Since 1989, the Advanced Health Education Center, LTD (AHEC) has been educating credentials radiologic technologist in Mammography and providing continuing education to enhance mammography skills. AHEC’s team of mammography experts were involved in the original meetings to develop state and federal laws to standardize mammography quality and have been developing curriculum since the conception of the Mammography Quality Standards Act. Our expert faculty are regarded as forerunners in the development of clinical mammographers’ skill sets. Our staff provided instruction to assist facilities modernize and comply with the new standards as accreditation of facilities became a requirement. AHEC faculty has taken an active role in helping health organizations build new mammography departments and facilities where mammography services weren’t previously available in their geographic areas. AHEC’s mammography training and consulting services are designed to help gain and retain the knowledge required to provide the finest patient care.

Mammography training and consulting services are designed to help gain and retain the necessary information to deliver the best patient care. If you are choosing to enter the field of mammography and are a registered, certified or licensed radiologic technologist with one year of experience you may apply for the initial training required by federal and state law. It is important for you to know that you must obtain this classroom training with the required 25 clinical procedures under supervision BEFORE you may perform procedures on patients. You are required to obtain 40 hours of mammography education including the time for the 25 clinical procedures under supervision. There is mandatory subject content required in the training that is specified in both federal and state regulations. Some states require more subject content than is specified in the federal regulations. AHEC's coursework in the initial training course is more than 40 hours. You must also obtain 8 hours of modality specific training. That means that if your facility does analog (film/screen) mammography, you must have 8 hours of training for analog. If your facility does digital mammography, you must have 8 hours of training that is specific to digital mammography. If you hope to advance to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists advanced level certification exam, you will see questions on both types of mammography on the exam.

AHEC also offers the initial training online for those that cannot travel to our classes in Houston. It is a cost effective method to achieve the training goal, but it requires close coordination with our staff in Houston so that all requirements can be verified before you receive your certificate. A proctor/supervisor is required to complete the clinical requirements, or you may travel to Houston and we will provide a clinical slot in one of our clinical affiliates for you to complete your training.

Mammography regulations also require 15 hours of continuing education every 3 years to stay current. The regulators prefer that it is done each year, 5 hours per year. AHEC has many CE seminars specific to mammography that are presented in different locations throughout the year. There are also home studies and online CE activities that help you fulfill this requirement. Our faculty also travel to your facility if your facility would host a local CE event. An educational partnership is easy. You just provide a room, some coffee, and perhaps a pastry.

Requalification to Perform Mammography

If you have been away from mammography for 2 years or more and have not performed 200 patient procedures to keep skills current you must requalify. If your continuing education is not specific to mammography or if you failed to get the required hours specific to mammography, you must requalify.

Requalification for a mammographer who has not been away from the mammo workforce very long is not difficult. It requires 15 hours of continuing education in mammography and 25 patient procedures under supervision. The 25 patient procedures are not easy to obtain because facilities do not want the liability of a non-employee in their department. AHEC has helped many mammographers requalify and establish what would be required for the individual person to pass an inspectors review.

If the mammographer was practicing before the regulations for 40 hours of training was implemented, probably re-entry will include taking the initial training course to refresh skills.

It is all dependent on your history. Call us and we can help you sort it out. Requalification is not free. Clinical slots include insurance and instructor's fees.