Radiography

Apply to the Radiography program

To join this program, you must apply for admission. This competitive program accepts up to 38 students every summer term. Applicants are selected through a point-based system. Competitive applicants have all prerequisites completed with a competitive GPA prior to the application deadline and have some volunteer and/or healthcare experience with direct patient care.

We process applications through a third-party service called AHCAS. You will complete your application and upload all supporting documents to the AHCAS system.

Questions? Attend an information session or contact us.

How to apply

  1. Apply to PCC

    Applying to PCC is free and only takes a few minutes. Complete this step as soon as possible so you can start using PCC resources.
    Apply to PCC

  2. Application timeline

    For a detailed admission timeline, see below on this page.

    Term you want to start Apply to Radiography
    Summer 2026 January 2 – April 7, 2026 at 8:59pm PST
    Take prerequisites

    All prerequisites must be completed by the end of PCC’s winter term prior to the application deadline and passed with a grade “C” or higher. Pass/No Pass grades are not accepted.

    • These prerequisites must be current within the last 7 years:
      • BI 231: Anatomy & Physiology I
      • BI 232: Anatomy & Physiology II
      • BI 233: Anatomy & Physiology III
      • MTH 95 or higher: Intermediate Algebra or higher. If you have an expired Math course you may take the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. If you place into MTH 111Z or higher, you can use your score to update your expired MTH course. Be aware you will be required to use the grade of the expired math course for application points. If using placement scores to update an expired math course, please upload your raw ALEKS math placement test scores with your AHCAS application. For more information, review the admissions guide.
      • Attention: Beginning in the 2027 application cycle, the PCC Radiography
        program will be raising the math requirement and will only accept one of the
        following STEM math courses:

        • MTH 111Z, MTH 112Z, MTH 251Z, MTH 252Z or MTH 253Z.
    • Additional prerequisites:
      • WR 121Z: English Composition I
      • MP 111: Medical Terminology
      • Applicants are required to be computer literate. See computer literacy details below.
  3. Earn application points

    The first phase of the application process is based on a 54-point scale, which looks at the following areas. For a detailed breakdown of the point system, please review the admissions guide.

    • Academic criteria:
      • Applicants are evaluated on their academic achievement in required science, math, and medical terminology prerequisite grades.
      • Applicants must meet minimum 3.0 GPA and prerequisite eligibility requirements.
    • Additional point considerations:
      • Previous Degree: Applicants can earn an additional point toward their
        application for completing an associate’s degree or higher by the end of PCC’s winter term. International degrees will also be accepted if they transfer as the
        equivalent of a US associate’s degree or higher-level degree.
      • PCC Students: Applicants who are currently enrolled in classes at PCC or have
        taken credit or non-credit classes at PCC in the last two years are eligible for an
        additional point toward their application.
      • Service members: Applicants can earn points for U.S. military service (active, veteran, or reserve status). Discharged applicants must provide their DD214, member 4 copy documenting honorable discharge. Active military service members may upload a letter from their commanding officer on letterhead from the respective military branch documenting their active service status. Military service documentation must be uploaded in the “documents” section of your AHCAS application before the deadline.
      • Health care experience: Applicants may earn points for paid or unpaid work experience completed in a variety of in-patient and out-patient medical settings. Applicants can earn points in one of the following healthcare categories listed below:
        • Category 1-Hands-on Patient Work in a (Inpatient) Hospital or Long-
          Term Care Facility: This category is for roles with significant direct
          hands-on patient interaction in a hospital or long-term care setting.
          Examples include a CNA, hospital transporter, EMT, phlebotomist,
          medication aide, or RAD tech aide with transporting duties.
        • Category 2-Non-Hospital (Outpatient) Medical Setting with Limited
          Hands-on or Indirect Patient Contact: This category includes roles in
          outpatient or home-based healthcare settings where direct physical patient care is not the primary duty. This may include clinical support roles with some patient interaction (e.g., medical assistant, dental assistant, chiropractic assistant, vet tech), as well as administrative or logistical roles with minimal or no direct physical patient contact (e.g., patient access specialist, scheduler, file room clerk).
      • More details can be found on page 6 of the admissions guide. To earn points, applicants must upload the Health Care Experience Form in the “documents” section of their AHCAS application before the deadline.
  4. Apply to Radiography

    The application process has three phases.

    1. Phase I: application points and fee
      Complete the AHCAS application. Based on Phase I point totals, the top-scoring applicants will be invited to participate in Phase II. Applicants will be notified using the email designated in their AHCAS application. To submit your application, students are required to pay a $72, non-refundable application fee directly to AHCAS.

      • AHCAS allows students to upload evaluation forms for their common application. PCC does not require or review evaluations to be submitted for application to the radiography program. PCC will not consider uploaded evaluations during the admissions evaluation process. Students only applying to PCC can choose the “I am not adding any evaluations” button to complete the evaluation section of their common application.
      • AHCAS also requires an essay that will not be evaluated for PCC admissions consideration. If you are only applying to PCC, you can write a one sentence response in the essay response field to complete the required section of your AHCAS application. If you are applying to multiple schools through AHCAS, you are encouraged to check with each school to see if an essay response is required for admission to their program. PCC will not review or consider your essay response for admission to our radiography program.
    2. Phase II: Job Shadow, Panel interview, and Health Science Reasoning Exam (HSRT)
      • Applicants are required to attend a mandatory, virtual orientation prior to
        participating in Phase II

        • Details on the HSRT, panel interviews and how, when, and where to
          schedule the job shadow will be provided during the mandatory virtual
          orientation on April 20, 2026 from 5:30-6:30pm
        • Read more about the HSRT on the Insight Assessment FAQ page under
          the Testing and Administration section. The exam takes about 1.5 hours. For more info, see How to Prepare and Top 10 Critical Thinking FAQ’s.
      • All invited applicants will be required to participate in an assigned job shadowing experience with one of our Hospital Affiliates prior to the panel interview.
      • Prior to the panel interview applicants will be required to complete the HSRT
        online.
      • A prescheduled panel interview will take place at the Sylvania campus and is
        facilitated by imaging faculty members, PCC staff, and clinical instructors.
      • Program selection is based solely on Phase II points.
      • Phase II scores and/or feedback will not be released.
    3. Phase III: selection and requirements
      Applicants who advance to Phase III have received a seat offer and are considered admitted to the program pending their successful completion of Phase III requirements. Which includes: successfully passing a criminal background check, drug screen, and providing proof of required immunizations and CPR certification. Please review the following requirements for clinical and field education. Students will receive specific directions from PCC’s Radiography department on how to meet these requirements. Applicants should not pursue meeting these requirements prior to being admitted to the Radiography program.
  5. Submit transcripts

    Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended, including PCC. It is recommended to send transcripts at least two weeks before the deadline. AHCAS takes 7-10 business days to post transcripts, and transcripts must be posted prior to the application deadline. See how to check transcript status. If you are currently enrolled in prerequisite courses, it is strongly recommended to wait until winter term grades have been posted before sending your transcript. For a detailed guide on sending transcripts, please visit the AHCAS help center.

  6. Mail official paper transcripts directly to AHCAS to:
    AHCAS Transcript Processing Center
    PO Box 9127
    Watertown, MA 02471

Admission timeline: Fall 2026

  • Early September: Start Building Your AHCAS Common Application
    • All admissions information will be sent through the email address used to create your AHCAS account
    • Applicants are responsible for checking their email throughout the entire admissions process
  • January 2, 2026: PCC’s Application Opens in AHCAS
    • Add PCC as a program in AHCAS starting in Summer 2026
    • Ensure all PCC documents are uploaded to the PCC application in AHCAS
  • March 22, 2026: End of PCC’s Winter Term
    • All prerequisite courses, math placement exam, healthcare experience, must be completed by this date
    • Winter term official transcripts should be sent directly to AHCAS around April 1 st 
  • April 7, 2026 at 8:59pm (PST): AHCAS Radiography Application Deadline
  • Mid-April: Phase II Notifications
    • Applicants are notified through email and must RSVP to participate in Phase II
  • April 20, 2026, 5:30-6:30pm (PST): Mandatory Virtual Orientation for Phase II Participants
    • Provides details on the Panel Interviews, scheduling Job Shadowing, and completing the HSRT
  • April 23, 2026: Phase II Participants can Schedule Job Shadowing & Online HSRT Opens
    • Applicants will be given information about how and where to schedule the job shadowing experience during the mandatory orientation
    • The HSRT will take place online, details regarding how to access the HSRT will be discussed during the mandatory orientation
  • May 13, 2026: Last Day to Complete the HSRT & Job Shadowing
    • Applicants will have until the end of the day to complete the HSRT and assigned Job Shadowing experience – No extensions will be given
  • May 14 & 15, 2026: Panel Interviews held at the PCC Sylvania Campus
    • Panel interviews will be randomly assigned throughout the day on the 14th and 15th (please clear your schedule for both days)
  • End of May: Final Admissions Notification
    • Up to 38 of the top scoring applicants and one alternate are notified of seat offer
  • Summer Term: Beginning of Program
    • RAD 100, a 2-credit course (mainly online with four weekday in-person afternoon meetings)
  • September 21, 2026: Full-time Radiography Program Begins
    • Phase III requirements must be completed prior to the start of PCC’s fall term

Computer Literacy

The Radiography program does not require a computer science class as a prerequisite. However, success in the radiography program requires that students are confident and comfortable in their computer skills. This may include but is not limited to, word processing, data entry, use of spreadsheets, and internet research.