Haverhill and Lawrence – In any year, it would be an incredible accomplishment for all of the Northern Essex Community College Radiologic Technology students to pass their national licensure exam on the first try. It’s especially impressive this year, when the pandemic presented countless challenges- inside and outside of the classroom. Students were in their second of five semesters when classes shifted to all online, and hands-on clinical training was put on pause.
“[Professors] Pat Willett and Angela Bowers really understood that I wasn’t just a student. I had more going on at home than just studying, trying to be a mom/wife/student was hard but Covid-19 made it that much more difficult,” says graduate Yesenia Rivera of Lawrence. After graduation, she went right to work as an outpatient radiology technologist at Mass General Hospital. “I must say Pat and Angela over prepared us for that exam which I am truly grateful for.”
Fellow graduate Kelsey Corbett of Stoneham feels the same way. “Completing the Rad Tech program in the midst of a pandemic really makes you feel like you can accomplish just about anything and that’s what I intend to do! We owe our success to all of the amazing employees and clinical instructors who helped us really shine in a dark time.” Corbett is currently working at Holy Family Hospital, where she did her second clinical practicum.
Professor Pat Willett says, in previous years, the NECC pass rate on the certification exam by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) has been in the low-to mid-90 percentile which surpasses the national average. All 2021 graduates have also found employment as certified and licensed radiologic technologists.
“I’m very proud of our class for keeping each other motivated during this program and I am quite honestly not surprised at all about our 100% passing rate on the board’s exam,” says Corbett. “Everyone in our class was so smart and so motivated and we really earned ourselves a win after everything we went through.”
A new class of 15 students will start on their Radiologic Technology associate degree this fall. While the program is full, interested students can contact Professor Patricia Willett pwillett@necc.mass.edu or Professor Angela Bowers abowers@necc.mass.edu for more information.
NECC’s accredited program covers all aspects of radiologic care, including safety procedures, proper patient positioning, and understanding the technology used to create diagnostic images. Graduates will be prepared for entry level technologist careers using a variety of x-ray equipment in settings like hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. NECC also has transfer agreements with many colleges and universities for students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.
