Radiology Informatics (PACS) (3786)

After completing your Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree, you can search for jobs as a picture archiving and communications system (PACS) specialist or administrator. You may find work in a variety of environments, including:

• Medical imaging and information technology settings that use digital imaging, PACS and a Radiology Information System (RIS) as  radiology informatics specialist/PACS administrator
• PACS equipment retail
• PACS sales
• Radiology informatics/PACS support services

This career may be the best choice if you:

• Have strong information technology, math and science skills
• Can perform well under pressure
• Pay close attention to details

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Our program prepares you to enter the field of medical imaging informatics as Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) Administrators. Our coursework teaches you:

• Basic human biology
• Computer and radiology imaging basics
• Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) and Health Level 7 (HL7) messaging systems
• Electronic health records (HER) management
• PACS interface and system analysis
• Project management and quality control

In addition, you will:

• Develop the oral and written communication skills you need to excel in a PACS team and healthcare environment. 
• Be able to design and implement a “PACS Plan” for an imaging department within a healthcare facility.
• Complete 40-hours of shadowing in an approved medical imaging department.

Before you can complete the 40-hour shadowing experience, some facilities may require that you complete the following at your own expense:

• Drug and alcohol screening
• Federal Criminal Record Check
• Physical examination
• Child Abuse History Clearance
• State Police Criminal Record Check

We encourage you to visit the health careers section of our website or email us to learn more about these requirements.

By the time you graduate from our program, you should know how to: 

• Function as an entry-level imaging informatics (PACS) administrator
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Demonstrate professional behavior while functioning as an informatics specialist
• Demonstrate effective communication skills
• Demonstrate effective project management skills 
• Apply imaging informatics legal and ethical standards in the professional environment
• Comply within applicable imaging informatics professional standards
• Use appropriate safety practices within the clinical environment

After graduating from the program, you can take all five levels of certification exams through the PACS Administrators Registry and Certification Association (PARCA). Also, if you have at least two years of previous experience in healthcare imaging or imaging informatics, you meet the educational and continuing education requirements for taking the American Board of Imaging Informatics Certification (ABII).

• View summaries of every course at HACC by browsing our class schedules database.

• Review our program guide (pdf) to view a list of required courses, recommended course sequencing and program competencies.

Yes! Although our program is designed to lead you directly into the workforce, there are transfer opportunities available. Our programs are designed to be flexible enough to transfer to a wide variety of colleges and universities with no loss of credit. However, each individual college has its own unique program. Therefore, we encourage you to select a four-year school as soon as possible. This will allow you to learn the transfer college’s program requirements so that you can take the proper classes at HACC.

You may complete this entire program through virtual learning. 

Yes! Thanks to the HACC Foundation, scholarships are available. Please visit hacc.edu/scholarships to learn how you can apply.

We offer courses in the spring, summer and fall. To apply anytime, please submit your application online. Please include program code 3786 with your application to ensure you apply to the correct program.

Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.

Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.