pregnancy precautions and inquiry per institutional protocols.
• Apply principles of radiographic imaging fundamentals at procedure level: relationship between technical factors (kVp, mAs, distance) and image quality; the appropriate technical-factor adjustments for different body parts and patient sizes; the relationship between image receptor type (digital radiography, computed radiography) and procedure performance; appropriate exposure indicator interpretation.
• Perform chest radiography: PA chest, lateral chest, AP chest (when patient cannot stand), AP lordotic chest; the standard chest radiography evaluation criteria; recognition of common chest-radiography artifacts and positioning errors; the substantial role of chest radiography in clinical practice (chest radiography is among the most commonly-performed radiographic examinations).
• Perform abdominal radiography: AP supine abdomen, AP upright abdomen (or left lateral decubitus when patient cannot stand), the abdomen-three-views series for acute abdominal series; appropriate technical factors for abdominal imaging; abdominal-radiography evaluation criteria.
• Perform upper extremity radiography: finger and hand (PA, oblique, lateral); wrist (PA, oblique, lateral); forearm; elbow (AP, oblique, lateral); humerus; shoulder (AP internal and external rotation, scapular Y, transthoracic); appropriate technical factors and positioning for each; the substantial volume of upper-extremity imaging in urgent care and emergency department settings.
• Perform lower extremity radiography: foot (AP, oblique, lateral); ankle (AP, oblique, lateral, mortise); calcaneus; tibia/fibula; knee (AP, lateral, intercondylar fossa, tangential patella); femur; hip (AP, frog-leg lateral, cross-table lateral); pelvis (AP); appropriate technical factors and positioning.
• Perform axial skeleton radiography (introductory level): cervical spine (AP, AP open-mouth, oblique, lateral, swimmer's lateral); thoracic spine (AP, lateral, swimmer's lateral); lumbar spine (AP, oblique, lateral, lateral L5-S1 spot); sacrum and coccyx (AP, lateral); the substantial volume of spine imaging in clinical practice.
• Recognize radiographic anatomy on each examination type covered: identification of normal bony, soft-tissue, and air-filled structures on each routine view; the relationship between radiographic anatomy and procedure-evaluation criteria.
• Recognize common pathology at introductory level: fractures (simple, comminuted, displaced); pneumonia; pneumothorax; pleural effusion; cardiomegaly; common joint pathology (osteoarthritis); foreign bodies; common bowel-pattern abnormalities; the appropriate scope of radiographer pathology recognition (recognition for documentation and physician-alert purposes; NOT diagnosis, which is the radiologist's role).
• Apply principles of image evaluation: routine evaluation criteria for each examination performed; common positioning errors and how to correct them; common technical-factor errors and how to correct them; the substantial role of accurate image evaluation in patient care quality.
• Apply principles of positioning terminology: anatomical position; planes (sagittal, coronal, transverse); body-part positioning terminology (anterior, posterior, supination, pronation, abduction, adduction, eversion, inversion, dorsal flexion, plantar flexion, others); projection terminology (PA, AP, lateral, oblique, axial, tangential, decubitus).
• Apply principles of radiographic critique: systematic approach to image evaluation; identification of acceptable and unacceptable images; documentation of image quality; the relationship between image critique and ongoing skill development.
• Demonstrate professional behaviors and ethical practice: punctuality and reliability; appropriate appearance and conduct; respectful communication with patients and healthcare-team members; following directions; recognizing scope-of-practice limits; cultural humility in working with diverse patient populations; the substantial professional standards expected of radiographers.
• Apply principles of infection control in radiography: standard precautions; equipment cleaning between patients; appropriate handling of contaminated equipment; the substantial role of radiographers in maintaining infection-control practices in imaging settings.
• Successfully complete laboratory practicum demonstrating positioning competency for each examination type covered, using phantoms and (with appropriate radiation-safety precautions) live-anatomy practice.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis:

• Engage with introductory pediatric radiography: pediatric immobilization techniques; technical-factor adjustments for pediatric imaging; the unique challenges of pediatric radiography.
• Engage with introductory geriatric radiography: positioning adjustments for elderly patients with limited mobility; common geriatric-pathology recognition.
• Engage with introductory bariatric radiography: technical-factor adjustments for substantial-body-habitus patients; equipment considerations; positioning adjustments.
• Engage with introductory awareness of advanced imaging modalities: how the foundational radiographic procedures relate to subsequent training in CT, MRI, mammography, and other modalities.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Patient Care and Radiation Safety: Patient identification; appropriate patient communication; ALARA principle; collimation; shielding; immobilization devices; pregnancy precautions per institutional protocols.
• Radiographic Imaging Fundamentals at Procedure Level: Technical-factor relationships (kVp, mAs, distance) and image quality; technical-factor adjustments for body parts and patient sizes; image receptor types (DR, CR); exposure indicator interpretation.
• Chest Radiography: PA, lateral, AP, AP lordotic chest; standard chest radiography evaluation criteria; common artifacts and positioning errors; substantial role in clinical practice.
• Abdominal Radiography: AP supine, AP upright (or left lateral decubitus), abdomen-three-views series; appropriate technical factors; abdominal-radiography evaluation criteria.
• Upper Extremity Radiography: Finger and hand (PA, oblique, lateral); wrist (PA, oblique, lateral); forearm; elbow (AP, oblique, lateral); humerus; shoulder (AP internal and external rotation, scapular Y, transthoracic); technical factors and positioning for each.
• Lower Extremity Radiography: Foot (AP, oblique, lateral); ankle (AP, oblique, lateral, mortise); calcaneus; tibia/fibula; knee (AP, lateral, intercondylar fossa, tangential patella); femur; hip (AP, frog-leg lateral, cross-table lateral); pelvis (AP); technical factors and positioning.
• Axial Skeleton Radiography (Introductory): Cervical spine (AP, AP open-mouth, oblique, lateral, swimmer's lateral); thoracic spine (AP, lateral, swimmer's lateral); lumbar spine (AP, oblique, lateral, lateral L5-S1 spot); sacrum and coccyx (AP, lateral).
• Radiographic Anatomy: Normal bony, soft-tissue, and air-filled structure identification on each routine view; radiographic anatomy/procedure-evaluation criteria relationship.
• Common Pathology (Introductory): Fractures (simple, comminuted, displaced); pneumonia; pneumothorax; pleural effusion; cardiomegaly; joint pathology (osteoarthritis); foreign bodies; bowel-pattern abnormalities; appropriate scope of radiographer recognition (recognition for documentation, NOT diagnosis).
• Image Evaluation: Routine evaluation criteria for each examination; positioning error correction; technical-factor error correction; image evaluation/patient care quality relationship.
• Positioning Terminology: Anatomical position; planes (sagittal, coronal, transverse); body-part positioning terms; projection terminology (PA, AP, lateral, oblique, axial, tangential, decubitus).
• Radiographic Critique: Systematic image-evaluation approach; acceptable/unacceptable image identification; image-quality documentation; critique/skill-development relationship.
• Professional Behaviors: Punctuality and reliability; appearance and conduct; respectful communication; following directions; scope-of-practice awareness; cultural humility; professional standards expected of radiographers.
• Infection Control in Radiography: Standard precautions; equipment cleaning between patients; contaminated equipment handling; radiographer role in infection control.
• Laboratory Practicum: Phantom practice; live-anatomy practice with appropriate radiation-safety precautions.

Optional Topics

• Pediatric Radiography (Introductory): Immobilization techniques; technical-factor adjustments; unique challenges.
• Geriatric Radiography (Introductory): Positioning adjustments for limited mobility; common geriatric-pathology recognition.
• Bariatric Radiography (Introductory): Technical-factor adjustments; equipment considerations; positioning adjustments.
• Advanced Imaging Modality Awareness: Relationship between foundational procedures and subsequent CT/MRI/mammography training.

Resources & Tools

• Most-adopted textbooks at Florida institutions: Merrill's Atlas of Radiographic Positioning & Procedures by Long, Rollins, Smith (Elsevier) — among the most widely-adopted radiographic positioning textbooks; Bontrager's Handbook of Radiographic Positioning and Techniques by Lampignano, Kendrick (Elsevier); Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy by Bontrager, Lampignano (Elsevier); Radiographic Pathology for Technologists by Mace, Kowalczyk (Elsevier).
• Reference resources: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) at arrt.org — the certification body whose examination radiography graduates take; American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) at asrt.org — professional society; Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) at jrcert.org — accreditation body for radiography programs.
• Florida regulatory framework: Florida Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control at floridahealth.gov — administers Florida radiography licensure under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-3; Florida Statutes Chapter 468 Part IV (Radiologic Personnel).
• Required clinical-skills supplies (provided by institution or required to purchase): Appropriate clinical-attire scrubs (typically required to purchase); program-specific patches; appropriate footwear (typically clinical-grade); the institution provides the substantial radiography equipment costs.
• Lab equipment (institution-provided): Energized x-ray laboratories with full radiographic equipment; phantoms representing various body parts; image-receptor systems; processing/QC systems; radiation-safety equipment; PACS workstations for image review; demonstration equipment for advanced topics.
• Industry credentials: The credential earned at program completion is ARRT Registered Technologist (Radiography) — R(R) — through American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; Florida licensure as Radiographer through Florida DOH Bureau of Radiation Control. Both required for practice in Florida.
• Online resources: Various YouTube channels providing radiographic positioning content; ARRT examination-preparation resources; commercial board-review platforms.
• Tutoring and support: Institution radiography skills labs; peer mentoring with advanced radiography students; clinical instructors and preceptors at clinical sites; institutional radiography-program academic support.

Career Pathways

RTE1503C is a foundational course within Florida AS-Radiography programs. Career pathways are realized at AS-Radiography program completion (after substantial additional coursework and clinical hours). Specific career pathways include:

• Registered Radiographer / Radiologic Technologist (SOC 29-2034) — direct radiography work at hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, urgent care centers, physician offices, and ambulatory surgery centers. Florida starting radiographer salaries are competitive among allied-health entry-level positions.
• Hospital Radiographer — inpatient and emergency department radiography at major Florida health systems; typically full-time positions with comprehensive benefits.
• Outpatient Imaging Center Radiographer — substantial Florida market in outpatient imaging.
• Specialized Imaging Modalities (with additional certification) — Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Mammography, Vascular Interventional Radiography, Cardiac Interventional Radiography, Bone Densitometry, Sonography (additional program required), Nuclear Medicine (additional program required), Radiation Therapy (additional program required). Each modality requires additional ARRT certification or separate credentialing.
• Lead/Charge Radiographer — supervisory roles with experience.
• Quality Assurance Specialist — image-quality and process-improvement roles.
• Clinical Instructor / Educator — radiography-program teaching roles (typically requires additional education and experience).
• Articulation to Bachelor's Programs — RTE1503C is part of the AS-Radiography sequence; AS graduates can articulate to BAS-Medical Imaging or other related bachelor's programs at Florida institutions.
• Florida Healthcare Employer Landscape: Major Florida health systems (AdventHealth, Orlando Health, BayCare, Lee Health, Memorial Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, Tampa General, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Mayo Clinic Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center) maintain substantial radiography workforces; outpatient imaging centers (RAYUS Radiology, SimonMed, RadNet, others); urgent care centers; physician offices and surgery centers.

Special Information

Articulation and Transfer

RTE1503C is part of the limited-access AS-Radiography sequence at Florida institutions and articulates within the Florida public-college system per SCNS conventions. RTE1503C transfer assumes admission to a JRCERT-accredited radiography program at the receiving institution.

Florida Radiography Licensure Framework

Florida regulates radiologic technologists through the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-3 and Florida Statutes Chapter 468 Part IV. Florida radiographer licensure requires:

• Graduation from a JRCERT-accredited radiography program (such as Florida AS-Radiography programs)
• Passing the ARRT Registered Technologist (Radiography) certification examination
• Application to Florida DOH Bureau of Radiation Control
• Continuing education for license renewal

Prerequisites

RTE1503C is delivered within limited-access AS-Radiography programs. Standard prerequisites typically include:

• Admission to AS-Radiography program (limited-access, competitive admission at Florida institutions)
• Program-specific pre-program coursework typically including BSC2085C/BSC2086C (Anatomy and Physiology I and II), MAC1105 or higher mathematics, ENC1101, and general education requirements
• Current CPR / BLS Healthcare Provider certification
• Current immunizations consistent with clinical-site requirements
• Florida Level 2 background screening per Florida law
• Negative drug screening

Course Format and Workload

RTE1503C is a 3-credit integrated lecture-and-laboratory course meeting 2 lecture hours and 2 laboratory hours per week for 15-16 weeks (60 total contact hours). The course is delivered in face-to-face format because of the substantial laboratory component and the need for hands-on positioning practice. Expect: substantial textbook reading from positioning textbook; weekly laboratory practicum sessions with positioning practice on phantoms and (with appropriate radiation-safety precautions) fellow students; regular positioning competency evaluations; written examinations on positioning, anatomy, and pathology; image-evaluation exercises. Out-of-class workload typically runs 6-9 hours per week — the course requires substantial study of anatomy and positioning details. Many radiography students develop study groups for positioning practice.

Course Code Variations

Florida institutions consistently use RTE1503C for this course. Course titles include "Radiographic Procedures I," "Radiographic Positioning I," and "Radiographic Anatomy and Positioning I." All formats cover similar content aligned to ARRT examination content specifications.