Ultrasound Technology Program
The law does not require Ultrasonographers to be registered by The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) to work, but such certification may increase the chances of being hired.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts only accepts applicants with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in any field, or who possess an Associate of Science degree in an Allied Health field directed at human patient care. Graduates from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts are eligible to sit for the ARDMS examination immediately after completion of the program under ARDMS prerequisite 1 (for Associate of Science degree in an Allied Health field graduates) and ARDMS prerequisite 3A (for Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree graduates).
For more information about ARDMS certification & examination you can visit ARDMS web site at www.ardms.org or contact them at:
The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
51 Monroe Street, Plaza East One, Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: (301) 738-8401 / Toll Free: (800) 541-9754
Fax: (301) 738-0312 / 0313
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Program
Ionization radiation is used in many of the current modalities involved in the field of Radiology. For this reason, practitioners must receive specialized education and certification to perform procedures. These specialized practitioners are known as Radiologic Technologists (RT), and are certified by the State of California Department of Health Services. In addition, most RT's earn certification from a national organization known as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). These techs are able to train in and perform many different exams which include general Radiography, Computerized Tomography (CT), Mammography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to name a few.
In the field of MRI, there is no ionizing radiation involved. For this reason, there is no certification exam required or provided by the State of California. This allows technologists who are not RT's to perform MRI examinations. However, it is customary that employers will expect a potential employee to prove that he or she has obtained training and proficiency in MRI scanning. After doing so, this type of technologist may only perform MRI examinations.
Students who have graduated from an approved MRI program or college and who have satisfied the requirement of 1000 hours of supervised clinical experience are eligible to take a certification exam provided by a non-profit private, national MRI organization. This organization is known as the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT). Graduates of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts MRI Technologist program are eligible to take this exam.
It is important to be aware that some employers in the field of Medical Imaging will accept ARMRIT-certified MRI technologists, and many others will only accept MRI technologist who are also RT's. It is an individual decision made within each organization, but it might limit the number of facilities that may accept your application for employment. In addition, most institutions that hold accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR), are limited by the ACR standards, and might only employ RT’s to perform MRI examinations. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts and its employees cannot guarantee any jobs after the completion of the MRI program. Many previous MRI program students have been able to pursue employment opportunities in medical imaging facilities.
Vocational Nurse Program
In order to work as a Vocational Nurse in California, you will be required to pass a licensing examination administered by National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). Completion of this course does not automatically enable a graduate to work as a Vocational Nurse.
Summary of Requirements for Licensure as a Vocational Nurse
Section A
- Minimum Age - 17 Years.
- Completion of the 12th Grade of schooling or its equivalent (furnish proof).
- Complete and sign the "Application for Vocational Nurse Licensure".
- Complete and sign the "Record of Conviction" form.
- Submit the required Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprints. (see "Important Fingerprint Information.") Note: A License will not be issued until the board receives the background information from DOJ.
- Attach the appropriate nonrefundable fee made payable to the "BVNPT".
- Successful completion of a written examination titled the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical (Vocational) Nursing (NCLEX) or the National League for Nursing Test Pool Practical Nursing Examination (NLN). A passing score on a Registered Nurse examination will not satisfy this requirement.
- When the requirements of Steps 1-7 have been met, the Board will advise you of the Initial License Fee to be paid. This fee is in addition to the application fee. It takes 4-6 weeks to process your license.
Section B
- Graduate of a California Accredited School of Vocational Nursing. Successful completion of a California Accredited Vocational Nursing Program. Contact your program director for application forms and instructions.
- Graduate of an Out-Of-State School of Practical/Vocational Nursing. The school of practical/vocational nursing from which you graduated must have been accredited by the Board of Nursing in the State in which it is located. (Licensure in another state does NOT entitle you to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California. In order to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California, you must be licensed by the California State Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.)
- Equivalent Education and/or Experience. This method requires you to complete within ten (10) years prior to the date of application not less than fifty-one (51) months of paid general duty bedside nursing experience in a general acute care facility approved by the Board, at least half of which shall have been within five (5) years prior to the date of application. In addition to this experience, you must also complete a pharmacology course of at least 54 theory hours that covers the following content:
- Knowledge of commonly used drugs and their action
- Computation of dosages
- Preparation of medications
- Principles of administration
The 51 months of experience shall include a minimum of each of the following:
- 48 months medical/surgical nursing
- 5 weeks maternity or genitourinary nursing
- 5 weeks pediatric nursing
Experience in any of the following areas may be substituted for a maximum of eight (8) months of medical/surgical experience:
- Communicable Disease Nursing
- Public Health Nursing
- Industrial Nursing
- Office Nursing (M.D.)
- Psychiatric Nursing
- Operating Room Nursing
- Hemodialysis
- Private Duty Nursing (In a general acute care facility)
- Emergency Room Nursing
- Geriatric Nursing
- Recovery Room Nursing
- Out-Patient Clinic
Experience must be verified by the employer showing specific dates of employment and shall include certification from the R.N. Director or Supervisor that the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated the following knowledge and skills:
t. Basic Bedside Nursing
- Ambulation Techniques
- Intake and Output
- Bedmaking
- Neurological Check
- Catheter Care
- Personal Hygiene and Comfort Measures
- Collection of Specimens
- Positioning & Transfer
- Diabetic Urine Testing
- Range of Motion
- Enema
- Skin Care
u. Aseptic Technique (May be demonstrated in classroom, lab, and/or patient care settings)
- Urinary Catheterization
- iSterile Dressing Change
- Sterile Irrigations
Applicants with formal nursing education may submit official transcripts for evaluation for possible credit in lieu of paid bedside nursing experience. The transcripts must be submitted to the Board directly from the school and must show theory and clinical hours completed.
v. Nursing Service in the Medical Corps of any Branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. This method requires you to:
- Submit proof of having at least twelve (12) months service on active duty in the medical corps of any of the armed forces rendering bedside patient care. The proof submitted must show date(s) and wards assigned.
- Submit proof of having completed a basic course of instruction in nursing while in the armed forces.
- Submit proof that service was honorable (DD-214).
- Note: A combination of military and nonmilitary experience is not acceptable under this method. Proof of 12th grade education is not required under this method.
w. 4-Year Expired California Licensed Vocational Nurse. Section 2892.1 of the Business and Professions Code specifies that a license which is not renewed for 4 years shall expire. An expired license cannot be renewed, re-issued or reinstated. The licensee is required to submit a new application and retake the licensure examination to receive a new license.
Applicants under this method must submit evidence of prior licensure with this Board (i.e., copy of expired license or license number, original issue date and expiration date.)
Please Note: State Boards of Nursing in many states require graduation from an accredited school of nursing. Please be aware that if you are deemed eligible for licensure in California using another method of qualifying (i.e., military experience or equivalent education and experience) you may not be eligible for licensure by endorsement in other states.
Psychiatric Technician Program
In order to work as a Psychiatric Technician in California you will be required to pass a licensing examination administered by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT). Completion of this course does not automatically enable a graduate to work as a Psychiatric Technician. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts Vocational Psychiatric Technician program is accredited by BVNPT.
Summary of Requirements for Licensure as a Psychiatric Technician
All applicants for licensure as a Psychiatric Technician in California must meet all of the requirements under Section A, and one of the three methods of qualifying for examination in Section B.
Section A
- Minimum Age - 18 Years.
- Completion of the 12th Grade of schooling or its equivalent (furnish proof).
- Complete and sign the "Application for Psychiatric Technician Licensure" and furnish a valid U.S. Social Security number.
- Complete and sign the "Record of Conviction" form.
- Submit the required Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprints. (see enclosed "Important Fingerprint Information.") Note: A License will not be issued until the board receives the background information from DOJ.
- Attach the appropriate non refundable fee made payable to the "BVNPT".
- Successful completion of a written examination titled the California Psychiatric Technician Licensure Examination.
- When the requirements of Steps 1-7 have been met, the Board will advise you of the Initial License Fee to be paid. This fee is in addition to the application fee. It takes 4-6 weeks to process your license once this fee has been received.
Section B
- Graduate of a California Accredited School of Psychiatric Technicians. Successful completion of a California Accredited Psychiatric Technician Program. Contact your program director for application forms and instructions.
- Equivalent Education and/or Experience.Completion of 576 hours of theory (experience may not be substituted for formal course work) and 954 hours of supervised clinical experience within ten years prior to the date of application. Any or all of the supervised clinical experience may be satisfied by paid work experience. The following minimum hours shall be included:
- Pharmacology course of at least 54 theory hours that covers the following content:
- Knowledge of commonly used drugs and their action
- Computation of dosages
- Preparation of medications
- Principles of administration
- 126 hours of theory (experience may not be substituted for formal course work) and 270 hours of supervised clinical experience in nursing science. You may substitute 9 months of paid work experience in nursing sciences for the 270 hours of supervised clinical experience.
- 108 hours of theory (experience may not be substituted for formal course work) and 270 hours of supervised clinical experience in mental disorders. You may substitute 9 months of paid work experience in mental disorders for the 270 hours of supervised clinical experience. 108 hours of theory (experience may not be substituted for formal course work) and 270 hours of supervised clinical experience in developmental disabilities. You may substitute 9 months of paid work experience in developmental disabilities for the 270 hours of supervised clinical experience.
3. Nursing Service in the Medical Corps of any Branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. This method requires you to:
- Completion of an armed forces course involving Neuropsychiatric Nursing and an armed forces or civilian course from an accredited school in the care of the developmentally disabled client.
- Completion of at least one year of verified full time paid work experience, including at least six months in a military clinical facility rendering bedside care to clients with mental disorders and at least six months in a military or civilian clinical facility rendering bedside care to clients with developmental disabilities.
Radiologic Technology Program
In the State of California, all schools of Radiologic Technology must receive approval from the State of California Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch before students are allowed to begin a course of instruction. The Radiologic Technology program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts has obtained status as an approved school and is compliant with the radiographer instructional practices as defined by California law. This school approval allows graduates of the program to take the radiographer certification examination offered by the State of California Department of Public Health. Once certified, the radiographer is legally allowed to practice within the State of California.
Eligibility for ARRT Certification:
In accordance with ARRT´s "Equation for Excellence," candidates for ARRT certification must meet basic requirements in the three components of the equation:
- Ethics
- Education
- Examination
Ethics
Every candidate for certification and every applicant for renewal of registration must, according to the governing documents, "be a person of good moral character and must not have engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with the ARRT Rules of Ethics," and they must "agree to comply with the ARRT Rules and Regulations and the ARRT Standards of Ethics."
One issue addressed by the Rules of Ethics is the conviction of a crime, including a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor, with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations. All alcohol and/or drug related violations must be reported. "Conviction" as used in this provision includes:
- a criminal proceeding where a finding or verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication of guilt is either withheld or deferred,
- a proceeding in which the sentence is suspended or stayed,
- a criminal proceeding where the individual enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest), or
- a proceeding resulting in a military court-martial.
ARRT investigates all potential violations in order to determine eligibility.
Further information may be found on this website and in the handbooks for each discipline.
Education
Eligibility for certification also specifies the satisfaction of educational preparation requirements.
For the primary pathway to certification, eligibility requires the successful completion of the respective discipline´s formal educational program that is accredited by a mechanism acceptable to ARRT. Candidates must also demonstrate competency in didactic coursework and an ARRT-specified list of clinical procedures.
For post-primary pathway to certification, candidates must hold registration in a supporting category and document ARRT-specified clinical experience. Further details may be found in the handbooks available for each of the post-primary certification disciplines.
Examination
Finally, eligibility requires candidates for certification, after having met all other qualifications, to pass an examination developed and administered by the ARRT. The exams assess the knowledge and cognitive skills underlying the intelligent performance of the tasks typically required of staff technologists practicing within the respective disciplines. Exam content is specified on this website and in the respective handbook for each discipline.
California Department of Public Health
Radiologic Health Branch, MS 7610
P.O. Box 997414, Certification Unit
Sacramento, CA 95899-7414
Phone: (916) 327-5106
Fax: (916) 440-7999
Web: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/rhb
The Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts Radiologic Technology program is programmatically accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: (312) 704-5300
Fax: (312) 704-5304
Web: http://www.jrcert.org
It is required by law that radiologic technologists be certified in order to practice as radiographers. Please note that the completion of the Radiologic Technology program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts may not automatically qualify the graduate to apply for the ARRT examination.
Some employers might require the radiologic technologist to have an ARRT certification in addition to the State of California certification. |