Background Check
Background checks, drug screening, as well as proof of immunization are required following initial acceptance into the program. Applicants must successfully clear each of these three requirements to be fully accepted and to continue in the program beyond the initial probationary period. Student status is reviewed to meet required criteria and specific background circumstances are considered on an individual basis.
Previous misdemeanor or felony convictions under various titles of the Texas Penal Code may affect eligibility for state license status following graduation and may affect admission consideration to the Radiation Therapy program. A student can be denied continued admission and progression if convicted of any misdemeanor and/or felony offense defined as a crime by statute or common law; or has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense under various titles of the Texas Penal Code.
Texas State University is not required to admit to the program an applicant with a flagged background check who has been given tentative clearance for certain licensures. Students should be aware that such clearance by a state department does not guarantee an applicant’s admission or employability.
As a condition for placement in some professional practice sites, students may be required to meet other requirements set by individual sites in addition to a background check and/or drug screening. Information on the process of drug screening will be provided by the school/department/program.
To Emphasize:
Placing students in clinical sites in contact with patients and sensitive patient information is of the highest priority. We are extremely careful of the type of person we consider for this program regarding ethics, behavior, and character. You should also know that there are ethical requirements to be eligible to take the national board certification exam as well as the Texas Medical Board for licensure to practice. The program’s views are supported by the ethics requirements from the American Registry of Radiological Technologists (ARRT).
ARRT and Program View on Court Dismissals
According to an ARRT Ethics representative the condition of having a charge “dismissed” may have several meanings that does not mean that you were not charged with the activity described. It may mean that you completed requirements to satisfy the court’s requirement to “dismiss” the charge from your record. In our professional view however, charges still present a serious concern regarding your profile as we consider patient safety and professional character.
The radiation therapy program will require the following procedure should students be flagged upon a background check regarding “charges.”
1. You will be required to complete the ARRT Pre-Application Ethics review. We must have the results as soon as possible, but not longer than 30 days from the date of our request. Since the ethics review may take up to 3 months, the student is urged to contact them personally explaining your 30 day requirement. You may be allowed to sit in our classes as we begin our semester, however the final admission decision will be based on the ARRT results. You will not be allowed to begin clinical education rotations until your admission is determined.
2. You will be required to consult with the Texas Medical Board, Medical Radiologic Technologist Program. Provide documentation that you will be eligible for licensure.
3. Upon our consultation with the medical institution’s ethics department regarding the flags on your profile, should the institution’s ethics department refuse to allow you to conduct your clinical education at their site, this will also be a determining factor for your continued admission to the radiation therapy program.
Ethics Requirements
For R.T.s, patients will always be at the heart of the profession—and protecting their best interests and safety should always be the priority. That’s why ARRT emphasizes our ethics requirements for certification and registration. Patients and their families want to know that their medical professionals, including technologists, are qualified, responsible, and trustworthy.