Computed Tomography - Career Certificate

Pathway to CT certification

Produce cross-sectional images using advanced technology

Your structured education will provide you with the opportunity to develop mastery of discipline-specific knowledge, integrate theory into practice, and hone effective and critical thinking skills required to demonstrate professional competence. Your clinical education will verify that you have demonstrated competency performing the clinical activities fundamental to Computed Tomography (CT). Together, these educational practices will help you master the knowledge you’ll need to obtain your credential.

What can you do with a Certificate in Computed Tomography?

The Computed Tomography (CT) program prepares radiographers to work in medical facilities as CT technologists. CT technologists are medical personnel who perform a variety of imaging procedures using a rotating x-ray unit and sensor assembly to observe “slices” of anatomy within the body. CT technologists are responsible for obtaining high-quality diagnostic images, maintaining patient safety and providing optimal patient care.

You will be eligible to take the national certification exam in CT by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) upon completion of the program.

Admission requirements
Computed Tomography is an advanced certificate open only to students who are registered in:
- radiography or radiation therapy by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
- nuclear medicine technology by ARRT or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)
Students must
1. Submit the following documents to the Welcome and One-Stop Center:
  - Student Information Form
  - Computed Tomography Screening Form (PDF)
  - Copy of current certification of your imaging field
  - A professional resume documenting years of experience in a related imaging field (must include employer, job responsibilities, and dates employed)
2. Meet minimum technical performance standards as defined for the profession.
3. Meet the following health and safety requirements:
Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) will guide you through the on-boarding process.
Screening deadline
The Computed Tomography program has a screening deadline of the first Wednesday of March of even years.
Read more information about this limited-enrollment program.
Workforce requirements
To earn state licensure and work in this field, you must possess the following:
- Social security number
This requirement is subject to change. Employer needs and requirements evolve, as do regulations for licensure and accrediting bodies. Please contact the Biological and Health Sciences Division Office for more information.

Highlights

PATH Grant Stipends

Get extra financial support for school and living expenses through the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program (PATH) grant.
Financial Aid / Scholarship Opportunities

Explore ways to pay for college (based on need/achievement).
Career Certificate

Gain in-demand technical and job-ready skills by earning a certificate in less than 1 year.
Program Length: 1 Year

Finish in 1 year as a full-time student.
WIOA Program

Become eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers.

*Estimated cost is based on recommended pathway credit hours for full-time students for academic year 2025-2026. This includes in-district tuition and comprehensive fees, before financial aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships, is applied. Actual cost may vary to include additional fees, materials, and other cost of attendance factors such as living expenses, transportation, etc. Explore many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.

Career Outlook

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $63,921
  
  Median
  
  $84,200
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $111,341
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $30.73
  
  Median
  
  $40.47
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $53.52
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Certificate
  
  16.52%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  72.85%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  10.63%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Need help getting started?

Ask us for help. Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) will help you:

complete the admission process
choose an academic program
enroll in first-semester classes
get access to helpful resources

Talk to a CCN

Recommended Pathway

This pathway serves as a guide for students to complete the degree or certificate assuming full-time enrollment (registered in 12 or more credit hours per semester) with Semester 1 typically representing a Fall term.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. For a more inclusive list of course options and degree requirements, see the college catalog.

View program in catalog

Icon Key

Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Global citizenship
Online/Virtual options available

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
MIM 252	MIM 252 CT Physics, Instrumentation, and Procedures I Class Description This course introduces the student to physical principles and image acquisition parameters of computed tomography, surveys instrumentation and digital processing parameters, and discusses scanning techniques as applied to single and multislice spiral CT. Contrast media, medical emergencies, and physical patient assessment as applied to CT are also discussed. Imaging protocols for the head, neck, chest, and abdomen are emphasized.	3
MIM 256	MIM 256 CT Sectional Anatomy and Pathology I Class Description This course introduces the students to cross sectional CT anatomy and pathology. Emphasis is placed on the skull, central nervous, soft tissue neck, respiratory, and digestive systems. Trauma imaging and pediatric specificities of these systems are also presented.	3
MIM 273	MIM 273 CT Practicum I Class Description This course introduces the student to supervised competency based clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on patient care, safety considerations, positioning and scanning parameters, CT imaging procedures, and non-imaging procedures.	2

Course Highlights
Course Code	MIM 252
Course Title	MIM 252 CT Physics, Instrumentation, and Procedures I Class Description This course introduces the student to physical principles and image acquisition parameters of computed tomography, surveys instrumentation and digital processing parameters, and discusses scanning techniques as applied to single and multislice spiral CT. Contrast media, medical emergencies, and physical patient assessment as applied to CT are also discussed. Imaging protocols for the head, neck, chest, and abdomen are emphasized.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	MIM 256
Course Title	MIM 256 CT Sectional Anatomy and Pathology I Class Description This course introduces the students to cross sectional CT anatomy and pathology. Emphasis is placed on the skull, central nervous, soft tissue neck, respiratory, and digestive systems. Trauma imaging and pediatric specificities of these systems are also presented.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	MIM 273
Course Title	MIM 273 CT Practicum I Class Description This course introduces the student to supervised competency based clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on patient care, safety considerations, positioning and scanning parameters, CT imaging procedures, and non-imaging procedures.
Credits	2

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
MIM 254	MIM 254 CT Physics, Instrumentation, and Procedures II Class Description This course introduces the student to the principles of single slice, multislice and volume scanning computed tomography. It will also cover CT fluoroscopy, angiography, and quality control. Other topics include patient care and assessment, medical emergencies, radiation protection, aseptic techniques and imaging procedures of the musculoskeletal and reproductive systems. Trauma imaging will also be discussed for the central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems.	3
MIM 258	MIM 258 CT Sectional Anatomy and Pathology II Class Description This course is a continuation of CT Sectional Anatomy and Pathology I (MIM 256). Emphasis is placed on the cross-sectional anatomy and pathology of the pelvis, vertebral column/spinal cord, reproductive, urinary, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular/systemic vascular systems. Trauma imaging and pediatric specificities are also presented. Comprehensive reviews of all systemic anatomy and pathology are completed.	3
MIM 274	MIM 274 CT Practicum II Class Description This course provides students continued supervised competency based clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on patient care, safety considerations, positioning and scanning parameters, CT imaging procedures, and non-imaging procedures.	2

Course Highlights
Course Code	MIM 254
Course Title	MIM 254 CT Physics, Instrumentation, and Procedures II Class Description This course introduces the student to the principles of single slice, multislice and volume scanning computed tomography. It will also cover CT fluoroscopy, angiography, and quality control. Other topics include patient care and assessment, medical emergencies, radiation protection, aseptic techniques and imaging procedures of the musculoskeletal and reproductive systems. Trauma imaging will also be discussed for the central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	MIM 258
Course Title	MIM 258 CT Sectional Anatomy and Pathology II Class Description This course is a continuation of CT Sectional Anatomy and Pathology I (MIM 256). Emphasis is placed on the cross-sectional anatomy and pathology of the pelvis, vertebral column/spinal cord, reproductive, urinary, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular/systemic vascular systems. Trauma imaging and pediatric specificities are also presented. Comprehensive reviews of all systemic anatomy and pathology are completed.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	MIM 274
Course Title	MIM 274 CT Practicum II Class Description This course provides students continued supervised competency based clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on patient care, safety considerations, positioning and scanning parameters, CT imaging procedures, and non-imaging procedures.
Credits	2

Total Credit Hours

16

Medical Imaging at CLC

Get the bigger picture

Learn about courses, faculty, related programs and more.

View the Medical Imaging program overview

Frequently asked questions

Yes. You must be currently certified in radiology, radiation therapy or nuclear medicine technology.
Yes, most of them. Our structured education in this program is offered in an online format, and our clinical education will be completed at a clinical education medical facility.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete course work without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.
- In-person: Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.
When you graduate, you are eligible to take the postprimary certification exam for CT through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
The education that you will receive in the CT program will result in your ability to:
- Operate CT scanners.
- Evaluate a patient’s medical history.
- Position patients.
- Produce cross-sectional images of patients’ internal organs and tissues for diagnosis.
- Perform 3D image post-processing.
- Administer contrast materials.
- Evaluate CT scans for quality and accuracy.
- Assist the radiologist with special procedures.
This program prepares you to take the Illinois professional licensure exam. When you pass the exam, you can work as a computed tomography technician in the state of Illinois.

You may be able to work elsewhere with this certificate.

View professional licensure disclosures

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Computed Tomography Certificate

Pathway to CT certification

Produce cross-sectional images using advanced technology

What can you do with a Certificate in Computed Tomography?

Information for prospective students

Admission requirements

Screening deadline

Workforce requirements

Highlights

PATH Grant Stipends

Financial Aid / Scholarship Opportunities

Career Certificate

Program Length: 1 Year

WIOA Program

Career Outlook

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help getting started?

Recommended Pathway

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Semester 1 8 Credits

Semester 2 8 Credits

Total Credit Hours

Medical Imaging at CLC

Get the bigger picture

Frequently asked questions

Do I need prior medical experience before I apply?

Can I take my classes online?

What certifications can I earn in this program?

What skills will I learn?

Where can I work as a computed tomography technician?

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

Request info

Visit us

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