Mammography Education and Training

Advanced Health Education Center, LTD (AHEC) has been training certified radiologic technologists to become mammographers and providing continuing education to improve mammography skills since 1989. The education division has been involved in all aspects of the development of curriculum as it has progressed according to federal and state laws. Members of the faculty were involved in the original meetings as the Mammography Quality Standards were developed after the passage of the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). Our faculty are considered to be pioneers in the upgrading of skills for clinical mammographers. As accreditation of facilities became mandatory, our faculty taught classes assisting facilities to upgrade and meet the new requirements. The faculty has also been active in assisting facilities gaining new skills for the digital age and equipment and opening new facilities where mammography services were not available for the geographic area.

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.